The Panthers will bank $200,000 for finishing first past the post. Another quirky titbit is they will now wear their black jersey if they reach the grand final. Had they finished second and met Brisbane in the decider,they would have worn the pink playing strip being the ‘away’ team.
It was far from a vintage performance,but it sure was entertaining the longer the game went,and Penrith are in brilliant shape heading into September.
Luke Sommerton celebrates after scoring a try in just his second NRL game.Credit:NRL Photos
Scott Sorensen and hooker Mitch Kenny missed the Cowboys clash with leg injuries,but will be available next weekend,leaving Jarome Luai (shoulder) and Taylan May (knee) as the only players in the casualty ward.
Liam Martin underwent a head injury assessment against the Cowboys,but was cleared to return,while Izack Tago punched out an hour of football after returning from injury.
They were lucky winger Sunia Turuva did not suffer a neck injury when he leapt high to join in a try celebration before half-time,landing on a foam bolster on the dead-ball line while upside down.
Loading
Turuva bagged a double to remain right in the mix for rookie of the year honours. Cleary said,“I don’t give out awards,but if he’s not the rookie of the year,there has to be a good one somewhere – he’s been awesome”.
The Cowboys hosted a preliminary final last year and were expected to meet Penrith in the grand final. They will be hugely disappointed with what was produced this year,and joining fellow 2022 preliminary finalists Parramatta and Souths on Mad Monday.
Coach Todd Payten said afterwards:“It was hard to watch,really disappointing. To go in at half-time like we did[down 26-0],with everything to play for,and to get put on the back foot,and not show any real resolve,it was really disappointing and hard to cop.”
Knights clinch fifth spot with ninth straight win
Newcastle have shrugged off the absence of injured talisman Kalyn Ponga and cruised to a 32-12 win over St George Illawarra that confirms they will enter the finals as the form team.
Ponga (shoulder),Jackson Hastings (ankle),Dane Gagai,Tyson Frizell,Phoenix Crossland and Leo Thompson (all rested) missed Saturday’s clash at Jubilee Stadium where the Knights clinched fifth spot with a ninth straight win.
While the Knights will face sterner tests than the 16th-placed Dragons in the finals,they can draw strength from maintaining their relentless attack without Ponga,the chief architect of the streak.
Ponga is expected to return next weekend when Newcastle host either Canberra or the Sydney Roosters in their first home final since 2006.
The result closes the book on a dire year for the Dragons,who finished with their fewest wins in any season as a joint venture (five).
withAAP
Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on9Now.
Sports news,results and expert commentary.Sign up for our Sport newsletter.