PARRAMATTA EELS 18 PENRITH PANTHERS 24
CALLUM WALKER, CommBank Stadium, Thursday

PENRITH overcame two yellow cards to edge out Parramatta and keep up the momentum at the top of the NRL ladder.

Both Tom Jenkins and Isaiah Papali’i were sent to the sin bin for professional fouls either side of half-time, but the Panthers – led by the ever-imperious Nathan Cleary – notched three second-half tries to take the game away from the Eels.

Parramatta, in front of their home fans, broke the deadlock after just three minutes when Mitchell Moses caught a pinpoint Ronald Volkman chip to the posts.

Things got even better for the Eels moments later as Jack Williams ran a sumptuous line to power over.

12-0 down and the Panthers got some decent field position – and they were rewarded for their efforts when Jenkins caught a Cleary kick and offloaded to Casey McLean, who managed to finish in the corner.

But, there was still enough time in the half for Jenkins to see yellow as Penrith rallied after the break.

Efforts from Liam Henry, Liam Martin and Jenkins himself – sandwiched in between Papali’i’s yellow card – sent the Panthers into a 24-12 lead.

And, though Williams grabbed a second with a minute left, Penrith weren’t to be denied.

 

EELS: 1 Isaiah Iongi, 2 Brian Kelly, 3 Jordan Samrani, 22 Will Penisini, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Ronald Volkman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Sam Tuivaiti, 9 Tallyn Da Silva, 10 Jack Williams, 12 Kitione Kautoga, 15 Luca Moretti, 13 Jack De Belin. Subs: 11 Kelma Tuilagi, 14 Dylan Walker, 16 Teancum Brown, 17 Harrison Edwards, 18 Joash Papalii (not used), 19 Toni Mataele (not used)

Tries: Moses (3), Williams (13, 79); Goals: Moses 3/4

PANTHERS: 20 Jaxen Edgar, 2 Tom Jenkins, 3 Paul Alamoti, 4 Casey McLean, 5 Brian To’o, 6 Blaize Talagi, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Moses Leota, 9 Freddy Lussick, 10 Lindsay Smith, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Liam Martin, 13 Isaah Yeo. Subs: 14 Billy Scott, 15 Scott Sorensen, 16 Liam Henry, 17 Billy Phillips, 18 Izack Tago (not used), 19 Jack Cole (not used)

Tries: McLean (17), Henry (51), Martin (57), Jenkins (67); Goals: Cleary 4/4; Sin bin: Jenkins (40) – professional foul, Papali’i (61) – professional foul

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6; 12-12, 12-18, 12-24, 18-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Eels: Jack Williams; Panthers: Nathan Cleary

Penalty count: 5-3; Half-time: 12-6; Referee: Gerard Sutton; Attendance: 15,662