Live Coverage | The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup - Round 26

Panthers hold off determined Rabbitohs to secure finals spot

Stewart Moses

Game Summary

The Penrith Panthers have secured a Knock-On Effect NSW Cup finals spot after holding off a determined effort from the defending premiers South Sydney, with a 32-28 win at BlueBet Stadium tonight.

Star of the show was veteran centre and skipper, Tyrone Peachey, who scored two tries, and set another as the Panthers scored four first half tries, as well as providing a line break assist for Isaiah Iongi.

Souths shocked the home side early in the 2nd minute, spreading the ball quickly out to the winger Leon Te Hau, to make the break down the western touchline from halfway, before firing the pass back inside for the five-eighth Dion Teaupa to score next to the posts and with the simple conversion from fullback Bayleigh Bentley-Hope, the visitors led 6-0.

Penrith hit back in the 13th minute when a quick shift right inside Souths’ 20m enabled Tyrone Peachey to score out wide to trail 6-4.

The Panthers were on the attack again however a indiscretion in back play by Leon Te Hau, saw the Souths winger sent to the bin for 10 minutes.

The Panthers scored their second through Peachey, courtesy of a deft pass from the fullback Isaiah Iongi that created the overlap for the skipper to score out wide to give the home side a 8-6 lead midway through the first half.

The Panthers soon extended that lead to eight after 27 minutes off a long-range line break from Iongi that ended with the fullback being tackled short of the line, only for a quick play the ball that allowed Peachey to put interchange forward Austin Dias over next to the posts.

The Panthers then scored their fourth unanswered try, Luke attacked the blind side, putting Iongi into a gap before the fullback produced an audacious flick pass outside to Hassett who crashed over out wide to give the home side a 18-6 lead despite Scott having a difficult day with the goalkicking.

Souths went into the main break buoyed by a late first half converted try to trail 18-12 after a quick shift right on the last tackle ended with centre Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson powering his way over the line.

Souths started the second half the better side and rewarded for their enterprising play when Dean Hawkins produced a cross-field kick from 25m out for Te Hau to score unmarked in the southeast corner levelling the scores at 18-all.

Penrith retook the lead with 15 minutes remaining when lock forward Luke Sommerton produced a show and go from 35m out to break the line to score next to the posts to give the Panthers a 24-18 lead.

From the kick off, the home side scored again through backrower Mavrik Geyer to score behind the posts (32-18).

But Souths mounted another comeback to almost steal the game. Having earned another penalty from a successful short kick-off and getting another six again inside Penrith's 20, the visitors hit back with a second try to Thompson after the kick through was fumbled by Penrith to trail 32-22 after 74 minutes.

With 90 seconds remaining, the Rabbitohs, inside the Panthers 20, kept play alive on the last before winger Richie Kennar proved far too strong for his opposite to score in the southwest corner and with Bentley-Hope landing the conversion from the western touchline, the gap was reduced to 4.

A linebreak from dummy half soon after the kickoff, resulted with Panthers backrower Zac Lipowicz being sent to the sin-bin with 50 seconds remaining and the visitors on the attack- with the game finishing at 32-28.

Key Points:

• The 32-28 win means that the Panthers remain unbeaten in their last seven games and will qualify for the finals in either fourth or fifth position depending on results.
• Tyrone Peachey’s double means the veteran centre finished the regular season as the team’s top try scorer with 12.
• Souths’ Leonard Skelton, Brock Gray and Adam Christensen were all placed on report as was Penrith backrower Harrison Hassett.

Play of the Game

The Panthers looked under siege midway through the second half but two back-to-back tries ultimately gave the home side enough breathing space to hold onto a win that seals their place in the NSW Cup Finals. The first courtesy of a brilliant individual effort from Luke Sommerton who fooled the Souths’ defence with a show and go from 35m out to score before Daine Laurie went into open space from the kickoff linking up with Iongi before the fullback found Geyer in support to score and suddenly give the Panthers a 12 point lead, a lead they were able to hold onto against the fast-finishing Rabbitohs.

What's Next

Season 2024 is over for the South Sydney Rabbitohs while the Penrith Panthers look set to play finals football next Saturday at Leichhardt Oval with their opponent to be determined, most likely the loser of the Jets v Warriors game.

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Newtown Jets v Warriors

North Sydney Bears v Newcastle Knights 

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