Penrith Panthers came from 12-2 down to defeat Canterbury Bulldogs 22-14.
After a James Maloney penalty gave the Panthers an early lead, Canterbury scored the first try of the game. Moses Mbye and Josh Jackson combined to set up Marcelo Montoya.
With Dylan Edwards leaving the field with a dislocated shoulder, the Panthers’ left-edge defence was struggling with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak moving to fullback. Dean Whare and Viliame Kikau both moved a place closer to the touchline to cover.
The Bulldogs were well aware of this. Will Hopoate made the most of it as he cruised in to score Canterbury’s second.
The Panthers moved Isaah Yeo out to left centre and settled down. They got their reward when a sweeping move to the right opened up space for Corey Harawira-Naera.
Penrith took the lead early in the second half when Tyrone Peachey assited Moses Leota and Maloney added the conversion. Mbye and Maloney exchanged penalties before the third quarter of the game was up.
An Aaron Woods error led to Penrith further extending their lead. Maloney and Peachey combined to send Yeo in at the corner. Another Maloney penalty gave the Panthers a 22-14 lead with only seven minutes to go.
David Klemmer ended the game in the bin after several flare-ups led to Klemmer running in when Whare hit Jeremy Marshal-King hard.
Panthers: Edwards, Crichton, Harawira-Naera, Whare, Watene-Zelezniak, Peachey, Maloney, Merrin, Katoa, Campbell-Gillard, Kikau, Yeo, Fisher-Harris; Interchanges: Hetherington, Leota, Tamou, Egan
Tries: Harawira-Naera, Leota, Yeo; Goals: Maloney 5
Bulldogs: Mbye, B Morris, J Morris, Hopoate, Montoya, Marshall-King, Foran, Woods, Lichaa, Klemmer, Jackson, Faitala-Mariner, Elliott; Interchanges: Fine, Fualalo, Eastwood, Holland
Tries: Montoya, Hopoate; Goals: Mbye 3
Sin-bin: Klemmer (78) – running in
Full match reports of all this weekend’s NRL games will feature in Monday’s League Express.
