The Panthers took their clash with first-placed Newcastle Knights down to the wire, ending in a gallant 16-12 defeat at BEST Hub on Saturday.
In perhaps their most impressive performance of the season, the Panthers went toe-to-toe with the ladder-leaders and forced the Knights to defend their way to victory after the full-time siren.
Newcastle scored an early opening try, but were kept at bay by the Panthers for the remainder of the first half.
The Panthers hit back to lock the scores at half-time, as Naomi De Bruine wrestled her way to the try line after an impressive offload by Jae Patu.
The Knights hit the ground running in the second half, racing out to a 16-4 lead with three tries in quick succession.
However, the persistent Panthers refused to bow down and fought back to set up a grandstand finish.
With five minutes remaining, the Panthers roared back to life when Chloe Pallisier went short to Loreen Luamanuvae for the prop to fight off four goal-line defenders and score.
The Panthers quickly returned to attacking territory and scored their third try when Claudia Bush fired a cut-out pass for Jacinta Tui to score on the left wing.
Trailing 16-12 with less than two minutes remaining, the Panthers turned down their conversion attempt to secure one final possession.
The Panthers charged upfield from kick-off and set their sights on the try line, but Newcastle held on until after the full-time siren to deny Penrith an incredible result.
The Panthers will wrap up their inaugural NSW Women's Premiership season when they face Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the final round on Saturday 13 September at BEST Hub.
FULL-TIME: Knights 16 def. Panthers 12
Tries: Naomi De Bruine (28'), Loreen Luamanuvae (64'), Jacinta Tui (68')
Line-Up: 1. Brooke Wilkins, 2. Jacinta Tui, 3. Litia Fusi, 4. Natalia Webb, 5. Chelsea Blankenstein, 6. Claudia Bush, 7. Jade Elford, 8. Oriana Epati, 9. Chloe Pallisier, 10. Loreen Luamanuvae, 11. Abbie Grant, 12. Harmony Covacich, 13. Kahu Cassidy (c)
Bench: 14. Naomi De Bruine, 15. Jae Patu, 17. Ruthie Aunei-Mose, 20. Georgia Edwards, 21. Julie Tauafao
