Cleary, JFH, and their teammates emulate the Eels.

Cleary, JFH, and their teammates emulate the Eels.
Kelsey Hogan and Alicia Newton
Then there were nine more.

Penrith’s four-year grand final streak has featured nine players as mainstays in the team, tying them with Parramatta’s four-year straight grand final run 40 years earlier.

Panthers co-captains Isaah Yeo and Nathan Cleary have played in every decider since 2020, joining forwards James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, Liam Martin, and outside backs Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, and Dylan Edwards.

Parramatta’s four-year winning streak had nine constants, including Peter Sterling, Michael Cronin, and Eric Grothe.

Before attempting to recreate the Eels of the 1980s with a three-peat against the Broncos on Sunday, the core group understands that a rare feat awaits them if they win.

“That’s really special, and I like hearing that,” Yeo said to NRL.com.

“Obviously, we’ve had to go through a lot together to get there.” As if everything hasn’t been going well. But seeing those folks on either side of you on the big stage gives you a lot of confidence.

“They’re willing to take a little less to stay on the team, and we’ve formed a really special bond with them.” That’s a pretty wonderful aspect of it, that everyone’s first reaction is to re-sign here before looking elsewhere.

“It obviously helps in terms of injury.” During that time, we were able to maintain a relatively healthy relationship with one another. So that usually helps with success.”

Panthers winger Brian To’o said the Panthers’ 2020 grand final setback to Melbourne had galvanised the team’s biggest stars to ensure a failure on rugby league’s biggest day would not happen again in future deciders.