PENRITH PANTHERS 38 WESTS TIGERS 10
IAN HOWE, Commbank Stadium, Sunday
PENRITH came into the final game of the NRL regular season knowing exactly what they had to do to win the minor premiership – win the game by two points or more.
It was soon obvious that they would comfortably achieve that feat as they raced to a 26-0 half-time lead against the outclassed Tigers, meaning they will face Sydney Roosters this weekend in the opening round of the play-offs.
The Tigers did fight back in the second half, scoring two tries to bring the scoreline back to 26-10, the first while Nathan Cleary’s halfback partner Jack Cole was in the sin bin.
But the Panthers re-asserted their dominance with two tries to star centre Casey McLean, which brought up his hat-trick and secured a home play-off tie against Sydney Roosters at CommBank Stadium next Sunday afternoon.
It was their fourth Minor Premiership in seven years and they will be the strong favourites to beat the Roosters this Sunday and then win the Grand Final next month, despite the fact that the Roosters defeated them just three weeks ago.
And there was good news on the injury front for Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
His co-captain Isaah Yeo returned from a pec injury after having four weeks out of action, while Mitch Kenny was back for the first time since injuring his ankle and leg in April.
It was the Panthers’ last regular-season game at Commbank while their own home has undergone a $309m redevelopment. They will be anxious to return as NRL Premiers next year.
Not surprisingly Ivan Cleary was in a jovial mood after the game.
“The weather is changing, it feels like semis. It’s a great time of year. I’m extremely grateful we’re still playing, and we get a good shot at another title,” he said..
“It’s a long year, when you lay out your plans for the year, you just hope you’re in this position we’re in, and we are.
“I feel like our habits throughout the year will keep us in good stead. It’s a new competition, but your habits, good and bad, will pop up under pressure.”
Yeo started on the bench and joined the action in the 26th minute. He immediately took the ball into hostile territory and was met by heavy tackles without him showing any adverse reaction.
“I trust him so much, and ultimately, it was his call,” Cleary said.
“I said during the week the preparation he’s had was very good and thorough, and he was more than happy to test it out.
“I was watching him a bit towards the end, we lost a bit of intensity and we were defending a fair bit. But he was quite amazing.”
For the Tigers, Jarome Luai, whose arrival from Penrith two years ago had held out so much promise, only played 41 minutes before being replaced by Latu Fainu, whose pass selection and speed did cause the Panthers some problems.
Luai was playing his last game for the Tigers before joining Parramatta next season and then the PNG chiefs in 2028.
GAME STAR: Casey McLean is an outstanding young centre, as his three tries for the Panthers demonstrated.
GAMEBREAKER: Thomas Jenkins’ second try in the 29th minute put the Panthers 20 points ahead and settled the outcome.
MATCHFACTS
PANTHERS
1 Dylan Edwards
2 Thomas Jenkins
3 Luke Garner
4 Casey McLean
5 Brian To’o
6 Jack Cole
7 Nathan Cleary
8 Moses Leota
9 Mitch Kenny
10 Liam Henry
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Liam Martin
13 Lindsay Smith
Subs
14 Freddy Lussick (not used)
16 Luron Patea
17 Billy Phillips
18 Blaize Talagi (not used)
19 Billy Scott
22 Isaah Yeo
Tries: To’o (7), McLean (16, 59, 65), Jenkins (21, 29), Edwards (32)
Goals: Cleary 5/7
Sin bin: Cole (37) – professional foul
TIGERS
1 Jahream Bula
2 Junior Tupou
3 Solomone Saukuru
4 Patrick Herbert
5 Jeral Skelton
6 Jarome Luai
7 Jock Madden
8 Terrell May
9 Api Koroisau
10 Fonua Pole
11 Samuela Fainu
12 Sione Fainu
13 Alex Seyfarth
Subs
14 Latu Fainu
15 Vaka Aho
16 Ethan Roberts
17 Bunty Afoa (not used)
18 Heath Mason
19 Sunia Turuva (not used)
Tries: Skelton (45), Saukuru (51)
Goals: Madden 1/2
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 16-0, 20-0, 26-0; 26-4, 26-10, 32-10, 38-10
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Panthers: Thomas Jenkins; Tigers: Solomone Saukuri
Penalty count: 7-4
Half-time: 26-0
Referee: Ashley Klein
Attendance: 18,332