Cameron Smith calls out Ivan Cleary 'masterstroke' that won NRL grand final for Panthers

NRL great Cameron Smith has lavished praise on Penrith coach Ivan Cleary after outsmarting rival Craig Bellamy with a grand final 'masterstroke'. The Panthers showed why they are considered the greatest NRL team of the modern era having defeated the Storm 14-6 to record their fourth straight premiership.

And Smith has pinpointed a move from coach Cleary that tipped the game in their balance. In the early stages of the game, Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary made a point of switching the ball back on the inside.

The Storm's quick defence was rushing up on the outside and the Panthers kept turning it back into traffic down the middle. While it didn't initially pay dividends, the game opened up in the 38th minute using the same game plan.

Luai received the ball on the left hand side from the ruck, but sent a 15 metre spiral back to Cleary on the right. Cleary was then able to give a short ball to Liam Martin who charged over the line in what became a player-of-the-match performance.

And Penrith repeatedly used this tactic to expose the tired middle men of the Storm. Smith claimed the tactical decision to force the Storm - lacking some size in the front row - to do a mountain of work in the middle took its toll on Melbourne in the later stages of the contest.

“Cleary’s game plan was a masterstroke, to continue turning the ball back inside. They controlled the match,” Smith said on Channel Nine after the victory.

The Storm ran out of steam at the end of the game having done a mountain of defence towards the end of the first-half. The Panthers were also relentless in defence and hardly offered the Storm a chance, despite one controversial Jack Howarth decision from the Bunker, with their efforts on the line arguably the highlight of the contest.

Isaah Yeo praises defence in Penrith victory

While the took their chances when presented, co-captain Isaah Yeo praised his team's defence as the cornerstone of their title charge. The Panthers have not been as resolute in defence this year, which led to many fans feeling the Storm could overcome them with their attack.

However, Yeo feels the belief in the team to turn up in the big games is what sets them apart from other teams. “We might not be the prettiest team with the way we played throughout the season, but I just feel like our game holds up so much at the back end because of all the little things,” Panthers co-captain Yeo said.

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“We back our defence, all week the media spoke about their spine…but internally we had a real belief in our defence and I think we’ve shown that over the last five years. Sometimes that can get forgotten.” Storm captain Harry Grant was immense in a losing side, but was unable to get his team out of their own territory when it mattered. And despite a stellar effort, Grant also praised Penrith's experience in the big moments as the difference on grand final night.

"We've had an incredible season and I think we learned how hard it is to get here over the last few years," the skipper said. "We thoroughly enjoyed this week, but we probably learned what this week's all about and what it takes to take your game to the next level. Once you do get here, it's even harder to win and it just goes to show Penrith for the 'been here, done it'.

"You've got to give them a lot of credit and a lot of respect for what they've done over the past four or five years. For our guys, this was the biggest game of our careers, so that's a real lesson. We're keeping our squad together. We're adding to our squad and we'll be more experienced and better for the run next season."