Round 6
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 20 l. Penrith Panthers 21

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Sharks shocked by Panthers in Golden Point
Sun April 20, 2008
Source: www.sharks.com.au

On a night which saw Lance Thompson play his last game in the NRL, the Sharks have let slip a 10-point second half lead in going down by 21-20 to the Penrith Panthers in Golden Point extra time.

Seemingly in control with less than 15 minutes of the match remaining, the Sharks let the Panthers in for two late tries, with the pint-sized Jarrod Sammut the hero, the Penrith halfback levelling the scores with a sideline conversion then kicking the winning point in the fourth minute of overtime.

Sharks coach Ricky Stuart, while of the belief that the Sharks showed some improved attack on the night, was obviously disappointed not to claim the important two competition points.

"We played some good football out there tonight but we didn't put enough points on in the second half and we let them back into the game," Stuart said. "It was a game we should have won."

The Sharks controlled much of the contest and used the prevailing southerly to their advantage in the second half but were unable to land the killer blow and paid the ultimate price with the Panthers clawing their way back before ultimately taking the points.

The first half began with the Panthers opening the scoring after a penalty had piggy-backed them down the field. It would be lock Nathan Smith, running hard onto a flat pass to crash over from close range, putting his team in front. Sammut converted and Penrith led 6-0 after just seven minutes.

The Sharks hit back soon after when Brett Seymour spotted some open space behind the Panthers defensive line and put a beautifully weighted grubber into the in goal for Greg Bird to touch down. Luke Covell added the extras from in front and the scores were locked at 6-apiece.

Despite running into a stiff southerly breeze the Sharks were able to edge in front, with Thompson bringing the crowd to its feet with a try in his final NRL game. Covell's kick sailed wide but the Sharks would lead 10-6 after 15 minutes.

The Sharks pressured their opponent's line for long periods of the half but were unable to add to the score line due to some desperate Penrith defence and took a four point advantage to the break.

The second half began with the Sharks again attacking deep in Panthers territory and it appeared Seymour would go over for a clever solo effort, only to fumble the ball with a try for the taking.

The Sharks however continued to find holes in the Penrith line and it was a perfectly delivered short ball from Brett Kimmorley which put Fraser Anderson into a hole, with the winger-cum-second rower beating Rhys Wesser and Micheal Gordon in determined 40-metre run to the try line. Covell was again off-line but the Sharks had widened the gap to lead 14-6.

It would be Penrith to score next, the Panthers keeping the ball alive on the last tackle before a cut-out pass saw Michael Jennings dive over inches from the corner post. The kick into the breeze fell short but it was anyone's game once more with the Sharks ahead by just 14-10.

Aided by the strong wind the Sharks again moved down into Penrith's end of the field and this time it was a nicely worked backline move which would see Bird use his speed and strength to brush past the cover defenders and plant the ball down out wide.

This time Covell's kick was good and the Sharks had a 10-point lead with less than 20-minutes of the match to go.

In a see-sawing contest the Panthers would again strike back, Michael Gordon pushing through some average defence to score, then it would be Luke Rooney who would make it 20-18 with a try near touch, with Sammut kicking the goal to level the scores and for the second time this season the Sharks would go into golden point.

This time though, the result would go against the Sharks. After Kimmorley had missed by centimetres with an earlier attempt at field goal, it would be the Panthers who would steal the win, halfback Sammut potting the 20-metre goal to help his side claim an upset win.

The Sharks will now have to regroup ahead of their next match, to be played at Toyota Stadium next Sunday afternoon against the Wests Tigers.

Report source: www.sharks.com.au


Thommo to make one last stand
Thu April 17, 2008
Source: www.sharks.com.au

Sharks forward Lance Thompson announced at a press conference today that Saturday night's match against Penrith will be his last.

As a result of the ongoing difficulties he has with both his knee and partly due to his struggles with diabetes, Thompson has found it increasingly difficult to get his body right to endure the rigours of playing NRL football on a weekly basis, hence his decision to retire following the Panthers clash.

A stalwart of 238 games in the NRL in a career stretching back to 1995, Thompson was emotional at his press conference but was also looking forward to the next phase of his life.

"Retiring will give me the chance to deal with my injuries and with my diabetes and I will also have time to watch my daughter grow up," Thompson said. "It has been a hard six months getting my knee and health right and I knew it was time to retire from this great game."

Thompson has been included in the Sharks 17-man squad for the match which will mark the re-opening of the newly renovated Toyota Stadium, with a big screen tribute planned for Thompson before the match and a lap of honour after the full time siren.

News sent by: www.sharks.com.au

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