PENRITH PANTHERS 19 SYDNEY ROOSTERS 12
TOM SMITH, CommBank Stadium, Parramatta, Sunday

NATHAN CLEARY’S late field-goal and Brian To’o’s intercept try ensured the Panthers overcame the Roosters in an engrossing qualifying final.

We were locked up 12-all at the break when Cleary was sin-binned for colliding with Hugo Savala’s kicking leg, and Penrith survived unscathed with their main man off the park.

In fact, no one broke through until the bloodied Cleary squeezed over an ugly drop-goal with nine minutes remaining, then To’o added the exclamation mark in the 77th minute.

The Panthers can now put their feet up ahead of a home preliminary final against the Warriors or Knights, whereas the Roosters have to face the Sharks in a sudden-death semi-final for the right to meet the Dolphins in a prelim.

The men in black have now beaten the Eastern Suburbs club in 13 of their last 15 meetings, as well as their past four play-offs. But the Tricolours lost no admirers for their role in an epic arm wrestle.

The Roosters outmuscled the Panthers in round 24 before tumbling to three straight defeats and losing halfback Sam Walker to a season-ending ACL rupture.

Penrith, on the other hand, strutted to the minor premiership – their fourth in seven years – on the end of a big win over Wests.

Ivan Cleary re-added Scott Sorensen after a rest, and brought in Blaize Talagi for Luke Garner due to a groin complaint.

Isaah Yeo remained on the bench in his second game back from a pectoral issue.

Trent Robinson rested James Tedesco, Billy Smith, Robert Toia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Savala, Daly Cherry-Evans, Naufahu Whyte, Reece Robson, Lindsay Collins and Siua Wong for their final-round loss to the Rabbitohs, and brought them all back here.

Victor Radley (concussion) also rejoined the pack, but Angus Crichton failed to return from his eleven-week foot injury.

Cleary made an early break but opposite number Cherry-Evans reeled him in, then Nawaqanitawase somehow denied Thomas Jenkins.

Brian To’o threatened on the other flank, until Dylan Edwards’ pass went astray.

There was no denying Liam Martin, who soared above Radley to snatch a Cleary kick above his head and touch down under the posts.

But after spending the first 20 minutes under siege, the Roosters landed a counterpunch when Tedesco sent Toia spinning over the stripe.

And Nawaqanitawase produced a signature slice of magic to get the visitors in front, scooping up a Lindsay Smith pass then galloping 45 metres to score.

With Egan Butcher ruled out by a head-injury assessment and the Chooks tiring, Edwards raced between Wong and Radley to post Penrith’s reply.

But there was a twist on the stroke of half-time, when Cleary caught Savala’s leg following a kick.

Gerard Sutton sent the Panthers star to the bin, although Savala sprayed the simple penalty-goal attempt to leave it level at the break.

The twelve-man Panthers clung on with Cleary off, and neither side could break the deadlock until the NRL’s premier playmaker added one point in the 71st minute.

Cherry-Evans missed his ill-timed shot in reply, then To’o scampered away with the match-sealing intercept at the death.

GAMESTAR: Nathan Cleary made amends for his earlier sin-binning by guiding Penrith home, culminating in the late field-goal that put the victors on top.

GAMEBREAKER: After Cleary booted the Panthers ahead, Brian To’o collected a late intercept to secure a tense victory.

MATCHFACTS

PANTHERS
1 Dylan Edwards
2 Thomas Jenkins
4 Casey McLean
18 Blaize Talagi
5 Brian To’o
6 Jack Cole
7 Nathan Cleary
8 Moses Leota
9 Mitch Kenny
16 Liam Henry
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Liam Martin
10 Lindsay Smith
Subs
13 Isaah Yeo
14 Freddy Lussick (not used)
15 Scott Sorensen
17 Billy Phillips
19 Billy Scott
22 Jesse McLean (not used)

Tries: Martin (12), Edwards (36), To’o (77)
Goals: Cleary 2/2, Edwards 1/1
Field-goals: Cleary (71)
Sin bin: Cleary (40) – contact with kicker’s leg

ROOSTERS
1 James Tedesco
2 Daniel Tupou
3 Billy Smith
4 Robert Toia
5 Mark Nawaqanitawase
6 Hugo Savala
7 Daly Cherry-Evans
8 Naufahu Whyte
9 Reece Robson
10 Lindsay Collins
12 Siua Wong
20 Egan Butcher
13 Victor Radley
Subs
11 Salesi Foketi
14 Connor Watson
15 Spencer Leniu
16 Nat Butcher
18 Cody Ramsey (not used)
19 Tommy Talau (not used)

Tries: Toia (20), Nawaqanitawase (25)
Goals: Savala 2/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 6-12, 12-12; 13-12, 19-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Panthers: Nathan Cleary; Roosters: Mark Nawaqanitawase

Penalty count: 7-2
Half-time: 12-12
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Attendance: 22,148