Panthers hold off tenacious Titans to secure second spot

Defending premiers Penrith survived a huge scare from the Titans to prevail 18-12 on Saturday night and lock up a home qualifying final in week one of the play-offs.

The Panthers will return to their home turf for a monster clash with the Roosters, hoping superstar playmaker Nathan Cleary is back on deck to steer the ship.

Playing front of the club's old boys and wearing a heritage jersey, the Panthers rode the emotion early when Dylan Edwards sliced through to set up Brian To'o for a try in the seventh minute.

The Titans settled into the groove and came up with the perfect reply in the 16th minute when Jayden Campbell picked up a loose pass on the 40-metre line and displayed dazzling footwork to score under the posts. 

The Panthers looked out of sorts for much of the first half and a clunky opening 40 was summed up when Brad Schneider put in a grubber on the third tackle and Kieran Foran was able to easily defuse the situation.

Trailing 6-4 at the break the Panthers regained the lead in the 44th minute when Schneider picked up Edwards and the fullback powered through a Campell tackle to cross for his 10th try of the season. Paul Alamoti added the extras for a 10-6 lead.

Chief playmaker Jarome Luai then stamped his class in the 50th minute for the Panthers with a deft grubber through the defensive line for Luke Garner to score on his return from a hamstring injury.

A trio of Titans errors from Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Campell and Tanah Boyd and a penalty against Brian Kelly for verbal dissent cranked up the pressure on the visitors and To'o got across the line but he was held up.

Kelly came up with a big play in the 62nd minute to strip the ball from Edwards in the in-goal and score but the bunker ruled he had propelled the ball forward as he tried to take it off the Panthers fullback.

The Titans continued to hang tough and when Alofiana Khan-Pereira swooped on a loose ball and raced 85 metres to score they were back within four points with 10 minutes to play.

Just as the Titans threatened to spring a huge upset a dropped ball by Klese Haas gave the Panthers field position and a high tackle penalty against Foran allowed Alamoti to knock over the goal and make it 18-12.