<p>It all comes down to this. The 2024 NRL Grand Final is upon us and it’s the Melbourne Storm vs Penrith Panthers battling it out for glory.</p> <p>The two top teams all year, this game was almost inevitable. Recent results, form and historical battles have made this one nearly impossible to predict.</p> <p>That doesn’t mean we’re not going to give it a red-hot go. Grand Finals are nearly always blockbusters, but which Hollywood script will we see play out on Sunday? Lord of the Four Rings? Or Saving Private Ryan Papenhuyzen? Let’s find out!</p> <p>Tickets! Get your tickets! For the latest NRL Grand Final tips, odds, analysis, players to watch and more, check out our Storm vs Panthers Grand Final tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Storm vs Panthers Grand Final Preview</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Panthers and Storm have faced off on two occasions so far this season, with the scorecard reading 2-0 Melbourne.</p> <p>The scorecard of their most recent match almost read that too, with the Storm triumphing 8-0 in perhaps the biggest grind of the year.</p> <p>In the match before, the state of play was different, but the result was the same, a narrow Storm win, as they held on to win 24-22.</p> <p>Yes, Melbourne have dominated the H2H results between these two in 2024, but with an aggregate win of just 10 points across two matches this is truly anyone's game.</p> <p>Both of their clashes this season also didn’t feature the full crop of superstars at both side’s disposal.</p> <p>That will not be the case on Sunday, with every single major player for both teams ready to rock.</p> <p>Let’s take a look at some of the players set to light up the turf of Accor Stadium come Sunday night.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL Grand Final 2024 – Players to Watch</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Nathan Cleary</h3> <p>Where else do we start? It’s all been said before but get ready to hear it again. At just 26 years of age, Nathan Cleary has now led the Panthers to five consecutive Grand Finals, won three Premierships, two Clive Churchill Medals, three Origin Shields and the World Cup.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>If he continues this trajectory for the rest of his career there is a fair chance, he will end his career as the greatest player to ever lace a boot in the NRL. A fourth straight ring will certainly help his cause.</p> <p>His performance in last year’s decider is widely considered to be one of the greatest individual performances in Rugby League history and after single handedly dragging his side to the most unlikely comeback victory, everyone is eager to see what Nathan Cleary will be serving up on Sunday.</p>

<h3>Jahrome Hughes</h3> <p>When the winner of the Dally M award gets announced later this week for player of the season, most expect Jahrome Hughes name to be read out.</p> <p>You’ll hear no arguments from us, as Hughes has easily been the most effective and consistent player in the NRL in 2024.</p> <p>He’ll be looking to keep his season-long form going for at least one more game and if he does, he could find himself with two medals around his neck come season’s end: the Dally M and the Clive Churchill, awarded for the best player on the pitch during the Grand Final.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jarome Luai</h3> <p>From one Jahrome to another. Aside from the letter H, there is little to separate these two, in terms of influence anyway.</p> <p>Alongside his partner in crime Cleary, Luai has been imperative to his side’s recent success, featuring in all of their premiership victories to date.</p> <p>It’s rather fitting that his last game for his boyhood club is another Grand Final, with the polarising stand-off set to join the Tigers from 2025 onwards.</p> <p>There’s no doubt he’ll be desperate to end his time at the foot of the mountains with yet another premiership ring, so keep an eye on him as he looks to weave his inevitable magic against the Storm’s stoic defensive line.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Harry Grant</h3> <p>You’re a wizard Harry. After a relatively quiet first half of the season by his standards, Melbourne’s rake has exploded into life over the last month and has his side on the brink of premiership glory.</p> <p>If Melbourne do go on to win, it will because Grant successfully breaks up the ruck. Dummy half is arguably the one position on the pitch where Melbourne have Penrith outmatched and they need to make the most of this advantage.</p> <p>As the game progresses and Grant is able to start turning around Leota, Yeo and Fisher-Harris, and get in behind them, it’ll bring Melbourne’s elite support players in Papenhuyzen and Hughes into play. Then it’ll be “shut the gate” time as they say.</p>

<h2>NRL Grand Final 2024 Prediction &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>It’s no surprise that at the time of writing these two heavyweights are dead even in the H2H market.</p> <p>Melbourne have regular season results on their side, while Penrith have, well, won the last three straight NRL Grand Finals.</p> <p>They are now staring down the barrel of a fourth consecutive premiership, which hasn’t been done since the legendary St George side that won 11 straight in the 50s and 60s.</p> <p>Win here and they will become the undisputed greatest side of the modern era, if they aren’t already and will be able to lay claim to Australian Rugby League GOAT status.</p> <p>That St George team were aided by no tackle count or salary cap, luxuries that have not been afforded to this Penrith side.</p> <p>In saying that, the last time Penrith lost a Grand Final, it was against none other than the Melbourne Storm. Can lightning strike twice?</p> <p>As epic as Penrith’s Grand Final win was last season, they only just escaped against Brisbane thanks to a herculean individual effort from Nathan Cleary.</p> <p>We doubt Melbourne will be as forgiving as the Baby Broncos should they hit the front, and helmed by Craig Bellamy, who is set to coach in his 10th NRL Grand Final, if anyone is going to end the Penrith dynasty, it’s the original purveyors of NRL excellence – the Melbourne Storm.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Melbourne Storm.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Try Scorer Prediction</h3> <p>The Panthers have scored first in their last three Grand Final appearances. Only the first of their four consecutive appearances in the big dance have they failed to cross the stripe first.</p> <p>That was of course against the Melbourne Storm. Still, with a three out of four strike rate in this market on Grand Final day and now with eons of big game experience under their belt, we’re going to back one of the mountain men here.</p> <p>Now that we’ve zeroed in a player from Penrith, who is worth backing? Two of the last three Grand Finals it’s been a Penrith centre who has opened the scoring.</p> <p>This makes someone like Paul Alamoti an incredibly appealing option. He also opened the scoring last weekend and after recovering from a broken arm just in time for the finals, seems desperate to repay the faith shown in him by coach Ivan Cleary. We recommend backing him here.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Paul Alamoti.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under Prediction</h3> <p>The over/under is set at 40.5 points for this contest and despite their previous two meetings this season, we’re leaning towards this one bursting the banks and going over that amount.</p> <p>Both of their previous meetings this season have had score lines well under 40 points, but last year’s Grand Final which of course featured the Panther’s eclipsed that total.</p> <p>Most tellingly however, the last time these two faced off in the big one, there were 46 points scored in total, showing that when the trophy is on the line, these two like to trade blows.</p> <p>With some of the game’s greatest attacking weapons set to face off here, we’re predicting more meat pies than your local bakery, so pass the sauce and sit back and enjoy.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Over total match points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL Grand Final Date and Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday, October 6, 2024.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off: </strong>6:30pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Accor Stadium, Sydney.</p>