Panthers Show Premiership Credentials with Dominant Win Over Dragons in Season Finale

Match Overview

The Penrith Panthers have demonstrated their premiership potential with a convincing 40-20 victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons, securing seventh spot on the ladder. The win means the premiers will now head to Auckland to face the Warriors in an elimination final – marking the first time during their reign that they’ll have to compete from the bottom half of the eight.

Key Performances

Nathan Cleary was the standout performer, contributing four line break assists, two try assists, 131 run metres and 16 points. The Panthers’ wingers Thomas Jenkins and Paul Alamoti were also impressive, combining for 362 run metres and three tries.

Match Highlights

The Panthers took control early when Thomas Jenkins crossed in the left-hand corner following smooth ball movement involving Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Blaize Talagi and Casey McLean. Though Cleary missed the conversion, it set the tone for what was to come.

The Panthers’ dominance continued with Luke Garner breaking through poor defense to set up Nathan Cleary for a try under the posts. The team’s clinical attack was further demonstrated when Casey McLean scored following excellent teamwork from Isaiah Papalii, Scott Sorensen and Nathan Cleary, pushing the score to 16-6.

Historical Context

The victory marks the Panthers’ 13th win of the season – a remarkable achievement considering they were last on the ladder after 12 rounds. The Panthers entered the match fresh after resting their entire squad the previous weekend, with key players Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, and Dylan Edwards returning to set the team up for their finals campaign.

Looking Ahead

The Panthers’ performance serves as a warning to their competitors that their dream of securing a fifth consecutive premiership remains very much alive, setting up an exciting finals series ahead.