Monday 18th August at Sportingbet Stadium
Penrith 23: Soward (2), Latimore (1), Mansour (1); Goals: Moylan (2), Soward (1); Field goals: Moylan (1) | North Queensland 22
More: themightypanthers.com/match1123.htm
The Cowboys were the first to score with a converted try after just a few minutes.
After 10 minutes, the Panthers struck back when Jamie Soward stepped the opposing winger to score in the right corner – however, he could convert and the visitors held a 6-4 lead. But a penalty conversion soon after locked up the scores at 6 apiece.
Penrith hit the lead when Soward crossed for his second when he ran the line at close range and stepped and jinked his way towards the tryline and despite being tackled on the line was able to get a part of the ball on the line.
With less than 10 minutes remaining in the half Penrith extended their lead to 16-6 when Jeremy Latimore was the beneficiary of a contested bomb, catching the bat-off from Jamal Idris and dragging a Cowboys defender over the try line with him.
But the visitors would have the final say in the second half with their second try reducing Penrith’s margin to 4 at the break.
Soon after the resumption, North Queensland made back to back tries and the conversion saw them lead 18-16.
Their lead would be short lived when a spiralling Soward cut out pass found an unmarked Josh Mansour who crossed in the corner. Soward’s conversion saw the Panthers retain the lead at 22-18.
A try to the Cowboys with 13 minutes remaining saw the scores locked up and the unsuccessful sideline conversion saw it remain 22-all.
With only three minutes remaining, the Panthers were able to pin the Cowboys down at their end with a repeat set and off that next set, Matt Moylan was able to nail a field goal from about 25 metres out, and edge ahead 23-22. They would hang on to record the narrowest of wins.
The Mighty Panthers 