“I can't believe it”: Why Alexander places 2024 title as the best of historic four-peat

Penrith Panthers legend Greg Alexander believes the 2024 Grand Final win against the Melbourne Storm will be remembered as the most impressive of the historic four consecutive Premiership.

The Panthers entered the 2024 decider as slight outsiders against the Storm who finished the home and away season two games clear at the top of ladder and breezed through their two finals matches in the lead up to the Grand Final.

Alexander, who led Penrith to their first title in 1991 and currently sits on the Panthers board, said the spine players for Penrith stood up in the biggest game of the season.

“Penrith were scratchy in their finals wins, especially against the Cronulla Sharks the week before,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“Melbourne came into the game as favourites and you can understand why with the form they had shown over the last couple of months.

“The Storm weren’t scratchy in both their finals wins over the Sharks and the Sydney Roosters. They destroyed the Roosters down there in Melbourne.

“Penrith’s key players played better than the Storm’s key players and that’s because Penrith’s defence were able to completely shut down Jahrome Hughes.

“Ryan Papenhuyzen, Harry Grant and Cameron Munster looked dangerous at times but in the end, that was the difference between the two teams.

“The stars for Penrith were better.

“I can’t believe it. It’s incredible and that was the feeling on the ground after the game.

“We couldn’t believe what had just happened.”

The 2021-24 Penrith team hold the record for the most number of consecutive finals wins at 12. The St George team of the 1950’s-60s that won 11 straight titles only won 10 consecutive finals matches.