In a competitive NRL encounter, the Wests Tigers showcased their resilience but ultimately fell short against the Penrith Panthers. Club director Greg Alexander expressed confidence in the Panthers’ performance, suggesting that their recent efforts indicate they could be positioned even higher than their current sixth place on the ladder.
Currently, the Canberra Raiders lead the competition with 15 wins and only three losses, while the Storm, Bulldogs, and Warriors round out the top four teams. Alexander, when asked about Penrith’s position relative to the top teams, asserted, “I think Penrith’s run over the past couple of weeks means they are travelling far better than anyone in the competition apart from the Raiders.”
Despite the final score favouring Penrith, the match was not an easy ride. The Panthers had an 18-2 advantage at halftime, but it wasn’t until the 56th minute that they added to their tally, with Liam Martin scoring after a slick play involving Nathan Cleary. Cleary later set up Izack Tago, who extended the lead, although Alexander had his doubts regarding Tago’s grounding of the ball, initially calling it a “no try” before changing his mind following a lengthy review. This resulted in an affirmed score of 36-2 after a late try from Thomas Jenkins.
The match began with Jenkins almost scoring, but he fumbled, signalling an early warning to the Tigers, who struggled for much of the first 15 minutes. Taylan May attempted to breach the Panthers’ defence but was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the Tigers earned a penalty when Cleary, under pressure, failed to execute a dropout in time, allowing Adam Doueihi to convert from close range.
Penrith then burst into action as Lindsay Smith scored in the 24th minute, followed by Casey McLean shortly after, which set the tone for their attacking display. Cleary capped off a strong first half with a break down the right, finding Dylan Edwards to solidify their lead at the break.
In summary, while Penrith demonstrated their offensive prowess, particularly against a Tigers side featuring many ex-Panthers, the overall performance reflected the competitive nature of the league, with Alexander confident in the Panthers’ potential to rise further in the rankings as the season progresses.