Penrith’s season is over after a dramatic preliminary final loss to the Knights.
PAUL CRAWLEY rates every Panthers player out of 10!
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1 Dylan Edwards – 7
The best player on the field in the first half but looked hampered after picking up a knee injury at about the 26th minute mark. Had a try disallowed due to an obstruction play from Liam Martin but never stopped trying.
2 Tom Jenkins – 5.5
Had a great year but this wasn’t his day. Finished with 16 runs for 176m but always had his work cut out marking up on Dom Young. Came up with possibly the worst kick you will ever see when he shanked one from a set scrum play early in second half. Then backed that up with a loose carry that gave the Knights possession in great field position.
3 Blaize Talagi – 5.5
Had a tough time defending Bradman Best before what looked to be an Achilles injury forced him from the field in the 66th minute. That came after a shocking start when brushed off by Best that opened the door for the opening try. Fired back when he pounced on a Cogger grubber to lock the scores.
Nathan Cleary suffers compound fracture | 01:02
4 Casey McLean – 6.5
Didn’t take a backward step going head-to-head with Dane Gagai. Went so close to scoring late only to be held up by millimetres in the dying minutes that proved match-defining. Didn’t get a lot of opportunity but great defensively.
5 Brian To’o – 6
Did plenty of the hard yards with 17 runs for 175m, but none of the standout moments we’ve come to expect from the Panthers’ little big man.
6 Jack Cole – 4.5
Hard to blame the loss on the young five-eighth who will learn plenty from the experience. But the fact the Knights played so long a man down and still got the win will always reflect poorly on the Panthers’ make-shift halves.
‘I didn’t think it was a send off’ | 03:28
14 Jack Cogger – 5.5
Tried his heart out but like his halves partner just lacked the finesse of Cleary’s game management when it mattered. Another who came up with a crucial dropped ball late in the game when the Panthers were in great field position. Set up an early try with a deft grubber for Talagi.
8 Moses Leota – 5
One of the defining moments came in the final desperate minutes when the Panthers’ enforcer was absolutely smashed by Kalyn Ponga. Leota was also caught out when he had his back turned after a penalty and Sandon Smith raced off like a thief in the night with the try that put the Knights in front for the first time heading into the final quarter.
For a bloke who has done so many great things for the Panthers, big Moses will look back on this one with some regrets.
Smith stunner sends Knights to the GF | 00:43
9 Mitch Kenny – 5.5
Great defensively with 39 tackles but not a single run.
16 Liam Henry – 6
Outstanding first stint with 10 runs for 78m and 18 tackles, but that was it.
15 Scott Sorensen – 6
Another who gave it everything he had. Hard to fault.
12 Liam Martin – 6
Came up with a huge hit late but didn’t have the impact we’ve come to expect.
13 Isaah Yeo – 6.5
So courageous just to get on the field in the first place. Never stopped trying but it just wasn’t the Panthers’ day.
7 Nathan Cleary – N/A
Barely on the field 10 minutes before that horrible hip drop saw the champion halfback stretchered off with a compound fracture to his leg. So sad, because up until that point Cleary was running comfortably and really going after the game.
Emotional Matty on Knights’ epic win | 01:45
10 Lindsay Smith – 6
Started off the bench but came up with a crucial try in the countdown to halftime with a show and go. Worked hard but another who made a crucial mistake in those final frantic minutes
11 Isaiah Papali’i – 6
Got through plenty of work after starting off the bench with 14 runs for 126m and 20 tackles.
17 Billy Phillips – 4
Another who had his back turned when Smith took off for that crucial second half try that turned the game.
18 Luke Garner – 4
Playing in the centres, just the 6 runs for 48m and 11 tackles.
21 Freddy Lussick – N/A