On Thursday night, the Penrith Panthers encountered a devastating loss against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, marking their third consecutive defeat. The Rabbitohs capitalised on the absences of key players Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards, resulting in a disappointing display from the Panthers at Accor Stadium. By half-time, South Sydney had established a commanding 28-0 lead, representing the Panthers’ largest half-time deficit in seven years.
The Rabbitohs dominated the early stages, with Keaon Koloamatangi scoring two tries within the first 30 minutes and Jye Gray adding to the tally just before the break. In stark contrast, Penrith struggled, holding only 28% of possession and making eight unforced errors along with conceding five penalties. Uncharacteristic mistakes plagued players like Liam Martin and Daine Laurie, as commentator Phil Gould noted that the Panthers appeared “frantic” and “submissive,” vastly outplayed by their opponents.
The second half saw some resurgence from Penrith as early errors from South Sydney opened up opportunities. A potential try from Moses Leota was disallowed after a review, which seemed to dampen Penrith’s momentum. Gould expressed frustration over the decision, highlighting the helplessness of the situation.
Despite glimpses of improvement, Penrith could not quite close the gap, ultimately succumbing to a final score of 28-18 in South Sydney’s favour. Captain Isaah Yeo reflected on the game, acknowledging the team’s notable mistakes and lack of resilience, admitting, “We shot ourselves in the foot.”
In addition to their loss, the Panthers faced further injury woes, with Brian To’o exiting in the latter stages with a hamstring issue and Scott Sorensen sustaining a concussion early in the match. Conversely, the Rabbitohs are off to a strong start with three wins in four games, despite the absence of key players Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray, who is slated to return next round against the Roosters.