Only one team since the finals system was changed in 2012 has won the premiership after playing in all four weeks of the finals, and that was six years ago when the North Queensland Cowboys lost to the Brisbane Broncos in week one, before getting revenge in the decider.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Love tap' lands 'cool head' Cleary on report<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Another concussion controversy in NRL prelims<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n "I think I'm more tired than the players," Cleary joked.<\/p>\n "Another absorbing game … very courageous. Some of the try savers we came up with were amazing."<\/p>\n Cleary chuckled and said "no" when asked if there was anything in the dangerous tackle incident that saw his son Nathan put on report.<\/p>\n Cleary kept his cards close to his chest when it came to the status of a couple of players<\/p>\n "We aren't a squad that's running around with no injuries, it's just how it is."<\/p>\n The Panthers came out on top after a brutal encounter which saw multiple players leave the field with head knocks, and many bruised and battered bodies at the final siren.<\/p>\n "We're obviously very excited, it's what you've worked for the whole season," co-captain Isaah Yeo said.<\/p>\n "I thought we forced errors throughout the game that they probably hadn't made for most of the year, so that was pleasing."<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Manly star faces hefty ban after ugly tackle<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Bennett blasts Broncos after making 10th GF<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The Panthers move on to face the Rabbitohs, but Cleary refused to be drawn into a war of words when asked about trading barbs with opposite number Wayne Bennett.<\/p>\n "We've had quite a few games against each other, recently too, so we probably both know each other pretty well," he said.<\/p>\n For Melbourne, their bid to go back-to-back ends one game short of a decider.<\/p>\n "We got what we deserved tonight," a resigned Craig Bellamy said afterwards.<\/p>\n "It's real hard to take – with our attack, it was one of our poorest performances of the year, probably the [poorest]."<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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