The Storm and Panthers are set to face off in the Grand Final this weekend, in a rematch from the 2020 decider.
On that day, Melbourne's experience meant they were clinical in their execution, punishing Penrith's mistakes with ruthless efficiency in a 26-20 win.
In many ways, it was the loss that made the Panthers into the juggernaut they are today.
And a former Penrith assistant coach has opened up on how the heartbreaking loss drove the team forward to become the newest NRL dynasty.
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Cameron Ciraldo on 2020 Grand Final defeat
Speaking on SEN's Morning Glory with Matty Johns, former Penrith assistant and now Bulldogs head coach Cameron Ciraldo admits the experience gap between the two sides at the time was a huge factor in the Storm ultimately emerging victorious in 2020.
"There's just so many lessons there, we were such a young team and inexperienced, and inexperienced as a staff as well," he said.
"The boys had won I think 17 straight [games] at that point in time, and were just on this massive wave of energy.
"But you get to Grand Final day and things are a little bit different. Melbourne had that experience and that understanding of what Grand Finals look and feel like. I'm sure we all learnt some lessons that day.
"I think the score was 22-0 at half-time, and it was just nothing like we thought it would be, and it was a credit to Melbourne and Cameron Smith [who] were able to control that game."
He remembers how much the loss affected the players, and how it drove them to success in the seasons to come.
"[James] Fisher-Harris took it personally, I remember talking to him about it in the days after that Grand Final [and] he was going for a road run, tears streaming down his face," Ciraldo said.
"[He] just vowed to never let that happen again, so it's probably [been] a blessing in disguise for what they've been able to achieve in the last few years after that."
Ciraldo also discussed whether he was involved in motivating the squad in 2021 after comments by Jahrome Hughes on the area where many of the Penrith players grew up in the aftermath of the 2020 Grand Final.
He refused to confirm or deny whether he was involved, but said he believes the side didn't need any extra motivation.
"That must have just been little bit of icing on the cake, I think the motivation was already there in terms of losing a Grand Final and wanting to win one," Ciraldo said.
"I don't think they needed much motivation those guys."
