It’s taken over two months but the four-time reigning premiers Penrith have finally clicked into gear in 2025 with a thumping 32-8 win over Brisbane.
In a stunning display of resilience and skill, Nathan Cleary led the Penrith Panthers to a commanding 32–8 victory over the Brisbane Broncos, signaling their resurgence in the 2025 NRL season.
Panthers superstar halfback Nathan Cleary ripped the Broncos to shreds on Sunday afternoon in eerily similar fashion to the 2023 grand final.
Cleary’s Masterclass
Cleary orchestrated the Panthers’ attack, contributing two tries and four conversions. His performance was a testament to his leadership and playmaking ability, setting the tone for Penrith’s dominant display.
Panthers’ Dominant Performance
Penrith’s forwards, including James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota, laid a solid foundation, consistently gaining ground and providing Cleary with the platform to execute his game plan. The team’s defensive line was equally impressive, limiting Brisbane’s attacking opportunities and forcing errors.
With the scores locked at 8-8 in the 35th minute, Cleary booted a 40-20 that led to a try and then on the stroke of halftime he scored one that sent shivers down the spines of Brisbane supporters everywhere.
The try was a carbon copy of the one Cleary scored to break Broncos hearts and snatch the 2023 premiership in the dying minutes of the grand final.
Cleary’s try saw the visitors go into the Suncorp Stadium sheds with a 20-8 lead and they went on with it in the second half thanks to a double from Thomas Jenkins.
The result means Brisbane went from beating the top-of-the-table side to losing to the bottom-of-the-table side in the space of a week.
The Broncos struck first thanks to a chip from Adam Reynolds to his halves partner Ben Hunt in the ninth minute.
But Cleary hit back with a pinpoint chip of his own to put Izack Tago over and lock up the scores.
The sides then traded penalties which saw Reynolds overtake Hazem El Masri to sit second on the all-time point-scorers list.
It looked like the sides would go into the sheds locked at 8-8 before Cleary broke the game open.
Penrith picked up where they left off in the second half as the hosts’ horror afternoon also continued in front of a stunned crowd.
“Brisbane were completely outplayed this afternoon,” former Broncos player Mick Ennis said on Fox League.
Looking Ahead
This victory marks a turning point for the Panthers, demonstrating their potential to challenge for the premiership. For the Broncos, it’s a reminder of the areas needing improvement as they aim to bounce back in the coming rounds.
As the season progresses, both teams will look to build on this match, with Penrith aiming to continue their winning ways and Brisbane seeking to address their shortcomings.
