Panthers power on over Sharks in record-breaking finals win

The best two teams in the competition are through to this year's grand final after the Penrith Panthers booked their place to face the Melbourne Storm next week after defeating Cronulla 26-6.

While the result may have seemed inevitable before the game at Accor Stadium given Penrith's history in the finals, the Sharks put in a strong fight early and for a while, were able to disrupt the methodical play of the Panthers, but they were not able to match them for the full game.  

The onset of rain early in the first half brought about a change in play after an explosive opening, with both sides guilty of making simple errors. At halftime, the Panthers had made five errors with the Sharks making seven, while both sides had conceded two penalties apiece. 

The first half was nonetheless entertaining and also had plenty of feeling given what was on the line for both sides. 

The two teams traded penalty goals to post their opening points of the game, with the Panthers on the board first after Sharks forward Toby Rudolf was put on report for tripping, with Nathan Cleary kicking the goal.

The Sharks levelled with Nicho Hynes slotting the goal after Penrith were pinged with a 'downtown' offside penalty. 

Cronulla were the first team to get the ball down over the line, with Hynes running in under the posts, but the Sharks had produced an obvious knock-on in the lead up denying them a four-pointer. 

However, when they got their chance, the Panthers make sure they grabbed it, with captain Cleary nailing a 40/20 to give his side good field position, before then producing a cut-out pass at the line to find Paul Alamoti in space to score.

Cleary's successful kick came after Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall's own 40/20 attempt was foiled by a committed chase from Dylan Edwards and Sunia Turuva. 

Cleary added the extras for an 8-2 lead and his boot got the next points as well via another penalty goal, with Siosifa Talakai - who was playing in the centres for an injured Jesse Ramien - being put on report for a late hit on Jarome Luai.

The Panthers went into the break leading 10-2, with the Sharks on the back foot, but still well in the game.

After the break, the Sharks applied the pressure to force the Panthers into more uncharacteristic errors and threw plenty at them to keep the game tight.

Penrith thought they had the first try of the second half as well, only to have Turuva denied after it was ruled that Talakai was obstructed in the lead-up. 

Instead, it was the Sharks to score, with winger Sione Katoa just staying in inside the sideline in spectacular fashion to plant the ball down for a try. Hynes hooked the difficult sideline conversion across the face of the uprights, but the Sharks were in the hunt, trailing 10-6. 

With the challenge presented to them, the Panthers responded, with Cleary stepping up to help move his side further in front, putting in a perfectly-placed kick to the far right of the field to find Brian To'o who scored yet another try. Cleary missed the conversion attempt, but the Panthers had an important 14-6 lead.

The Panthers then went back-to-back, with Alamoti getting his double after an Edwards line break that firstly found Cleary, who then passed out to his centre for his second. 

This time, Cleary did not miss the conversion attempt and the Panthers were up 20-6 and on their way to their fifth straight grand final appearance. 

With the sting now out of the game, the Panthers added salt into the wounds of the Sharks with a late try to Liam Martin after he touched down on a Luai grubber into the in-goal.

With Cleary coming off the field early as a precaution after showing discomfort in his left shoulder, it was Alamoti who stepped up to take the conversion, slotting the goal to seal their 26-6 win.