FULLTIME :: Minor Premiers celebrate in style.
Martin loses it.
Dogs go short. It went out on the full. Panthers with one final chance to pour on the pain.
Cleary pilots it over.
TAMOU OFF THE NUDIE RUN! You felt all set the Panthers were trying to set that up. The veteran off the the Tigers next season just strolled past the Bulldogs defense.
More steps than a pedometer from Laurie and Luai as they try to get across.
Thompson knocks on and kicks it straight to Naden. Best kick all afternoon for the Bulldogs tbh.
RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! No he won't. He lost it before the line. Panthers refuse to give up a try.
BUNKER TIME! Luke Thompson might have a four pointer.
Cleary with the not seen enough chip kick on last. Luai is cleaned up, Cleary regathers and gives a pass that two Brian To'os wouldn't take.
Dogs get a repeat set but then throw it away trying to forget today, Tamou makes the great escape.
PENALTY BULLDOGS! Two on one strip.
Cleary has hooked that kick.
The Burton button is mashed! Luai held the pass up well and found the interchange man playing at centre striding through.
This game is petering out but Moses Leota rips one free. Panthers back with it.
Two rapid time-off calls. Firstly DWZ was down and now Raymond Faitala-Mariner. Mariner has been one of the better performers for the Dogs this season. He is up and is being assisted off. Sad end to a good season.
PENALTY BULLDOGS! Hand on the ball.
Holland like a thief in the night snatches it away. Bulldogs ball.
Panthers have hit the Burton button. The youngster with the headgear is on.
CHALLENGE TIME! Bulldogs saying they didn't knock it on. UNSUCCESSFUL. The young man knocked it on.
Mansour drops one. DJ plays wasn't me by Shaggy. Everyone having some fun today besides probably Dogs fans.
Cleary adds two more.
Henry Perenara must have a dinner reservation. Quick talk and try given. Cleary stabs a kick, Capewell also toes through and Naden has a second.
Cleary's toughest kick of the afternoon. He studies it and fades it left.
Josh Mansour in on the act now! Ball was flung wide and he flies through the air to add another try.
Liam Martin gets put face down in the dirt. He got up and said this doesn't hurt. Big Red Jumpsuit Appartus fan as the Panthers get another set.
Relief as Moses Leota plays it awkwardly in the ptb.
Dogs just hand it back from an errant Thompson pass. Panthers to pile on some more points here.
It's been a sedate start to the second half. Bulldogs were off on a kick which gave the Panthers seven tackles. Isaah Yeo kicks ahead and earns the dropout.
We're back for the second half. Panthers fans - this is the warm up for your trophy presentation and for Doggies fans, it's only forty more minutes guys.
HALFTIME :: Panthers took time to find their rhythm but lead the Bulldogs by 16.
Cleary adds two more.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Cleared the onside, clean grab and here comes the boom! Capewell with his second of the afternoon.
BUNKER TIME! Panthers are just showing off now. Capewell might have a second.
Cleary from close range. Nails it.
Panthers sliced through like a swift knife there. Luai goes through then positions the centre for the four pointer.
The Panthers are on the prowl now! Pair of set restarts and go close. Cleary with a short kick that rolls dead.
Cleary gave that some extravagent swing but it goes over.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! The Dogs defense was resolute but the kick does them in. Short kick and Capewell snatches it.
BUNKER TIME! Kurt Capewell might have scored here.
PENALTY PANTHERS! Bulldogs have another kick deflected but this time Katoa is offside.
Bulldogs tried to give the ball some air but the last pass was wide and goes out.
This game has everything. We have a dacking now. Jack Cogger's kick is batted onto a knee then rolls forward. Josh Mansour is wrapped up by his shorts and concedes the dropout.
Time off and it is something you never want to see. Jayden Okunbor was getting some tests and he is hobbling off the field. Suspected leg injury for the winger.
BUNKER TIME! Wait we're not even getting to it. Rude NRL. Brian To'o was just barging through several defenders got to the line and had it dislodged by Brandon Wakeham. Maybe that play might Wake the Dogs up.
PENALTY PANTHERS! Strip from the Bulldogs after the bell tolls.
PENALTY BULLDOGS! Jarome Luai is feeling it today. He danced past a couple of defenders then was tackled. He tries to pass it. Penalty.
The Dogs lost the plot in that set. They were melting in the eyes of the Panthers defense. The kick was charged down and Luai has it on the halfway.
PENALTY PANTHERS! Second effort from Holland.
HANG ON! We have a REPORT. Both captains were called out.. James Tamou is alledging an eye gouge from English forward Luke Thompson.
Panthers look threatening again but it comes to naught. Naden loses it in the tackle.
That is not okay as MCR warbled. Luke Thompson made a huge charge which got the Bulldogs six more. Somehow the Bulldogs did not hear this as Wakeham kicked on first.
Dogs got an early tackle restart which is customary now but they failed to capitalise. Kerrod Holland stabbed a kick through which was easily taken by Daine Laurie. That noise you heard was all the Bulldogs fans heads exploding from Holland's play.
Luai gets free wide but the half is dragged over the line like a terrible tweet. Bulldogs scrum midfield.
First one of the afternoon for Cleary. He doesn't make the distance.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Yes it is! They firstly had to clear the obstruction. Referee was happy and To'o smashed it down fast (like a solo).
BUNKER TIME! Uh oh, Bulldogs in trouble! To'o looks to have done enough to stay inside the sideline and touched down.
Bulldogs show some steel in defense. Jarome Luai coming off his MOTM performance last week darted at the line twice but well held. Centre Brent Naden shrugged off defenders but the kick was tame. Dogs rucking it out.
Cogger did well with the 40/20 but turned himself into trouble on last. He just submitted on the tackle and Panthers survive the first raid.
Bulldogs get moving quickly! Jack Cogger puts in a 40/20 off their first kick.
First out is the Premiers! Penrith walk out onto a sun drenched ANZ Stadium to a smattering of applause in their black jersey ready to rock. Next out is the Bulldogs! William Hopoate has his 100th game and leads the side in the blue vee. Last but certainly not least - The Badge! This is his final game as a referee and got a lovely moment with his wife - fellow referee Kasey and everyone is ready to go! Panthers with first use.
While he has become a meme with his fourth tackle hit-ups, some sad news in pre-game for Aiden Tolman. The Bulldogs veteran has been ruled out in the warm-up due to a calf complaint. Sauaso Sue comes into the starting line-up while Dean Britt joins the bench.
Hello there, the Angel from my nightmare! Bulldogs are almost done after a nightmare 2020. The Dogs have avoided the spoon but can they avoid a 170+ score against the Panthers (probably but this is rugby league) while the Panthers look to finish off their impressive regular season in style. The JJ Giltinan Shield is locked up but with a few rested stars it is a chance to impress before the finals begin!
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Henry Perenara
Touch Judges: Jon Stone, Gavin Badger
Video Referee: Steve Chiddy
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (0)
Tries:
Field Goals:
Conversions:
Penalty Goals:
PENRITH PANTHERS (42)
Tries: Brian To'o, Kurt Capewell (2), Brent Naden (2), Josh Mansour, Matt Burton, James Tamou
Field Goals:
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (5/8)
Penalty Goals: