The Penrith Panthers have been crowned NRL Minor Premiers. Photo: NRL Photos.

The Penrith Panthers have won their fourth NRL Minor Premiership in just seven seasons, again cementing their status as the greatest rugby league team of the modern era.

The Panthers demolished the Tigers 38-10 at CommBank Stadium this afternoon to ensure they went past the Warriors and finished on top of the competition after 27 rounds.

The match was over at half-time with Penrith enjoying a 26-0 lead on a sunny spring afternoon in front of more than 18,000 fans.

The Panthers are presented the JJ Giltinan Shield. Photo: NRL Photos.

“It’s so cool to get a trophy and after a long season to be sitting at the top feels really good,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.

“It just confirms you’ve done a lot of things right over a long period of time. We’ve had a really good year. It started off so well and coming out of Origin it was a bit inconsistent, but it was good to go through that as well.

“We’ve had two years playing out of our spiritual home ground as well and I think that’s a pretty good effort as well.”

Nathan Cleary with the JJ Giltinan Shield. Photo: NRL Photos.

It is the sixth time the Panthers have won the JJ Giltinan Shield. The side will now set its sights on winning a seventh Premiership.

Climbing that mountain will begin at CommBank Stadium next Sunday afternoon with Penrith to play the Sydney Roosters at 4.05pm.

“I feel like our end to the season has been good. We’ve had a really good six weeks of good hard footy against good teams,” Cleary said.

The Panthers celebrate a try against the Tigers. Photo: NRL Photos.

“It’s a great time of year and I’m really grateful that we’re still playing and we have a good shot at another title.”

The Finals will get underway on Friday night when Souths host Newcastle in an Elimination Final at Allianz Stadium at 7.50pm.

The Warriors will play the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon at Go Media Stadium followed by the Sharks taking on the Cowboys at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

Then it’s the Panthers and Roosters on Sunday.

Nathan Cleary in action against Wests. Photo: NRL Photos.

Co-captain Nathan Cleary said he’s looking forward to playing his first Finals match at CommBank Stadium.

“When this place is full it’s a great stadium,” he said.

“Hopefully next Sunday we can fill it right up and put on a pretty good show.”

A party atmosphere for the Panthers at CommBank. Photo: NRL Photos.

ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys said an exciting Finals series is ahead.

“The NRL Telstra Premiership 2026 regular season has been the most attended and most watched ever,” he said.

“Well over four million people attended Premiership matches and more than 150 million people watched our Premiership games.

“The Minor Premiership came down to the final match in the final round of the regular season. Congratulations to Penrith Panthers on a fourth minor premiership in seven years.

Penrith fans at CommBank Stadium. Photo: NRL Photos.

“The game is in a brilliant position. It is the number one sport in Australia and the Pacific and is continuing to grow in Australia, New Zealand and in other parts of the world.

“It has never been more popular and our fans will be rewarded with a Finals Series filled with highlights from the best athletes on the planet.”

Tickets will be on sale for all Week One matches to the competing clubs’ ticketed members at 10am AEST on Monday (September 7), followed by competing clubs’ non-ticketed members and NRL Account Holders at 4pm AEST on Monday.

Finals Series tickets will be on sale to General Public at 10am AEST on Tuesday (September 8) at http://www.nrl.com/tickets.

Troy Dodds is the Weekender’s Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.