Panthers Overcome Bulldogs Fightback to Seal Minor Premiership
Game Summary
The Penrith Panthers have claimed the minor premiership after holding off a spirited Canterbury-Bankstown comeback to win 42-28 at Parker Street Reserve in a Round 26 thriller of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
Tom Ale crashed over early to open the scoring, and Zakauri Clarke's boot made it six-nil, but the Bulldogs hit back through Kade Dykes twice and Sosaia Alatini to lead 16-6 in a dominant opening stanza. A late Clarke penalty goal narrowed the margin to 16-8 at half-time, but the contest had well and truly been the Bulldogs' for the taking in the first half.
Everything changed after the break. Hokafonu Lemoto barged over to spark the fightback, and Zakauri Clarke's conversion trimmed the gap to two. Toby Crosby then crossed to hand Penrith the lead, and once Clarke slotted the extras, the Panthers had turned an eight-point deficit into a lead they would not relinquish.
From there, the floodgates opened. Blaize Talagi and Patrick Moimoi crossed either side of a second Crosby try as Penrith piled on five tries in a barnstorming 20-odd minute period, blowing the margin out to 36-16 and effectively ending the contest as a genuine premiership race.
The Bulldogs refused to fold. Jack Underhill barged over for their fourth try, and Kade Dykes completed a hat-trick with 6 minutes to go to make it 38-28, sparking nervous energy around the ground and among rival fans following the minor premiership race from afar.
Penrith held their nerve in the closing stages, denying the Bulldogs further opportunities before Patrick Moimoi's second try sealed a 42-28 victory and, with it, the minor premiership.
The result caps off a remarkable turnaround for the Panthers, whose season opened with an extraordinary three-minute comeback against the Bears back in Round One, a result that ultimately proved just as decisive as this one, 25 rounds later.
Canterbury-Bankstown, who started the round seventh on the ladder, put in a performance worthy of a side with plenty to play for, but their season ends in disappointment as they miss out on the top five entirely.
Talking Points
- Zakauri Clarke's goal-kicking was immaculate for most of the afternoon, converting his first six attempts before missing his final shot in the dying stages to finish six-from-seven — a crucial contribution given the tight scoreline for large parts of the contest.
- Kade Dykes had a bittersweet day for the Bulldogs, scoring a hat-trick but also coughing up crucial ball on multiple occasions in the second half as Canterbury-Bankstown's momentum stalled.
- Toby Crosby's double came in his final home game for Penrith before a move to Warrington next year, while bench forward Hokafonu Lemoto was instrumental in igniting the second-half comeback.
Key Moment
The floodgates truly opened when Toby Crosby's try, followed swiftly by Zakauri Clarke's conversion, handed Penrith the lead for the first time since the opening minutes. That shift in momentum triggered a five-try blitz that turned an eight-point half-time deficit into an unassailable buffer, deciding both the match and the minor premiership.
What's next?
Penrith will enjoy a week off before hosting a grand final qualifier. Canterbury-Bankstown's season is over after missing the top five.
