Penrith are 80 minutes away from being crowned the greatest rugby league side in almost 60 years, and joining an elite group in world sport.

Not since the great St George side of last century has a team stood this close to four straight titles, after their record run off 11 between 1956 and 1966.

Sunday's grand final between the Panthers and Melbourne looms as a potential classic - a meeting of two heavyweights and the clear stand-outs this year.

For the Storm, Sunday's clash at Accor Stadium is a chance to crown a new era with their star-studded spine aiming for the first title since the retirement of Cameron Smith.

For Penrith, it is another shot at history after already becoming the first team to reach five consecutive grand finals in more that 50 years.

While they equalled Parramatta's three consecutive titles of 1981-1983 last year, only South Sydney (1925-1929) and the famous Dragons team have won at least four straight.

More remarkable is where Penrith's feat would stand on a national and global scale.

No team in a fully professional Australian sporting league has won four straight titles this century, with three regularly being the limit in the AFL, NBL and Sheffield Shield.

In women's cricket the semi-professional NSW Breakers won 10 straight 50-over titles between 2005-06 and 2014-15, but that came at a time where most other states were still on amateur-level pay.

Globally, four-peats have also been reserved for the very best.

No team has won the Super Bowl for four straight years, while the World Series, NBA and Stanley Cup haven't had four-time champions since the 1970s, 1960s and 1950s respectively.

A win on Sunday would put Penrith on the levels of Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in the major European football leagues this century and the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

"When you say it like that, it's a really nice opportunity we've given ourselves to get there," Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards said.

"You can look forward (and that kind of history) can drive you. But it's a tough 80 minutes ahead of us."

The other anomaly in Penrith's run is the salary cap.

There is no such hindrance in European football, and nor did it exist for South Sydney and St George's great premiership runs.

But the Panthers insist that has in some ways helped them, making every premiership feel different.

And this one will be a farewell party for Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris.

"I think that's why we've been able to have sustained success because we have never looked back and went we're chasing three or four," co-captain Isaah Yeo said.

"The different motivations come in that we're losing more players, and particularly boys who are cultural architects and been here since the start of this run."

In this Melbourne side, however, Penrith face the biggest challenge to their dynasty.

Halfback Jahrome Hughes has been the NRL's best this year, taking charge without Cameron Munster and now taking their combination to new levels with him back.

Harry Grant has also gone to another level following the State of Origin series after a slow start to the year, while a fit-again Ryan Papenhuyzen is returning to his best.

Their edges in Shaun Blore and Eliesa Katoa have been a revelation, while the Storm have beaten Penrith twice this season and finished four points clear on the ladder.

"We're just playing simple," Munster said.

"Everyone wants the best for each other and are working really hard on things they need to work on. It's showing in the game.

"We've got young guys playing out of their skin. They're just going to get better and better. It's scary.

"The job isn't done ... if we can play the footy we've been speaking about, we can definitely create a great memory."