FULLTIME! Broncos with a huuuuge win at the foot of the mountains!
Adam Reynolds hoists one high in the air. Cobbo taps it back, Reynolds kicks for himself and forces a knock on from Cleary.
Okay there is a lot to talk about here. Cleary tries a two-point field goal and it fades low. Trying to get out of the in-goal Cobbo is tackled and loses it. Panthers thought they might have a try. It is not. Luai is offside from the initial field goal so it will be a Broncos PENALTY.
Cleary quickly converts.
Soni Luke spies a gap and scoots over.
PENALTY PANTHERS!
Turuva tries to step inside towards the tryline. CHALLENGE as it was called a strip and knock on by the Broncos. UNSUCCESSFUL.
Oates spills it.
Cleary puts it high but Arthars is there to take.
Jarome Luai tries to slice through on last. He pokes through but is tackled! Changeover.
Easy as you like. Reynolds slots the field goal.
Adam Reynolds is adament that this is played at. CHALLENGE from the Broncos halfback. SUCCESSFUL. It was blocked by Tago. Broncos ball.
Panthers again are sloppy with the ball and Broncos cover it on last.
PENALTY PANTHERS! offside.
Broncos go short but Martin cleans up.
Soni Luke kicks through and forces a repeat set.
Oates hands it right back.
Luke tries to play it too quick. Called lost.
CROWD: 17,125 in here at Penrith.
Panthers looked slick but the pass from Crichton is forward.
Broncos spill another low kick. Panthers piling on the pressure now.
Sunia Turuva somehow gets the ball away and kicks it low for a dropout.
Cleary chips one over the line but it is well taken by the Broncos.
Ref has no comms. So we have a break. When it comes back. It is a Panthers ball. Double knock on.
PENALTY PANTHERS! A leg up for them now.
One-on-one steal! Panthers right back with it.
Broncos let the bomb from Cleary bounce but Oates almost breaks through!
Broncos are taken over the sideline again early in the count!
Martin spills it from his own end. CHALLENGE from the Panthers. UNSUCCESSFUL.
Reynolds tries a flick pass and Arthars spills it.
Luai tries a kick and it rolls dead. Broncos have a seven tackle set.
Panthers get a six again which was a big crowd effort.
Cobbo has a slight fumble but fires the kick over the sideline.
Now To'o is trapped. Another dropout incoming.
Reynolds just drives a kick low and forces a dropout.
Another late count six again. Broncos can push their advantage out.
Edwards spills it trying to get up and play it.
KICK-OFF! We're back underway!
We're back for the second half! Broncos hold a six point lead and look to cause a shock!
HALFTIME! Broncos with a quickfire double lead 12-6 over the Panthers.
Spencer Leniu spills it.
RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! Garner misses it. Arthurs spikes it dead. Dropout.
BUNKER TIME! Luke Garner might've got to the ball from a Cleary kick. Checking grounding.
Another six again for the Panthers. Going on with it after the held call.
Broncos kick low in the wet but it evades everyone! Seven tackle set for the Panthers.
Tago takes it well from a Reynolds kick and trips over the fallen Reynolds. He spilled it. So it is Brisbane ball.
Panthers tried to find their winger in To'o but it is intercepted by Corey Oates.
That is a killer! Six more on last tackle!
Flegler spills it trying to get through the line.
PENALTY BRONCOS! Offside again.
RED LIGHTS.. NO TRY! Cleary's inventive kick is not rewarded. Martin knocked it on in the putdown.
BUNKER TIME! Cleary piloted the kick perfectly but Martin has muffed up the grounding.
Broncos try to get the ball moving again but lose it out wide. Panthers restart the game, eventually.
PENALTY PANTHERS! Offside.
Staggs unsurprisingly after that hit is taken off for a HIA.
PENALTY BRONCOS! Kotoni Staggs is clipped high going low for the ball.
Panthers have been stunned by back-to-back tries. Now they have hit back. A high kick from Cleary is taken by Cobbo who is dragged over the sideline.
Reynolds stepping up to make it a six point lead. He studies the kick and salutes.
Herbie is fully loaded! Ezra Mam weaved past the Panthers defence, kicked for himself and goes shoulder to shoulder but Farnworth is there to clean up.
Adam Reynolds with the conversion from the left. Nails it.
Lovely work on the left! Reynolds holds the ball up well and Farnworth has the easy run to the line.
PENALTY BRONCOS! Another helper for the Broncos from their own end.
Broncos probe towards the line. On last, Mam takes it himself and is tackled.
PENALTY BRONCOS! Strip from Moses Leota.
Nathan Cleary has his first kick of the season. He studies it from mid range and kicks his 500th goal.
Lovely football from the Panthers! Stephen Crichton started it from his own half. Linked with Liam Martin who was on the wing, found Dylan Edwards who spotted the trailing Crichton to fly away.
First restart bell is for the Panthers. They have a chance to attack the line.
Ezra Mam hoists one high but it takes a roll, goes dead.
Both sides through their first sets and comfortable with the kick.
KICK-OFF! Here we go! Brisbane have first use.
Here come the Broncos. A chorus of boos from the locals welcomes them as the Brisbane side is playing in their white kit tonight. Next, the bell tolls for the Panthers. Here they come. Penrith are in their mostly black jerseys and ready to get their campaign underway.
It is a bumper crowd in Penrith. They are ready to be full throated in their support of the back-to-back champions. Kashmir is ringing through the stadium and we're almost ready for kick-off.
Happy Friday everybody! We have the second of our two Friday night games to come! Back-to-back Premiers Penrith open their season with a visit of the Brisbane Broncos. Broncos are looking to put a low 2022 behind them which saw them just fall away and not make the top eight. Both sides are 1-17. So get your drinks, snacks and whatever else and get ready for the footy!
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judges: Drew Oultram, Darian Furner
Video Referee: Ashley Klein
PENRITH PANTHERS (12)
Tries: Stephen Crichton, Soni Luke
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (2/2)
BRISBANE BRONCOS (13)
Tries: Herbie Farnworth (2)
Field Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (2/2)