Stephen Crichton's intercept try has lifted Penrith Panthers to the 2021 NRL championship, with a 14-12 win over South Sydney in the Grand Final at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
With 12 minutes remaining and the scores locked at 8-8, the Rabbitohs threatened to break out of their own half, but Crichton cut off Cody Walker's long cutout pass to sprint 40 metres for the winning try.
Souths continued to press hard over the final moments and succeeded in putting winger Alex Johnston across in the corner to equal the club's single-season tryscoring record.
But half Adam Reynolds left his sideline conversion out to the right and his last-ditch two-point field goal attempt was short and wide, allowing Penrith to play down the final seconds to victory.
After losing the 2020 Grand Final to Melbourne Storm, the Panthers were driven to avenge that defeat and finished the regular season level with their nemeses on the competition ladder, inferior only on points differential.
Penrith began their campaign with 12 consecutive wins, before stumbling to consecutive defeats in June and then losing their opening playoff game against South Sydney.
They were forced to take the scenic route to the final, edging Parramatta Eels and the Storm to earn a rematch with the Rabbitohs.
For coach Ivan Cleary, the results was a case of fourth time lucky, after losing the 2002 Grand Final as NZ Warriors fullback and then guiding them back to the 2011 title decider, where they lost to Manly Sea Eagles.
Penrith took the early advantage against Souths, with Matt Burton crossing for the opening try, converted by captain Nathan Cleary.
Walker fended off Cleary Jr on his way to the Rabbitohs' first try and at halftime, only a Cleary penalty goal separated the two sides, 8-6.
Reynolds levelled the affair with a penalty soon after the restart, before Crichton's opportunism turned the tide back Penrith's way.
The result dashed the hopes of Kiwi veteran Benji Marshall, who sought his second NRL championship 16 years after his first with Wests Tigers.
His career seemed over, before Souths 'supercoach' Wayne Bennett took him on for the 2021 season - Reynolds leaves for Brisbane Broncos next season, while Marshall's future is again undecided.
But Penrith's success meant NRL rings for Kiwi connections James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, Scott Sorenson, Jarome Luai and Spencer Leniu. Nathan Cleary took out the Clive Churchill Medal for Most Valuable Player of the Grand Final.
Penrith Panthers 14 (Burton & Crichton tries; Cleary 2 conversions & penalty) South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 (Walker & Johnston tries; Reynolds conversion & penalty)
