Chloe Schibeci reviews the Newcastle vs Penrith game, which turned into a Golden Point thriller.
Result
Penrith Panthers 16
Tries: (2) Brian To’o 21st; Jaeman Salmon 57th
Goals: (3) Nathan Cleary 4th, 54th, 58th
One-Point Field Goals: (2) Nathan Cleary 78th, 81st
Newcastle Knights 15
Tries: (3) Tyson Gamble 12th; Tyson Frizell 16th; Phoenix Crossland 28th
Goals: (1) Lachlan Miller 29th
One-Point Field Goal: Tyson Gamble 76th
Report
From the first few minutes, both the Panthers and the Knights were looking strong, ready for a big game.
The Knights scored the first try, with Tyson Gamble running through the Penrith defence. The try went unconverted, leaving only a two-point gap between the two sides.
The Panthers regained possession straight after their kick-off through a goal-line drop-out, and looked close to scoring a try, however the Knights took an intercept. This intercept resulted in a strong attacking set for the Knights, leading to their second try of the night – to Tyson Frizell.
The Panthers found themselves on the attack once again, scoring their first try of the night – to Brian To’o.
Scott Sorensen was awarded a try in the final seconds of the first half, until The Bunker disallowed the try. This was the boost they needed going into the second half, but instead the Knights held on after a solid first half.
The second half contest was very much a repeat of the first: both the Knights and the Panthers were very solid in both attack and defence.
The first points came about halfway through the second half, with Jaeman Salmon scoring after a penalty was awarded to the Panthers. This levelled the score for the first time in the game.
The game remained neck-and-neck, with both the Panthers and the Knights competing hard to score more points to put themselves ahead.
With just 10 minutes remaining, the Knights were awarded a penalty for an obstructed kick chase. They opted for the two points, but the kick was unsuccessful, and the scores remained level. Goal kicking was proving to be a crucial issue for the Knights.
The final five minutes had a Golden Point feel to them, both sides were showing total desperation, and there were a few field goal attempts. The first came from Nathan Cleary, but it didn’t quite make it. Next, Tyson Gamble struck it perfectly for the Knights from 30 metres out.
Cleary had a second attempt which was successful, and the scores were once again level.
The desperation was getting the best of some players, with a few tussles between the Panthers and the Knights in the final few moments of the game.
The game ended in Golden Point, after Cleary kicked a field goal just forty seconds in.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
3 – Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
2 – Jackson Hastings (Knights)
1 – Tyson Frizell (Knights)
