The Penrith Panthers' remarkable four-year NRL premiership streak has come to an end following a 16-14 defeat to the Brisbane Broncos. The loss marks the conclusion of a 1,457-day reign that began with a grand final victory over South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2021.
For Barnaby Smith, a lifelong Panthers fan, the end brings a sense of relief. 'The constant winning has become almost awkward – like we’re hogging the glory,' he writes. Smith notes that the success, while dazzling, also brought stress and a sense of ownership that made each victory feel routine.
The Panthers' run included four distinct grand final wins: a drought-breaking 14-12 victory over Souths in 2021, a one-sided 28-12 win against Parramatta in 2022, a dramatic 26-24 comeback against Brisbane in 2023, and a workmanlike 14-6 win over Melbourne in 2024. Smith argues that the achievement now stands as one of the greatest in Australian rugby league history, comparable only to Souths' five consecutive titles from 1925-1929 and St George's 11 straight from 1956-1966.
With the streak over, Smith believes fans can now properly celebrate the team's accomplishments. 'It’s finished, and the process of understanding where it stands in rugby league history can begin,' he says. The end also opens the competition for a new champion in 2025, which Smith welcomes for the sake of variety.
