"The four years of grand final wins have each served up a different experience of glory. The 14-12 win over Souths in 2021 was both an exorcism of the grand final defeat to Melbourne the previous year, and the breaking of an 18-year drought. The 28-12 win against western Sydney rivals Parramatta in 2022 was one of the more one-sided grand finals of recent times."
"The initial success was dazzling: not only was the club providing us with all these special moments, they also brought through a generation of local players from one of Sydney's most historically deprived and maligned areas, who ended up defining the club's character and spirit. This is a momentous thing in itself. But the constant winning has become almost awkward like"
Penrith Panthers' 1,457-day reign as NRL premiers ended with a 16-14 defeat to the Brisbane Broncos, halting a four-year championship run. The Panthers won grand finals in 2021 (14-12 over South Sydney), 2022 (28-12 over Parramatta), 2023 (26-24 over Brisbane), and 2024 (14-6 over Melbourne), each delivering distinct moments of glory including a comeback led by Nathan Cleary in 2023. The club produced a generation of local players from a historically deprived Sydney area who shaped the team's identity. The sustained dominance generated resentment across other clubs and turned winning into an awkward inevitability.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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