Melbourne heaping more pain on Brisbane in grand-final rematch

By Nick Campton

Topic:NRL

It's a rematch of the 2025 NRL decider in Melbourne, as the Storm face a Brisbane side still in search of its first win of the season.

Earlier, a jaw-dropping Brian To'o try headlined Penrith's rampaging 40-4 take-down of the Roosters at Sydney Football Stadium.

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By Chris De Silva

By Nick Campton

That's exactly what the doctor ordered for the Broncos - a penalty, two set restarts and another penalty gets them on the attack early, then Walsh goes to the line and plays short to Riki who crashes over.

They needed that, a great start to the second half.

Walsh knocks it over and it's 14-6 Storm.

By Nick Campton

And we're back at it again down south.

By Nick Campton

Penrith winger Tom Jenkins has scored four tries in a 40-4 thrashing of the Sydney Roosters that confirms the Panthers' most dominant start to a season since their NRL dynasty began.

The visitors to Allianz Stadium on Friday night scored four tries in a 13-minute skirmish that sealed a game-defining 24-4 halftime lead.

Left winger Jenkins surged to the top of the try-scoring leaderboard with eight four-pointers for the season, Dylan Edwards bagged a double and Paul Alamoti toyed with the Roosters' left edge in the Panthers' third consecutive defeat of a premiership heavyweight.

Penrith have won their three games this season by a combined score of 92-10 — the team's most one-sided opening three rounds by points differential since Ivan Cleary returned as coach in 2019.

Intimidatingly, the Panthers still have room to improve; they missed 47 tackles to the Roosters' 40 and gave away twice as many six-agains.

But there is no question Penrith are well on the way to recapturing their four-time premiership-winning best following a rollercoaster 2025 season.

Penrith's round-five clash against 2025 runners-up Melbourne shapes as the season's biggest blockbuster yet.

Friday's match came with similar anticipation given Reece Robson's recovery from a thumb injury meant the Roosters unveiling their new first-choice spine.

The star-studded Tricolours had first points through Robert Toia but fell off the pace after Edwards swung momentum with a 30-metre break in the 15th minute.

The fullback's tear put the Panthers in position for their first try, scored by Jenkins at close range.

Brian To'o had their second minutes later, poking a grubber kick through the line, regathering the ball and then scoring on the back of a second kick to himself.

Alamoti had a field day marking journeyman centre Junior Pauga and orchestrated Penrith's third in the set after To'o's try.

He began a 90-metre tear out of the backfield that ended with Edwards scoring the first of his two tries, the second coming in the final 10 minutes on the right side.

A no-look pass from Nathan Cleary helped the Panthers shift left for Jenkins' second try, before the winger went over only four minutes after the break.

Jenkins had a career-best fourth try when the Roosters batted a kick back to Penrith prop Moses Leota, who popped the ball up and ignited his winger's 80m break.

The Panthers have now won 12 of their past 13 games against the Roosters, who leaked 40 points for a second time in three games.

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By Nick Campton

Hunt gets Clarke high and the Storm have one last chance at points before the break.

On the final play of the half Hughes surges into a gap, stands and looks for an offload and he's got one to Chan who powers over to score!

Man, feels like a hammer blow - a well-deserved try for Chan, he's been excellent through the first 40.

Grant converts and it's 14-0 Storm.

By Nick Campton

Grant puts in a great kick to space, Melbourne muscle up for a few tackles and eventually prise an error out of Mariner. With halftime looming a try here could be big....

Walsh gives away a penalty, he's been pinged for a shoulders to the head on Munster, and he's on report.

The Storm will take the two and Grant makes no mistake. Storm lead 8-0.

By Nick Campton

Walsh nails a 40/20, that kick was absolutely perfect, and Brisbane have a chance to strike.

They strip Melbourne for numbers, Hunt goes for the ball over the top and there's space there but Staggs puts it down. Having an unhappy night with his hands, Kotoni.

By Nick Campton

Walsh gets hit hard and late and Brisbane will have a chance at replying.

Carrigan hits the line and spins, he's got Mariner but he can't quite find him and Fa'alogo picks up the scraps.

Just moments later the same man bursts into the clear off Hughes to flip field position.

By Nick Campton

Leo loses the ball just in Brisbane's half and the Broncos have a good chance here.

But they end it by giving away a penalty as Willison gets pinged for an obstruction. Then two set restarts quickly follow as the Storm go to work.

The Broncos scramble well until Hughes hits Chan short, he nearly pulls through and offloads to Fa'alogo who swan dives over for the try.

Nicely constructed and good stuff from Chan and Fa'alogo, two big improvers so far this year.

Grant converts and it's 6-0 Storm.

By Nick Campton

A penalty puts Melbourne on the attack and two set restarts build some pressure.

They nearly go over down the right through Howarth and then Chan is held up from dummy half.

Grant puts a little grubber in and Utoikamanu goes close but it just beats him dead. Geez that would've brought the house down in Melbourne....

By Nick Campton

A set restart late in the count puts Brisbane on the attack. Mam goes for it down the short-side but Staggs puts it down.

By Nick Campton

A loose pass from Staggs is pounced on by Meaney and the Storm have the first chance of the night.

But they lose it as quickly as they get it with Fa'alogo throws a pass over the sideline.

By Nick Campton

Off we go for the grand final rematch with the Storm kicking off, running right to left. The Broncos are looking very sharp in a 2006 commemorative jersey btw.

By Nick Campton

The Roosters get some good ball to finish but can't manage much with it - they've been well-handled tonight.

The Panthers stay unbeaten in 2026 with their most impressive win yet. Ivan Cleary's side look absolutely red hot to begin the season.

Four tries to Tom Jenkins and a masterclass from Nathan Cleary were the highlights of that one.

By Nick Campton

More lovely ball movement from the Panthers as they string a seven-pass movement that gets a little space for Edwards on the outside of Crichton and the fullback surges over the line for his second try of the night.

Cleary knocks it over and it's 40-4 Panthers.

By Nick Campton

Well that just about sums it up - Walker puts up a bomb in the attacking 20, Tedesco gets above Edwards and taps it back a long way....where it ends up in the hands of Leota, who finds Jenkins and the Panthers winger goes 70 metres against the traffic to score.

That's his fourth of the night and his eighth of the year after just three games. Looks like it could be a big year for him!

Cleary converts and it's a big lead now, 34-4 to Penrith.

By Nick Campton

The Panthers are pulling out the party tricks now - Cleary just went for a banana kick, Andrew Johns style, looking for To'o on the wing.

It drops down for him but To'o can't quite gather it in.

By Nick Campton

Papali'i hits Cherry-Evans late and the Roosters have a fresh set in the Panthers 20. They really need some points here to stay in touch.

Robson tries to find Watson with a grubber but they get the timing wrong and Watson's offside. Panthers penalty.

By Nick Campton

Ativalu Lisati is out for the Storm with Alex MacDonald starting at second row and Jack Hetherington joining the bench.

As expected, Adam Reynolds has been ruled out for Brisbane with Ben Hunt to start at halfback. Blake Mozer is the new face on the bench.

By Nick Campton

Alamoti races past Pauga on the right and he's in the clear, Tedesco manages to drag him down but on the next tackle the Panthers swing it left and it's Papali'i who throws a great cut out ball to Jenkins and he has his third try of the night.

Nawaqanitawase gets caught out again, he's had an unhappy night.

This scoreline could be anything, what a performance by the Panthers. Cleary from touch...it's away to the right.

Panthers lead 28-4.

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