Penrith Panthers have secured their fourth NRL minor premiership in seven years after dismantling Wests Tigers 38-10 at CommBank Stadium, underlining their status as the team to beat heading into the finals.
Ivan Cleary’s side led 26-0 at half-time and never looked in danger of surrendering top spot, producing the sort of composed and ruthless performance that has become their trademark during the club’s period of dominance.
Tom Jenkins scored twice to finish the regular season level with South Sydney winger Alex Johnston at the top of the Ken Irvine Medal try-scoring standings. Dylan Edwards also came close to adding two tries, having promised his young daughters before kick-off that he would score one each.
Brian To’o opened the scoring after seven minutes before Casey McLean darted from dummy-half to extend Penrith’s advantage. Jenkins then added the first of his two tries, leaving the Tigers facing a long afternoon.
Nathan Cleary controlled the contest from halfback, while Liam Martin, McLean and Luke Garner were prominent as Penrith maintained pressure in both attack and defence.
Garner produced one of the match’s most determined moments when he kept hold of Solomone Saukuru with one hand and helped drag the Tigers centre over the touchline as he appeared certain to score. The Panthers celebrated the effort almost as enthusiastically as their tries.
Co-captain Isaah Yeo made his return from a pectoral injury after only four weeks out, coming on in the 26th minute to a strong reception from the Penrith supporters. Mitch Kenny also returned for the first time since suffering serious ankle and leg damage in April.
Yeo was immediately tested by a heavy opening carry against Terrell May, Samuela Fainu and Api Koroisau, before Jarome Luai put pressure on his injured right pectoral during the following set.
The Tigers improved significantly after the interval, despite Penrith managing the workload of several key players. Latu Fainu caused problems after replacing Luai in the halves, using his passing and pace to unsettle the Panthers’ left edge.
Luai was making his final appearance for Wests Tigers before moving to Parramatta, with a later switch to the Papua New Guinea Chiefs also planned. The former Panther watched on as many of his old team-mates delivered another emphatic regular-season performance.
The Panthers were presented with the JJ Giltinan Shield late in the match, with two support workers who regularly help install the club’s signage given the honour of wheeling it to the sideline.
Penrith will now face the Sydney Roosters in a qualifying final at CommBank Stadium next Sunday. The Roosters defeated the Panthers three weeks ago in a result that exposed some shortcomings in the reigning force’s game, but the loss also appeared to sharpen Cleary’s team ahead of their run into September.
After the performance against the Tigers, the Panthers enter the finals as deserved favourites and will have the chance to turn another minor premiership into a fifth title in the space of six seasons.
