Match Centre

FT: Penrith 26 def Sharks 6.

Sione Katoa in some discomfort here.

Final minute here at Accor.

Pass knocked down by Mulitalo.

Cleary has been taken off for Penrith.

Nikora puts it down. Tough pass from Hynes but he cannot come down with it.

SIX MORE SHARKS: Slow peel.

VIDEO REF: Klein has called NO TRY meanwhile Cleary has a brief clutch at his shoulder. He looks okay though.

PENALTY SHARKS: Inside 10m.

Cronulla with the trickery - Katoa got it - he sprinted away - then the harlem globetrotter act to keep it in play failed to work.

Tom Hazleton has failed his HIA and will not return

Oregon Kaufusi spills it just as the Sharks were taking it!

Cronulla with the momentum now.

It is harsh but a penalty goes the way of the Sharks. High tackle

Tom Hazleton is left on the deck. Looks like a high tackle though from Kenny. But, it would be a harsh call on Kenny.

Hold the phone - Bunker will be looking at this - Siosifa Talakai is obstructed. NO TRY.

SIX AGAIN PENRITH: Ruck infringement.

Bunker official Butler has given Penrith a bail out - ball touches Hynes and it will be a seven tackle set.

Trindall kicking early, Turuva learns from Mr Miyagi with a kung fu kick over the dead-ball line.

Ooo Edwards loses it. Well forced by Nicho Hynes that time.

Can this be the set for Cronulla.

Turuva is thrown over the sideline... the error setting is getting a massive hitout in all the stats rooms across the country.

Martin forces the error on Mulitalo... Cronulla are hurting themselves just as much out here.

No advantage - Sharks will get the ball from a scrum.

Mulitalo loses it and the play the ball has Penrith off the hook. Cronulla looking a touch lateral.

Royce Hunt... he went for an unnecessary offload and here come the Panthers.

PENALTY SHARKS: Tom Hazleton is hit hard by Garner late and off the ball.

Great defence from Cronulla.

Challenge is successful.

Challenge time: Panthers challenging that ruling and first glance. They will win this.

Good hit - Iro crunches Luai.

Penrith playing Harlem Globetrotters style rugba league!

Penrith hold on. Great scramble by To'o

PENALTY SHARKS: High tackle by Mitch Kenny. Ivan's mood won't be improved.

Ivan Cleary not happy at the moment with his side.

Trindall's bomb causes problems for Edwards but he is ruled to knock it back.

Here we go. 40 minutes to decide who plays Melbourne.

Half-Time from Accor: The Sharks are well and truly in this preliminary final. Execution does need to improve considerably though from both sides in the wet conditions. The turning point, Nathan Cleary's 40/20.

Luai kicks early but that is well recovered by Sione Katoa.

Big tackle from Iro stops To'o from going to the corner.

Nikora puts that one down. Nicho threw that way too hard. This could be very costly.

Strong take from Kennedy. Really must hang on territory for the Sharks.

Cronulla have done very well to avoid this going down hill. They just cannot allow the margin to be beyond two possessions.

Still amazed that Liam Henry was not asked to come off for a HIA.

Talakai goes just on report. Looked very fortunate to stay on the field there.

PENALTY PANTHERS: Late tackle on Jarome Luai.

SIX MORE PANTHERS: Ruck infringement.

Liam Henry was stumbling there. Cronulla have a breather. Henry caught the hip of Sione Katoa. He will remain on the field for the moment.

Good read from Sunia Turuva and Talakai has coughed it up.

Oh no... To'o loses it in the redzone - that is as rare as they come.

Cleary breaks away - he finds Edwards brought down 20 away.

Luai has CRUNCHED Trindall. There is the obnoxious Panther roar so you know it is a big play.

Garner loses the ball - now Penrith get a bit upset and get a push and shove in. Despite the one possession lead, the Penrith kryptonite of wet weather comes to the forefront.

Cronulla felt like they had to score that set. Iro thinks the play before he needed to. Loses it into Tago.

Martin is back on and the ball comes out. Cronulla get the footy back!

Really important next three sets you feel in this game. If Penrith can get the go ahead then this one will be over.

No try is the ruling from Chris Butler and the decision is correct. Panthers survive but they look a bit shell shocked here.

Sharks have claimed it through Nicho Hynes. Klein has NO TRY so hang on a moment

Brailey makes an excursion out of nine.

Kennedy with a strong kick return. Liam Martin has passed HIA.

Cronulla trying to play a Penrith style of game v Penrith.

Sharks will go for goal.

PENALTY SHARKS: Out of play - some of the forwards were slow coming back and as they were out of play - you CANNOT under any circumstance get involved in play

Big tackle on Alamoti stops Turuva potentially going away down the left unmarked.

The rain has returned at Accor Stadium. Trindall absolutely dominating the attacking play for the Sharks. Dictating terms.

Trindall inside the 40m - he is getting there. But a terrific save from Edwards, brilliant scramble from Katoa to force Turuva on his bike. Complete momentum changer in this game right now!

Penrith have put the radar firmly on Sione Katoa. But so far, so good for Katoa.

Penrith with a slight field position advantage early on.

Penrith orange shirt isn't mucking around - instead of waiting. Martin comes off for a HIA replaced by Lindsay Smith

Liam Martin is in a bit of bother. I have a feeling the independent doctor will have a look at this.

Penrith will shoot for a penalty goal to reset after a frantic start.

PENALTY PANTHERS: Trip by Toby Rudolf and has immediately been placed on report.

Rudolf comes up with the error - Fisher-Harris is around the football but he is ruled to be just making a tackle.

Well handled by the Sharks. Braydon Trindall dives on the loose pass.

Kennedy is dragged over the sideline. Now we have a push and shove.

Cronulla looking for their first try against the Panthers since July, 2022.

PENALTY SHARKS: Good carry from Talakai is rewarded with the first penalty. Ash Klein kept the whistle in the back pocket in the Sharks win last weekend.

Good chase and tackle from Paul Alamoti!

Here we go! 80 minutes from a grand final birth!!

Milestone matches everywhere you look tonight on both sides.

Penrith come out led out by Isaah Yeo who becomes the most capped Panther in franchise history.

You are in the comfortable hands of AJ this evening as the sides come out onto Accor Stadium.

Referee tonight is Ashley Klein in NRL game number 401. Touch judges are Matt Noyen and Chris Sutton. Chris Butler is in the Bunker for this clash tonight.

It is prelim final time and a date with Melbourne greets the winner of this match tonight. It is Penrith and Cronulla in the second preliminary final of the NRL season. Penrith are 1-17 for this clash tonight, Cronulla are not as lucky. Jesse Ramien was a late withdrawal with injury while Siosifa Talakai moves to centre. Dan Atkinson is the new face on the bench while Mawene Hiroti is the 18th man.