The Panthers have moved back into fourth place on The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup ladder after withstanding a fierce Parramatta Eels fightback to run out 42-28 winners at CommBank Stadium this afternoon.
The Panthers looked to be doing it comfortably when they led 30-4 at the main break and 36-10 early in the second half, before a three try blitz from the Eels midway through the second half gave the visitors considerable hope trailing 36-28 with plenty of time remaining.
But Trent Toelau's third try assist for the afternoon finally put the game to bed for the Panthers with just two minutes remaining in this Battle of the West classic.
The visitors got off to the perfect start, scoring after just six minutes when winger Jake Tago crossed out wide to give the Eels a 4-0 lead.
Penrith soon hit back with a try to Billy Phillips after Parramatta were unable to handle a Trent Toelau cross-field kick, with the lock forward on hand to pounce on the loose ball for his first NSW Cup try to lead 6-4 after 12 minutes.
Penrith extended their lead when another Toelau cross-field kick was collected by centre Sam Lane, who broke through the line before finding fullback Jack Attard in support to score behind the posts on debut, and with Paul Alamoti's conversion the Panthers led 12-4 midway through the opening half.
An Alamoti line-break followed by a quick play-the-ball enabled Toelau to stroll through a yawning gap from 20m out to score behind the posts to extend the Panthers’ lead out to 18-4 after 31 minutes.
The Panthers went back-to-back tries from the ensuing set when winger David Fale made the long break down the eastern touchline before kicking back inside for fullback Attard to score his second try on debut. With Alamoti again successful with his conversion, the Panthers suddenly had a commanding 24-4 lead approaching the main break.
But perhaps the defining moment of the game arrived with the last play before half-time when Toelau's attempted 40/20 instead took a wicked bounce straight back into the hands of the Panthers, with interchange forward Riley Price reaching out to score next to the posts to give the home side an imposing 30-4 lead at the break.
Parramatta as they did in the first half, were quick out of the blocks to score the opening points of the second half when interchange hooker Joey Lussick forced his way over from dummy-half to score underneath the posts, converted by Ronald Volkman to trail by 20 after 47 minutes.
Penrith quickly responded in fine style when Trent Toelau again broke through the middle of Parramatta's defensive line to give winger David Fale a saloon passage to the try-line and re-establish the Panthers' 26-point lead with still 26 minutes remaining.
Parramatta refused to concede and were next to score when back-rower Will Latu broke the line from halfway before finding hooker Brendan Hands backing up in support to score out wide, and with Volkman's conversion successful the Eels had a glimmer of hope trailing 36-16 with 18 minutes remaining.
The Eels scored again soon after through Matt Doorey, with the lock forward crashing over from close range to narrow the gap to 36-22 with 14 minutes still left in the game. When a quick shift left caught the Panthers napping, allowing centre Araz Nanva to reach out and score with 11 minutes remaining, the visitors were suddenly within striking distance trailing 36-28.
But having survived several attacking raids on their own line Penrith finally put the result beyond doubt, when a cross-field kick from Toelau was battered back for replacement forward Lufusi Tapaatoutai to score his maiden try in the NSW Cup and with Alamoti having a perfect afternoon with the boot, kicking his seventh goal from as many attempts, the Panthers sealed an important 42-28 win over their Western Sydney rivals.
Talking points
- Both teams came into the clash inside the NSW Cup top five - Parramatta third and Penrith in fifth. But the win today by the Panthers saw them move into fourth position at the expense of the defending premiers, Newtown Jets.
- Daine Laurie was a late withdrawal for today's clash allowing Jack Attard to make his NSW Cup debut at fullback and he didn't disappoint scoring two tries before being replaced late.
- Parramatta prop Wiremu Greig was placed on report for a high tackle during the first half, that saw Panthers prop Preston Riki ruled out for the rest of the game.
- Paul Alamoti was a handy inclusion for the Panthers with the centre kicking seven goals from as many attempts in a strong performance.
Key moment
Penrith looked to be heading into half-time with a decent 24-4 lead, but they were gifted a bonus converted try that proved pivotal in the final proceedings, when a 40/20 attempt was allowed to bounce back into Panther hands, ending with interchange forward Riley Price scoring next to the posts to give the home side a 30-4 lead that proved too much for the Eels to overcome.
What’s next?
The Panthers will be looking to avenge their Round Five loss when they take on the Bears next Sunday at North Sydney Oval. Also, next Sunday will see the Eels looking to bounce back from this week’s loss when they host the Sydney Roosters at Kellyville Oval.
Match report courtesy of NSWRL. Written by Stewart Moses.
