Round 10
Panthers 32 d. Rabbitohs 20

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

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

Panthers withstand Rabbitohs comeback
Mon May 15, 2006
Penrith has continued Souths miserable start to the season with a 32-20 victory at CUA Stadium with the Rabbitohs showing plenty of ticker coming from 22-4 down to trail 22-20 heading into the final 15 minutes. As is the case with Souths though, they lacked the winning culture and mentality with the Rabbitohs losing their way and Penrith scoring two late tries to seal victory.

The opening stages was all Penrith but couldn't score until the 10th minute when Shane Rodney scored. The signs looked bad for Souths but a disallowed try to Luke Rooney for a forward pass from Luke Lewis. Souths took advantage of the Rooney no-try and scored a great long distance try with Nathan Merritt finishing it off. Merritt couldn't convert this own try with Penrith leading 6-4.

Penrith regained control of the match and went into halftime leading 18-4 with tries to Luke Lewis in the 22nd minute and Trent Waterhouse three minutes before halftime when he raced 30m backing up a break by the Panthers down the left hand side.

Rooney who was playing in his 100th first grade game for the club finally got his opening try of the Telstra Premiership season after crossing for one in Friday's Country-City fizzer in the 42nd minute with Penrith leading 22-4.

Souths staged an excellent comeback scoring three tries in 19 minutes throught John Sutton, Ben Walker and David Fa'alogo to close the gap to just two points.

Penrith held on from the Souths onslaught and took advantage of their errors later in the game with Rhys Wesser scoring the match winner in the 72nd minute and Rooney's second try right on fulltime sealed victory.

Craig Gower had an outstanding game for Penrith with coach John Lang saying after the match, "As a Queenslander and the Penrith coach I've got an awful feeling that he played himself into the NSW side ... I'm happy for him but not so happy for us, I think his name might be read out tomorrow morning for that No.7 jersey."

Souths had their opportunities with seven Penrith players backing up for the Country vs City clash on Friday night but lacked the composure, options and culture to win the match. Ironically for Souths it was Shannon Hegarty who played in three Grand Finals for the Roosters that was the most disappointing player on the field and made absolutely crucial handling errors to cost his side victory.

The season is now a write-off for Souths and it's up to coach Shaun McRae to come up with plans and a development system to rebuild the Rabbitohs fortunes for the future.

Penrith will be happy to escape with the two points after four successive losses and have a large representation in the most meaningless game of the season.

Advanced Search