The Penrith Panthers find themselves at the bottom of the NRL ladder following a disheartening 25-6 loss to the Newcastle Knights in Bathurst. This defeat means the four-time defending champions’ title aspirations hang by a thread as they finish round 12 in last place, a stark contrast to their previous successes.
Missing key players due to State of Origin commitments—most notably Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards—the Panthers fell behind 24-0 against Newcastle. Although they managed to rally somewhat with a try from debutant Harrison Hassett, bringing the score to 24-6, the day ended in disappointment following a field goal from Jack Cogger that sealed the Knights’ victory.
The standout performer for the Knights was second-rower Dylan Lucas, who made an exceptional impact by scoring three tries within the first 24 minutes and racking up impressive stats including 212 run metres and 10 tackle breaks.
Newcastle’s Fletcher Sharpe also shone in the match, stepping up in the absence of star fullback Kalyn Ponga. Sharpe recorded 284 run metres, broke through 18 tackles, and made four line breaks, demonstrating his prowess on the field. His performance, however, was marred by a contentious moment in the 23rd minute when he was the victim of a crusher tackle by Penrith’s Liam Henry, leading to Henry being placed on report and sent to the sin bin.
As the Panthers continue to grapple with their form, their once-promising season now bears a heavy cloud of uncertainty and challenges ahead.