Round 5
Eels 18 l. Panthers 44

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Panthers power on despite Gower injury
Sun April 9, 2006
Penrith have produced one of their finest halves of football to turn an 18-14 deficit into a great 44-18 upset victory against Parramatta with inspirational halfback Craig Gower off the field for the entire second half due to a rib injury.

The Panthers got off to a great start with tries to Preston Campbell in the 10th minute and Gower four minutes later to lead 12-0 but the joy was short lived. Parramatta got back into the match thanks to a wrong decision by referee Shayne Hayne against a knock-on from Rhys Wesser. Parramatta from the set of six from the Wesser decision saw Zeb Taia cross over to score in the 17th minute and six minutes later Dean Widders scored with the Eels trailing 12-10.

Campbell landed a 31st minute penalty goal after Penrith received a penalty following the Gower incident where he received a serious rib injury resulting in the outstanding halfback being taken to hospital.

Timana Tahu leveled the scores in the 36th minute when he crossed over and scored his second try after the halftime siren in one of the best this season. Wade McKinnon made a great break on the siren and the Eels kept the ball alive with Tahu scoring outwide. Parramatta celebrated the try but little did they know it would be their last joy for the afternoon.

Shane Rodney regained Penrith's lead in the 44th minute with a try and Campbell's conversion saw the Panthers out to a 20-18.

Lee Hookey pushed Penrith further ahead when he finished off some excellent work from young prop Matthew Cross and Campbell converted from the sideline as Penrith went to an eight point lead.

Wesser showed why he's such a dangerous and brilliant fullback when he had too much pace for the Eels defence for his first try in the 15th minute and sealed victory for the Panthers with a chip and chase try in the 72nd minute. Penrith were up 38-18 and the game was completely turned on its head.

Luke Priddis capped off an outstanding game with a try in the 78th minute when he backed up a break from Luke Lewis and rubbed salt into the Eels wounds. Penrith had a chance to score right on fulltime but didn't take the chance.

Penrith's second half performance was one of the finest of this season but Parramatta were completely woeful and whatever was said at halftime by Brian Smith completely backfired. Smith's future as Parramatta coach is in severe jeopardy with Michael Hagan coming in as coach next year. Parramatta played like a side that lacked leadership, cohesion and class coaching.

The Panthers bounced back from the disappointment of last week losing to Canberra and even with decisions against them comprehensively destroyed their local western rivals.

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