The NSW Cup Panthers survived a late scare to solidify their spot in the finals at BlueBet stadium on Friday evening.
The Rabbitohs got off to a fast start, in the third minute spreading to the left, the hands of Leonard Skelton putting Leon Te Hau into space down the sideline, before he passed inside to Dion Teaupa screaming through in support. Teaupa ran the final 20 to put his team on the board. Conversion successful, 0-6.
The Panthers began to turn, a pair of good carries from Luron Patea and Mavrik Geyer putting them deep into Rabbitohs territory. The next set the Rabbitohs took five tackles to get to the 35, the kick landing ten metres into Panthers half.
A penalty off the next tackle put Penrith into their opponents half for a full set, and they managed to force an error off the final play, earning themselves five tackles in the red zone.
Tyrone Peachey was the one to capitalise on this swing of momentum, turning his opposite man inside out, before fending the winger off to slam the ball down in the corner. Conversion unsuccessful, 4-6.
Billy Scott put in an early kick aiming for a 40-20, but it went straighter than anticipated, bouncing off Bayleigh Bentley-Hape’s leg, the souths fullback opting to use his knees instead of his hands.
The ball bounced forward and it was Soni Luke who was able to get a boot to it, the ball landing in open air for the Panthers chasers, Daine Laurie the lead of them, who kicked once before trying to pick up the loose ball and failing, knocking it on.
A Panthers player was taken out off the ball and that resulted in Leon Te Hau being sent off the field for ten minutes, giving the Panthers prime attacking territory with a one-man overlap.
It didn’t take long for them to capitalise, a backline shift going through the hands of Luke before finding Iongi who showed brilliant hands to put Peachey away for his second, despite the rushing Rabbitohs defence hitting him just after passing. Conversion unsuccessful, 8-6.
Just before the conclusion of Leon Te Hau’s sin binning period, David Fale took a great carry to half break through the line, he offloaded to Peachey who went for a run down the sideline, before passing inside for Iongi. Iongi made it most of the way but was chopped down with five to go. Peachey slotted into dummy half and immediately passed to Austin Dias who crashed over to extend the lead. Conversion successful, 14-6.
Isaiah Iongi blew the game open, splitting the Rabbitohs open from 20 out and then flicking the pass to Hassett, who didn't have much to do to go over. Conversion unsuccessful, 18-6.
With four minutes left on the clock, the Rabbitohs hit back, Bayleigh Bentley-Hape poking through before a late offload put Isaac Thompson into space. It was a valiant effort from Iongi and Kepaoa to try and hold him up but Thompson was too strong and found the ground. Conversion successful, 18-12.
The Rabbitohs started the second half like they did the first, Dion Teaupa putting a chip over the top for Leon Te Hau who made a brilliant put down in the in goal to level scoring. Conversion successful, 18-18.
The two teams couldn’t get out of the arm wrestle with scores locked, a ten minute period with plenty of missed opportunities inside oppositions territory.
The deadlock was broken with some individual brilliance from Luke Sommerton, splitting the line from 30 out, stepping past the fullback and running the rest of the way to score under the sticks. Conversion successful, 24-18.
Off the kickoff Daine Laurie went through, Iongi was the support and he ran 40 metres before passing off to Geyer with Te Hau running him down again. Geyer only had to go 15 before putting the ball down right behind the goalposts. Conversion successful, 30-18.
A penalty from 25 out right in front allowed Penrith to extend the lead seemingly beyond doubt with eight minutes to go, Billy Scott slotting the penalty goal to take the score out to 32-18.
The Rabbitohs got the ball back off the kickoff, and scored in the following set, a kick to the corner bouncing favourably for Isaac Thompson, after ricocheting off Penrith defenders. Conversion unsuccessful, 32-22.
Richard Kennar had his first try with just three to go, scoring in the corner after a backline shift, Bentley-Hape involved again. Conversion unsuccessful, 32-28.
The Rabbitohs flew in the next set, Ryan Gray splitting Penrith's line open in a nervous moment for the home side. A sin binning for a professional foul off the back of that meant Penrith had to defend a man down for 45 seconds, defending a four point lead. They barely held on and scraped through to win.
