Penrith winger Brian To’o has scored three tries in near perfect Panthers victory over Melbourne to advance into their fourth consecutive NRL grand final.

The Panthers ran over the top of the Storm 38-4, a record winning margin in a preliminary final.

To’o scored a hat-trick of tries, on the back of a brilliant game by Panthers captain Nathan Clearly.

At times on Friday night, Penrith barely got out of second gear and made light work of a Storm side short on power and panache.

Any hope Melbourne had relied on them being disciplined and faultless to stop Penrith from getting into their groove.

Their patience lasted a little over two minutes, Marion Seve giving away a penalty which allowed the Panthers to attack and finish their set with Brian To’o going over in the corner.

Justin Olam hit back for the Storm before dropping another with the line beckoning which prompted the first of several skirmishes with Melbourne brute Nelson Asofa-Solomona front and centre of it all.

Asofa-Solomona was happy to throw his weight around and, when he hit Nathan Cleary off the ball in the 15th minute, a further melee kicked off.

Cleary kicked a penalty goal and with Asofa-Solomona hooked by Craig Bellamy soon after, Penrith cut through the Melbourne middle with ease.

It didn’t help that as Asofa-Solomona watched on, prowling from the sidelines, his Storm teammates continued to drop balls or give the Panthers piggybacks up the field.

Lock Isaah Yeo, who was a standout for Penrith, guided his side into the right areas with To’o adding a second and Sunia Turuva crossing to give the Panthers an 18-4 lead at half-time.

Melbourne mustered a fight for the early part of the second half but their lack of respect for the ball cost them once more.

Cleary and Dylan Edwards profited, crossing twice in a four-minute salvo to knock the wind out of any Storm fightback.

To’o crossed for his second career hat-trick and Cleary nudged over a penalty late in the game to twist the knife even further and give the Panthers a unique shot at history.

Livewire five-eighth Jarome Luai was given an early mark after emerging unscathed in his first game back since suffering a dislocated shoulder.

The 34-point margin was the largest in a preliminary final in the NRL era.

Penrith became the fifth side to make four consecutive deciders since grand finals became mandatory in 1954.

AAP/ABC

Look back at how all the action unfolded in our live blog or check out the stats in our ScoreCentre.

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Thanks for joining me

By Simon Smale

It was a big game tonight that turned into a complete mismatch thanks to the dominance of this Panthers team, that has joined four of the all time greats in making four-straight grand finals.

Tomorrow at a sold out Lang Park, we’ll find out who they will meet.

Will it be the Broncos?

Will it be the Wahs?

I’ll be on hand at Lang Park to bring you all the action from the second preliminary final.

Keep your eyes on ABC Sport for all your analysis of what we’ve seen tonight from Nick Campton, who’s been tapping away on the keys at the Olympic Stadium for us.

I’ll see you back for live coverage tomorrow night.

Lots of love for dad from Nathan Cleary

By Simon Smale

Bloodied.

Bruised.

Far from bowed.

Nathan Cleary paid tribute to dad Ivan after the match on ABC Radio.

“I know he’s my dad, but it’s special,” he told ABC Sport.

“He doesn’t do it for the accolades, he does it for the club. We love him.”

Will the Warriors or Broncos be able to do any better?

By Simon Smale

Thanks for the blog Simon, not the result I was hoping for but probably what was expected. Go Broncos tomorrow.

– Mike

All eyes will switch to Lang Park tomorrow, where the Broncos and Warriors will meet to decide who will be given the opportunity to challenge these Panthers in the grand final next week.

Both teams have their plans I’m sure – but they have a big game to get through first.

Happy Birthday Stephen Crichton

By Simon Smale

Stephen Crichton, who won’t forget his 23rd birthday any time soon, has been speaking to Channel 9.

“Pretty special. My last year, this was the goal at the start of the year.

“These guys have been with me ever since the start of the journey from my debut. The same group since the start. They have been with me all the way to the end.

“It was good to get the win in front of our home fans, and in front of my family.

“Penrith has always been my home since I’ve moved over from Samoa. I went to the club and gave them 100 per cent next week to get the win. Should be good.”

Jarome Luai’s shoulder ‘all good’

By Simon Smale

Jarome Luai was excellent tonight – especially given his shoulder was dislocated just 29 days ago.

He told ABC Sport on ABC Radio his shoulder is “all good man”.

“[We’re] Pretty blessed with the score, so the coach brought me off a bit early.”

Just 57 minutes for the Panthers five-eighth.

He still managed 43 run metres, two tackle breaks and made 14 tackles.

Not bad.

Storm has to face some harsh truths

By Simon Smale

Melbourne Storm fullback Nick Meaney is also talking to ABC Sport.

“We did it to ourselves, we gave away too much ball,” he says.

“Can’t do that against a side like Penrith.

“[We] need to have a hard look at ourselves and come back next year.”

He has a point.

A 68 per cent completion rate, 14 errors, a penalty count of 9-4 against Melbourne … the statistics don’t lie.

The Storm also gave away two ruck infringements and two inside 10 metre penalties.

Too many.

The Panthers, meanwhile, only made eight errors.

Early arm wrestle key for Panthers win: Brian To’o

By Simon Smale

Hat-trick hero Brian To’o has just been speaking to ABC Radio.

“It was an arm wrestle at the start,” Brian To’o tells ABC Sport

“To come out on top was really good.”

He had 164 metres from 19 runs, 46 metres post-contact, 11 tackle breaks.

Hugely impressive.

69′ BRILLIANT FROM THE PANTHERS

By Simon Smale

Isaah Yeo made the half-break with Storm players hanging off him down the middle of the pitch.

The Panthers move the ball to the right side quickly, Cleary takes the ball to the line, passes quickly to Izack Tago, who flicks it on in the same motion to Brian To’o who dives over in the corner.

It’s a hat-trick for To’o.

Penrith are romping home now.

Cleary adds the extras, 36-4 is the score.

66′ Penrith fail to complete a set

By Simon Smale

For only the third time tonight the Panthers fail to complete a set.

James Fisher-Harris failed to play the ball correctly, with Liam Martin lurking for the pick and go.

It’s a rarity in this game.

63′ Nathan Cleary stabs a kick in to earn a repeat set, twice

By Simon Smale

Brilliant stuff again from Nathan Cleary.

He is ghosting around all over the place whenever the Panthers have the ball and this time pokes a little stab kick through into the in-goal.

Jahrome Hughes tries to get out of the jam he finds himself in — but cannot and the Storm will have to drop the ball out from under their posts.

They kick it 20 metres this time, but back come the Panthers and Cleary again with a little stab kick through, this time Olam is there to punch it behind with Edwards in close attendance.

59′ Nathan Cleary is opened up!

By Simon Smale

A head impact from a Trent Loiero tackle sees Nathan Cleary’s eye opened up — there’s a lot of claret.

You’d think that would have to be an HIA — but nothing surprises me.

He’s been strapped up and is good to continue … OK.

58′ Nelson Asofa-Solomona on report

By Simon Smale

The wheels have already come off for the Storm — but now the axles are bending and twisting.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona is pinged for a dangerous tackle and has been placed on report.