Easy kick to finish. Cleary salutes again. FULLTIME!
Panthers finish this game in style. Cleary toes through and Eisenhuth was the only chaser and got there.
Cleary from the right side again. He fades it inside the upright.
The beers are on Staines again! He has a second hat-trick against the Sharks! Simple backline move and the winger profits.
PENALTY PANTHERS! Strip against the Sharks.
Good coverage from the Sharks as they take it dead. Dropout again.
Sharks try to conjure something. Johnson's kick is rebounded and dived on by the Panthers. CHALLENGE from the Panthers on the knock on. SUCCESSFUL.
PENALTY SHARKS! Strip.
Luai misjudges a kick and it goes dead. Seven tackle set.
Right side kick for Cleary. He sneaks it inside.
Vroom! Panthers put the pedal to the metal and Staines has a double.
No-no Nikora loses it. CHALLENGE from the Sharks. Clear loss from the second rower.
PENALTY SHARKS! Obstruction.
Kennedy has had a horror time under the high ball. He spills this one. Cleary put some mustard on that kick.
Nope. They went to Aiden Tolman close to the line and the veteran spills it.
Sharks get a repeat set. Can they muster something? won't they think of the updater.
Staines with a terrible attempt to trap the ball. Sharks ball.
May gets into the kicking act. He dabs one behind and Kennedy again is called upon.
The Sharks haven't come out of the sheds since the half-time whistle. Chad Townsend has been hooked for Matt Moylan and they look ready for the full-time whistle.
Cleary curls it over.
GREEN LIGHTS.. TRY! Kikau got there! Wilton knocked it away and bunker judges that Kikau got a fingernail to the ball.
BUNKER TIME! Has Kikau got to this? Capewell with the kick.
Sharks haven't shown anything to try and get back in the contest. Kicking early, into touch and Townsend now gives away a seven tackle set.
Panthers with an error again in attack. Forward pass from Edwards. Sharks can ruck it away.
Now Crichton shows a deft kick and Hiroti again has to be on the spot to recover.
Kikau with the Merv Hughes run up but he forgot the ball.
Panthers continue the pressure. Hiroti gets to the ball just before Kikau. Dropout.
Panthers try to drive one final nail into the Sharks coffin but Graham cleans up the kick. HALFTIME. Pure dominance from the Panthers who have scored four tries to none.
Jack Williams with a flick pass right to a Panther. Panthers have the final chance.
Luai loses it.
Oh dear. Sharks did well to probe in that set but Nikora after such a hard run loses it.
Sharks get a repeat set. Johnson rolls one through which forces Edwards to trap the ball.
PENALTY SHARKS! Crusher against Koroisau.
Clear catch Capewell but he spills it. Sharks survive.
Cleary aiming for 4/4. Adds two more.
Burton brilliance to support his man. Luai weaved through the defense, goes right through the line and lays it off for the centre to finish.
PENALTY PANTHERS! Kikau goes on a rampage. Ruck infringement and the play broke down enough for the whistle.
Cronulla can't finish a set and hold the ball. That all spells disaster against the Panthers. Williams gets chopped in half and loses it.
Jesse Ramien is down after colliding with Kikau's elbow. While he was down, Panthers tried to attack left and Burton puts it down.
Again Cleary goes for the early kick but it just keeps rollin' rollin and Sharks have seven tackles.
Liam Martin tries to inject some energy but spills his lollies.
The high kicks have caused havoc for the Sharks tonight. Kennedy gets lucky there as he just got to the ball before Luai.
This kick is from almost the same spot as Cleary's last kick. He takes his time to study the kick, looks up and nails it.
It wasn't precise but the Panthers have a third! Cleary floated up a kick which is batted back by Capewell who shuffles to Yeo then to Crichton to stride over.
Sharks with a silly offload and Johnson loses it.
We finally have a set restart in this contest.. to the Sharks. They have no bite in this set though and Crichton catches it easily.
PENALTY SHARKS! Offside against the Panthers. Cleary launched one into the sky but Leota was ahead of his man.
Tougher kick for Cleary. Right side touchline and he pilots it over.
Too good, too quick and too slick! Yeo set it up with a charging run. Quick sweep play behind puts the Forbes Ferrari across for his tenth.
Cleary kicks early in the count for Luai. Kennedy gets to the ball first and slaps it away. Panthers putting all the pressure on.
Sharks tried to get something going on the left but it trickles out. Panthers ball right on halfway.
Nathan Cleary puts them up in sixes.
It has been a superb start from James Fisher-Harris and he stamps it with the four-pointer. Koroisau goes short and the big man does the rest.
Panthers just probe in their first attacking set. Luai dribbles one behind which sees Kennedy shovel it away. Dropout incoming.
Oh dear, Will Chamber's with a sloppy play-the-ball.
Both sides got through their first exchanges. Both opted for height with the kick but easily handled and we're away.
The strains of 'Welcome to the Jungle' reverb around Penrith stadium. Cronulla Sharks are the first side out onto the field in their black, white and blue led out by a former Panther in Wade Graham. The bell tolls which can only signal the arrival of the Penrith Panthers. Wearing their traditional black with licourice colouring the leaders are out to continue their stroll at the top!
Happy Friday everybody! We start this double header at the foot of the mountains! The undefeated Penrith Panthers host the crisis-striken Cronulla Sharks. Since John Morris' sacking, the side has lurched from one loss to another and face a huge task against the league leaders. Penrith are humming on all cylinders and undefeated in 13 at home.. so look primed to make it 14 tonight. Grab a drink, some food and settle in for Friday night cause it's a great night for football!
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judges: Jon Stone, Drew Oultram
Video Referee: Matt Noyen
PENRITH PANTHERS (48)
Tries: James Fisher-Harris, Charlie Staines (3), Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, Matthew Eisenhuth
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (8/8)
Penalty Goals:
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS (0)
Tries:
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions:
Penalty Goals: