Brisbane must find a way to crack the NRL's most impenetrable finals defence this century in Sunday's grand final, with data showing Penrith's resolve in big games is the best since the famed Dogs of War in the mid-1980s.
The Panthers can create history in Sunday's grand final by becoming the first team in 40 years to pull off a premiership three-peat.
Shutting down Reece Walsh will loom as key to that, with the electric Brisbane No.1 having become the game's most dangerous player in 2023.
But no team this century has been better prepared to do so than Ivan Cleary's men.
Their streak of eight straight finals wins, starting with the semi against Parramatta in 2021, is the best of any team since the great St George sides of the 1960s.
Penrith have conceded no more than 12 points in any of those games - an average of 8.25 points per game and a total of 11 tries.
The figures are the best of any team since Warren Ryan's Canterbury let in 7.9 points per game across eight games between 1984 and 1986, well before the 10-metre offside rule.
"We know defence wins games," Penrith prop Spencer Leniu said.
"A lot of our processes and stuff are driven off defence.
"The boys just go to another level when we come into finals. Everyone knows what's at stake.
"A lot is on the line and everyone just puts in that extra 10 per cent to do whatever it takes to save a try."
Australia's defence coach Michael Hagan played in that era under Ryan, and still employs similar philosophies today around technique.
Often regarded of the godfather of modern defence, Ryan built Canterbury's around an outside-in style, with a heavy emphasis on line speed that gave opponents little room to move.
And Hagan can see similarities at Penrith.
"They're aggressiveness and line speed, it's exceptional," Hagan told AAP.
"Particularly given it's over 10 metres, and with the speed and athleticism of players now.
"For them to achieve that over that period takes monumental energy and dedication to keep doing it.
"Their first contact, in terms of their footwork and first contact into the collision, they rarely miss that on any tackle.
"I'm talking wingers, centres, edge players, middles."
Hagan also sees similarities in Penrith's wider system setting up their defence, with both the Bulldogs of the 1980s and this Panthers side rising for finals.
"Part of it is also the expectation they have established to be successful. When I was at Canterbury it was expected you would do well in those big games," Hagan said.
"The more time you spend together, the more time you practice together, and the connection and belief in the group continues to grow.
"Even though they have lost a couple of players over time, Penrith's club mentality must be really strong.
"From their under-16s, 18s, 20s and through to first grade, it's a principle they have coached into their club."
PENRITH'S LAST EIGHT FINALS GAMES
Won: 8
Points scored: 189
Points conceded: 66
Average score: 24-8
