The Panthers are on the board in 2023 after surviving a late comeback from the Rabbitohs to win their clash 16-10 in the opening game of Round 2 on Thursday night.
It took a desperate diving effort from Dylan Edwards to stop Alex Johnston from scoring in the final minute to secure the result, after the Panthers had 15 minutes earlier held a 16-0 lead and appeared to be cruising.
Earlier tries from Johnston and Isaiah Tass, the second of which was converted by Latrell Mitchell, set up the tense finish.
The Panthers had started with a hiss and a roar, after being upset by the Broncos in an opening-round defeat, and with a mid-week jibe from Latrell Mitchell no doubt fresh in their minds.
Outside of the late comeback from their opponents, the major scare for Penrith came when skipper Nathan Cleary left the field with a limp just before the break, although he was able to return and play the second half without issue.
We're not finished
The Panthers terrorised South Sydney's back three with high kicks all night, while they wore the Rabbitohs down with an 80 percent completion rate and high tempo play, led by impressive bench dummy-half Soni Luke.
Penrith got over the line twice in the first five minutes, with the first effort ruled out by the Bunker and the second ending in Stephen Crichton scoring in the corner.
After some brave defence from the Rabbitohs, and blown opportunities of their own causing, the Panthers finally got a result again a minute before the break, with Izack Tago scoring and Crichton converting for a 10-0 lead.
Cleary getting into his work
A penalty goal and Brian To'o try saw the hosts stretch the gap to 16 by the 52nd minute, before Johnston's try 14 from time created some interest.
Tass then scored to set up a thriller, before Edwards saved the day on the last set with a desperate lunge to clear the ball before Johnston got there in the in-goal area.
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Match Snapshot
- The Panthers have now won 10 of their past 11 games against the Rabbitohs, which includes the 2021 Grand Final and 2022 Preliminary Final.
- Nathan Cleary left the field right on half time with an injury to his left ankle or foot, but he returned to start the second half and played on without serious issue.
- The Rabbitohs' struggle to defuse high kicks was exposed twice in the first seven minutes, the first ending in Penrith having a try ruled out by the Bunker and the second with Stephen Crichton crossing out wide for his seventh try in his past eight games against South Sydney.
- Penrith looked like having their second before Latrell Mitchell pulled off a brilliant try-saving tackle to force a knock on from Luke Garner over the line.
Mitchell saves the day
- Garner then got over again right on half time, but it was called back for a Mitch Kenny knock on in the previous play the ball.
- Izack Tago's try in the final minute before the break, followed by a Crichton conversion while Cleary was off the field, gave the hosts a 10-0 lead.
- A short drop out which failed to go the required 10 metres gifted Penrith an easy two early in the second period, which Cleary kicked, before Brian To'o crossed out wide to make it a three-score game.
To'o touches down
- A try from Johnston - which was remarkably the first of his 167 career four-pointers to be scored at Penrith - was followed by a try to Tass, which Mitchell converted.
Johnston gets his try
- Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny left the field for a HIA in the 13th minute which he passed, after colliding with the legs of Thomas Burgess while attempting a tackle.
Play of the Game
After exposing the Rabbitohs' troubles under the high ball minutes earlier with a potential try that was ruled out for a knock on, the Panthers tried it again and found some luck. A nice flick pass from James Fisher-Harris and tidy finish by Stephen Crichton headlined the opening try for the premiers.
Crichton in the corner
What They Said
"To use a boxing analogy, we tried to fight off the ropes. I don't think we stepped into the fight enough. We have got to be better... we were unlucky right on half time and then we needed to step in to start that half. I felt like if we could have scored first in the second half we could probably go on with it, but to give away a try early in the second half just made it too hard." – Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou.
Rabbitohs: Round 2
"At 16-0 it just felt like we kind of lost our way a little bit and it became a little bit harder than it should have been. It's nice to get a win... it was important we put in a good performance first and foremost, which for the most part I thought we did. Certainly some stuff to work on, but that's always going to be the case this time of the year." – Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
Panthers: Round 2
What's Next
The Panthers have Round 3 off with the bye, while the Rabbitohs prepare to face archrivals the Roosters at Allianz Stadium, with hopes that both Tevita Tatola (head knock) and Jai Arrow (hamstring) will be available again.