Scoreboard
Penrith Panthers 40
Tries: Jamal Idris 3, Dean Whare 2, George Jennings, Sika Manu, Bryce Cartwright
Goals: Matt Moylan 4
Field Goals: nil
Gold Coast Titans 0
Tries: nil
Goals: nil
Field Goals: nil
Match Review
Jamal Idris scored a hat-trick against his former club as Penrith shutout Gold Coast 40-0 at Carrington Park in Bathurst.
Idris opened the scoring after twenty-one minutes as the ball shifted to the left through Peter Wallace with Matt Moylan providing the final ball. His second was off a flat pass from Jamie Soward saw him crash over.
Idris’ hat-trick was completed twelve minutes into the second half and was somewhat controversial. The on field officials going upstairs to confirm the try but replays may have suggested Idris was short of the line in grounding the ball.
The luck was riding with Penrith as they took a slender eight point lead into the break. Dean Whare was the only other score of the opening half after he picked up a loose ball from a cross field Soward kick that Anthony Don failed to diffuse cleanly.
The Titans were denied twice by video officials. It was Don who appeared to be onside in chasing through Aidan Sezer’s kick after six minutes which coach Neil Henry would be most frustrated about. It appeared the officials had the Titans second no try call correct with the Panthers defense impeded. Penrith too were denied when Brent Kite made contact with Ryan James as the ball went to the flanks for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score.
It was a first half riddled which left both sides frustrated heading into the sheds with three tries denied by video, low completion rates and a high penalty count.
Penrith rectified their game in the second half, something the Gold Coast didn’t do as the final scoreline suggests. Matt Moylan and James Segeyaro dominating as the Panthers pile on six second half tries. Dean Whare completing his double with a short pass off Moylan from a scrum win with seventeen minutes remaining.
George Jennings scored his second try in the NRL after some handy work from Idris in the lead up. Sika Manu strolled over untouched with eight to go and Bryce Cartwright was rewarded on full time with a long ball from Soward and an offload from Idris setting up the Panthers eighth try.
For the Gold Coast they were brought back to earth after going so close last week. The speculation that Greg Bird, Beau Falloon and Dave Taylor may return for the Panthers game was a distraction and quite possibly could be unless the Titans management decide early this week where the trio stand in relation to their off-field police charges. They next face undefeated Newcastle at home next Sunday.
Penrith last week for sixty-nine minutes held the Bulldogs to nil and Ivan Cleary will be pleased this week his side completed the job. They will need to be at their defensive best next Monday night in a replay of last year’s finals match with the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium. Josh Mansour could be a surprise return to the squad after off-season surgery.
NothingButLeague Man of the Match: Matt Moylan (Penrith Panthers)
