In a thrilling clash in Darwin, Nathan Cleary led the Penrith Panthers to a nail-biting 23-22 victory over the Dolphins with an unconventional field goal, capping a remarkable comeback for his team. The Panthers surged to an early 18-0 advantage at half-time, seemingly capitalising on the Dolphins’ defensive struggles. However, the game took a dramatic turn as the Dolphins rallied, with Herbie Farnworth, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, and Jake Averillo all crossing for tries to put them ahead.
Thomas Jenkins added to the Dolphins’ tally with a double, evening the score and pushing the contest into golden point territory. In the final moments of the match, Cleary found himself 20 metres from the posts. Despite the rushing Dolphins defence, he managed to evade the pressure and executed a field goal that Andrew Johns called a “shank,” yet it proved effective.
Describing the moment post-match to Nine’s Johnathan Thurston, Cleary expressed his relief, stating that he felt compelled to make the kick after missing several opportunities earlier in the game. He likened the drop to the pivotal moment in the 2015 grand final, grateful it went through.
Despite the narrow win, the Panthers faced significant challenges throughout the match. Dylan Edwards struggled with a leg issue, frequently consuming pickle juice for relief. In the last ten minutes, both Edwards and Luke Garner dealt with injuries, raising concerns about Edwards’ condition after he appeared to clutch his hamstring during an aerial contest. However, demonstrating his resilience, Edwards pushed through the pain to help secure the win for Penrith.