Penrith’s hopes of stealing the minor premiership from Melbourne are alive after they produced a three-try four-minute blitz to steal victory from Parramatta in an unbelievable late comeback at CommBank Stadium on Friday evening.
The Sixteenth-placed Eels seemed for all cash like they had been about to take down their second-placed derby rivals after main 34-20 with seven minutes remaining.
However the Panthers peeled off tries to Brian To’o and Sunia Turuva in back-to-back units then made it three on the trot when Izack Tago completed off a long-range raid with three minutes on the clock.
Nathan Cleary nailed the conversion from out huge for a 36-34 lead however even then the consequence was not within the bag with Eels skipper Clint Gutherson making an attempt a penalty purpose from 32m out close to the sideline within the dying phases to power further time.
However he shanked the kick and the Panthers held on for a dramatic victory paying homage to the premiership win over Brisbane final 12 months once they scored three late tries within the greatest comeback in Grand Closing historical past.
The three-time premiers host the Storm subsequent Thursday in a blockbuster potential Grand Closing preview they usually performed like a staff with one eye on subsequent week for many of this match.
Penrith additionally have to maintain profitable over the closing 4 rounds with the Roosters and Sharks nipping at their heels for second spot with each side possessing a greater for and towards report than them after Cronulla’s 44-point flogging of the Titans earlier within the evening.
Gutherson didn’t deserve to complete the match ruing his missed kick at purpose – he was all over the place for his staff in assault and defence, scoring two tries, booting conversions and saving 40-20 makes an attempt and tries alike on the again.
“He’s the toughest working participant within the competitors,” mentioned Billy Slater about Gutherson amid conjecture he could possibly be moved to lock subsequent 12 months, refuting the concept his time at fullback is coming to an finish.
(Picture by Jeremy Ng/Getty Photographs)
It was a bittersweet begin for Penrith with Eels centre Blaize Talagi, who will turn out to be a Panther subsequent 12 months, making his mark.
Talagi scored the primary try to arrange the second to Jake Tago to place Parra up 10-6 after Panthers winger Brian To’o additionally touched down within the early exchanges.
Izack Tago put Penrith up by two halfway by means of the primary half when he pounced on a precision grubber from Nathan Cleary earlier than the Eels grabbed the sport by the scruff of the neck.
They took a 16-14 lead into the break when Sean Russell slid over within the nook after To’o made a poor defensive learn.
An enormous momentum swing got here within the forty seventh minute when Jarome Luai reached out over the stripe attempting to scramble out of the in-goal space.
However he misplaced his grip and Eels centre Will Penisini was rewarded for his bullocking deal with with the chance to position his hand on the Steeden for a present six factors subsequent to the posts.
And when Russell flung the ball again to an unmarked Clint Gutherson, the Eels marched forward to a 28-14 margin.
Liam Martin was sin-binned for harmful kick strain on Darjarn Asi however even with a participant down, Penrith hit again through Sunia Turuva’s Sixty fifth-minute strive.
Quite than attempting to cling onto their eight-point lead, Asi was stylish in attacking down the left edge for Gutherson to place the house aspect up by 14 with 11 minutes to go.
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The Panthers misplaced second-rower Scott Sorensen after simply eight minutes to a hamstring damage whereas Matt Eisenhuth (hip) and Mitch Kenny (shoulder) is also doubtful for the Storm showdown.
Parramatta’s heart-breaking loss means they’re nonetheless but to shake the Tigers within the race to keep away from the wood spoon, however nonetheless maintain a four-point hole on them on the backside of the ladder.
