The Penrith Panthers have resumed normal transmission with a narrow 16-10 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs to kick off Round 2 of the NRL season.
Penrith got off to a hot start, limiting South Sydney in the opening sets of the contest. Their defensive effort was rewarded in the first five minutes of play. It was a great kick from Nathan Cleary which was batted back by Izack Tago, and juggled by Moses Leota who got it onto James Fisher-Harris who flicked it out the back to Mitch Kenny who found Stephen Crichton who dived in the corner. Cleary's conversion was unsuccessful, and Penrith had an early 4-0 lead.
Souths had opportunities but were outmuscled by Penrith's superior defence with Latrell Mitchell taken on the last and Tom Burgess losing the ball shy of the line. The Panthers were dealt a blow when Mitch Kenny was wobbly following a collision and was replaced by the independent doctor but would return to the action.
Souths were struggling to hang on after sustained Penrith pressure. It was a great pass from Isaah Yeo to find Luke Garner to crash over to score, but the Bunker spoiled the party and Mitchell's defensive efforts were rewarded. But they wouldn't be denied right on the bell as Garner went to offload, and it looked like the ball was lost. Jarome Luai played to the whistle and kicked ahead. Izack Tago won the race to the ball to score. Crichton converted to lead 10-0 at the break, but it was a sour lead with Cleary limping off at the break but would return in the second half.
Penrith began the second half the same way they attacked the first. A short kick-off backfired on Latrell and the Panthers shot two converted tries clear with a 12-0 lead. Five minutes later, a lovely pass from Cleary which found Crichton who got the 2 v 1 overlap and Brian To'o scored, with Cleary missing the kick to extend the margin to 16. Souths wouldn't die wondering. Michael Chee Kam did well to get the pass away to Latrell before getting it onto Cody Walker before finding Alex Johnston to score to reduce the margin back to 12. Mitchell's impressive streak of 26 straight conversions came to an end with the miss from the right of the sideline.
It appeared Souths were going to fall away but the ball spilt out the back, Cook found Walker who got it onto Johnston who found Mitchell before finding Isaiah Tass who kicked ahead and won the race to the football. Mitchell converted for a 16-10 score and set up a grandstand finish. Souths fell agonisingly short on the final play. Penrith clear the cobwebs following an opening round horror show, while Souths are set to regroup ahead of a grudge match against the Roosters. The game is on a sour note for Panthers fans, with one of their own ejected following a racial slur directed at Latrell Mitchell.