Friday 18th September at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Penrith 32 – Tries: Crichton (1), Kikau (1), Luai (1), Mansour (1), Naden (1), To’o (1); Goals: Cleary (4) | North Queensland 12
More: themightypanthers.com/match1273.htm
A perfectly weighted and angled stab kick from Dylan Edwards was pounced on by an unmarked Brian To’o to score in the corner after only four minutes.
Soon after the lead was out to 10-0 when Viliame Kikau busted the line 30 metres out and found Stephen Crichton looming up in support on his inside and crossed adjacent to the left uprights.
The Panthers third try in the 14th minute saw Crichton taken out in the lead up however Josh Mansour managed to ground the ball before it travelled past the dead ball line – whilst it was called up to the NRL bunker as a possible penalty try to Crichton, it was Mansour that ended up being awarded the four pointer.
With just over 7 minutes remaining, the Panthers tried for a short drop out and successfully regained possession just short of their 20 metre line. In the ensuing set, they worked the ball up the field and a fifth tackle bomb from Jarome Luai was picked up by Crichton, and still on the last tackle, he managed an offload to a supporting Luai who crossed over.
Four unanswered tries in the half saw the visitors lead 20-0 at half time.
Four minutes after the resumption, a pin point Nathan Cleary bomb landed in the arms of Kikau only metres out from the line and barged his way over.
At 26-0, the home team finally posted their first points with a converted try.
However, this was soon countered with Penrith’s sixth try, when Crichton popped an offload to Cleary who then ran around the defensive line to run down the blind side and drew the two on one to find an unmarked Brent Naden on his inside who sprinted 20 metres to score. The Cowboys finished the scoring with a consolation try with around 10 minutes remaining, but it was a 14th straight victory for the Panthers as they secured their first minor premiership since 2003.
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