Broncos stun Panthers to end Penrith's bid for fifth straight Grand Final

Brisbane has ended Penrith's bid for a fifth straight NRL premiership with a 16-14 comeback victory in the preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium, setting up a Grand Final against Melbourne. Captain Adam Reynolds landed a sideline conversion in the 77th minute to seal the win and quiet the demons of missing from the sideline in the 2021 grand final against the Panthers while playing for South Sydney.

Penrith, the four-time defending premiers, led 14-0 at halftime after two tries by winger Paul Alamoti. The Broncos staged a remarkable comeback after the break, with back-rower Jordan Riki stopping Nathan Cleary at the try line as Penrith threatened to pull away. In the 70th minute, prop Xavier Willison touched down to spark the comeback, and fullback Reece Walsh, racing through traffic, set up winger Deine Mariner in the 76th minute. Reynolds, returning from a seven-week hamstring layoff, then supplied the crucial sideline conversion.

Brisbane's resilience has become a hallmark this season, with the team repeatedly overturning deficits. They have come back to win this year after trailing by 18 points, twice from 16 points and once from 14 points behind, underscoring a pattern of late-season fight that carried them to a landmark victory on Sunday.

The result ends Penrith's premiership campaign and their 1,463-day reign as premiers. The Panthers had dominated early but could not withstand Brisbane's second-half surge, and the Broncos will now face Melbourne in the Grand Final.