Panthers' dominance ends: continued from the Live Blog

Sports reporter and live blog journalist Kynan Davis has more on the Panthers' historic exclusion from the NRL grand final in 2025:

In their 4peat run, the Panthers averaged 25.98 in attack, and conceded 13.30 on average in defence. This year the Panthers have remained steady in attack with an average of 24.44, but have been weakened in defence, conceding 19.22 on average.

The moment that ended the Panthers' grand final bid.

Still carrying their big game mentality into this year's finals series, Penrith won their way into the preliminary final against Brisbane with a 24 to 8 away win against the Warriors in Auckland, and a 46 to 26 win against an undermanned Canterbury Bulldogs. 

Penrith skipped out to a 14 to 0 half time lead against the Broncos, but 3 second half Broncos tries from Kotoni Staggs, Xavier Willison and Deine Mariner, and a clutch conversion from Adam Reynolds ensured the Panthers great run had finally come to an end.

To ensure that they remain under the salary cap, the Panthers have had to let go of multiple high quality players every off season. Matt Burton, Paul Momirovski, Kurt Capewell and Tyrone May departed the club after 2021, Viliame Kikau, Api Koroisau and Charlie Staines at the end of 2022, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Jaeman Salmon and Jack Cogger at the end of 2023, and Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris and Sunia Turuva at the end of 2024. At this moment in time, it doesn't appear that any premiership players will be leaving the Panthers this off season.

Despite the run of consecutive Grand Final appearances coming to an end, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary told reporters in his post game press conference that he remains optimistic for the future.