Round 17
Wests Tigers 43 d. Penrith Panthers 26

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Wests Tigers add to Penrith's woes
Fri July 6, 2007
Wests Tigers have continued Penrith's miserable season defeating the wooden spoon favourites 43-26 with the Panthers at one stage leading 20-4 as boom youngster Chris Lawrence helping himself to three tries.

The turmoil at Penrith just keeps on getting deeper with tonight's result losing the final 50 minutes 37-6 on top of long serving stalwart Tony Puletua and 2003 Clive Churchill Medal winner Luke Priddis both being told their services aren't required next year. Puletua has played 182 first grade games for the Panthers and Priddis has given Penrith outstanding service since coming to the club in 2002 following stints with Canberra and Brisbane. The treatment of both players and in particular Priddis being 'rested' leaves a sour taste in many mouths.

It all started well for the Panthers receiving the first six penalties where they raced to a 20-4 lead after 30 minutes.

Peter Wallace was first to score in the 7th minute when Craig Gower put Tony Puletua in the clear and Wallace backed up to score. Nick Youngquest converted the try and than added a 14th minute penalty goal for the Panthers to lead 8-0.

Frank Pritchard scored the first of his two tries to push the Panthers lead to 14-0 following Youngquest's conversion.

Wests Tigers got on the board when out spoken fullback Richie Williams in his first NRL match for the Panthers fumbled a towering bomb from John Morris with Lawrence on the spot to score. Robbie Farah was unable to convert with the Panthers holding onto a 14-4 lead.

The Panthers struck back with Pritchard scoring his second try with Youngquest converting the try and at 20-4 the Panthers were expected to go on with the job.

Stuart Flanagan scored from dummy half near half-time to bring the Tigers within ten points at the break with Farah adding the extras.

Wests Tigers got off to the perfect start in the second half when Lawrence swooped on a kick from Gower and raced 90m untouched to score in the corner. Farah was again wide with the conversion attempt as the Panthers lead was cut to six points.

The scores were leveled in the next set of six when Dean Collis found space outwide and prop Todd Payten backed up receiving a nice short ball and with support looming on the inside dummied to Williams who didn't take either Payten or the support player and with no Panthers cover ran 25m for the try. Farah converted to level up the scores.

Payten crossed for a second try in the 53rd minute when a kick from Farah hit the padding on the posts and bounced into Payten's hands for the try to put the Tigers into the lead and Farah was successful with the conversion for Wests to lead 26-20.

Lawrence scored his 3rd try to confirm his rising status in the game as the Tigers raced out to a 32-20 after Farah landed his 4th goal.

Luke Lewis got Penrith back into the match with a 63rd minute try and Youngquest's successful conversion brought the Panthers within six points.

Farah landed a 67th minute drop goal and tries in the final ten minutes to Beau Ryan and Collis stretched the score out to 43-26.

Wests Tigers started slowly and than turned on a great attacking display showing plenty of speed, flair, creativity, skill and class to destroy an dispirited Penrith outfit who once they fell behind they simply lost their way.

Payten, Lawrence and Farah were the three standouts for the home side. Payten's rise as one of the dominant front-rowers in the competition continues, Lawrence is one of the boom youngsters in our game and shows the talent emerging through (although he missed nine tackles) and Farah's versatility playing halfback could see him be a bolter for Test selection on the bench later in the year.

It would be easy for people to say that signing coach Matthew Elliott from Canberra to Penrith was a complete disaster. If the solution to Penrith's woes was only that simple that it would be easy to fix, however it's not even remotely as easy as that. The Panthers need a serious shake up at all levels in their organisation and the sooner it happens than the quicker Penrith can once again be a force in the competition. There's no excuses for Penrith's on-field failures as they have far more advantages than other clubs and don't take full advantage of them.

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STATS
Tackles
Nathan Smith 31
Robbie Farah 29
Bryce Gibbs 28
Liam Fulton 25
Frank Puletua 23

1-on-1 Tackles
Paul Whatuira 3
Brett Firman 3
Nick Youngquest 2
Bryce Gibbs 2
Tony Puletua 2

Missed Tackles
Chris Lawrence 9
Frank Puletua 5
Michael Jennings 4
Brett Firman 4
Nathan Smith 4

All Runs
Bryan Norrie 16
Chris Heighington 15
Taniela Tuiaki 15
Luke Lewis 14
Joel Clinton 14

All Runs Metres
Richard Williams 229
Taniela Tuiaki 161
Tony Puletua 139
Chris Lawrence 139
Todd Payten 131

Tackle Breaks
Richard Williams 9
Todd Payten 5
Luke Lewis 4
Chris Lawrence 4
Daniel Fitzhenry 4

Kicks
Robbie Farah 13
John Morris 7
Craig Gower 6
Brett Firman 2
Dean Collis 1

More Stats: CLICK HERE

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