Panthers bury Tigers at Leichhardt

The Penrith Panthers continued their charge up to the top of the NRL ladder with a convincing 26 points to 10 victory over the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval this afternoon.

Penrith cruised in the 1st half with tries to Matt Moylan and Dean Whare who got over the line untouched after great set moves. The Tigers shot themselves in the foot several times while attacking with several missed opportunities and errors at inopportune times.

In the second half Kevin Naiqama found the line after another set play from Penrith, but was met with a swift reply from Tigers' interchange player Blake Austin who broke the Panthers line rather easily - the score sitting at 16-6 with 25 minutes left to play.

Jamal Idris made it 20-6 as he was allowed too much space to dummy to Josh Mansour and then dive over out wide under little pressure. This was backed up when Dean Whare then grabbed a second, off another Moylan assist as he sliced through a gap in the Tigers defence to score untouched. This extended the Panthers' lead out to 20 points.

Late on, the Tigers earned a simple consolation try when Luke Brooks finished off a good move for the Tigers, scoring after the football went through many hands and he crashed over under some soft Panthers defence late on.

Braith Anasta and David Nofoaluma were amongst the concerns for the home side - Anasta with torn biceps and Nofoaluma on report for a lifting tackle on Jamal Idris. Bodene Thompson may also have a case to answer for a first-half late hit on Jamie Soward. For Penrith they'll be sweating on the fitness of Peter Wallace who suffered an ankle syndesmosis injury (high ankle sprain) early in the match.

Next week the first-placed Penrith will host Brisbane in Monday night football at the foot of the mountains, while the Wests Tigers continue a horror run, facing the team in second on the ladder in Manly. The week following they host the third-placed Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

WESTS TIGERS (10)
Tries: Blake Austin, Luke Brooks
Conversions: Pat Richards (1/2)

PENRITH PANTHERS (26)
Tries: Matt Moylan, Dean Whare (2), Kevin Naiqama, Jamal Idris
Conversions: Jamie Soward (3/5)

LATE MAIL | Penrith have a reshuffle with Nigel Plum dropping off the bench. Sika Manu will drop back to the bench, Lewis Brown will start.

LATE MAIL | Lots of team news from the Tigers camp. Fullback Blake Austin drops to the bench, with Mitchell Moses to debut at the back in jersey 19. Ava Seumanufagai will start at prop with new dad Martin Taupau dropping to the bench as well. Jack Buchanan and Sitaleki Akauola are the players who miss out.

KICK OFF! Penrith get us underway on a lovely Winter's day at Leichardt Oval.

1: First mistake of the game here with Brooks first kick of the day going out on the full!

1: Forward pass here by the Panthers with Segeyaro's pass to Docker drifting forward.

2: Double knock on here with the Panthers getting the feed.

3: Penalty Penrith with a high tackle on Soward by Sironen.

4: Richards has knocked on a pass by Penrith with six more tackles signaled by the referee.

5: Naiqama gets taken into touch trying to find the corner. Tigers will have the ball back from the scrum feed on their own 10 metre line.

6: Brooks chip to the corner is taken by Moylan who brings it back to his 20 metre line.

7: Soward goes very high and debutant Moses does well to take it as he looked to have lost it in the sun.

8: Anasta finds touch with his clearing kick 30 metres out from the Panthers line.

9: Segeyaro loses the ball backwards from dummy half then makes a half break, but he is tackled and it's Tigers ball.

11: Brooks grubber to the corner has to be taken in goal by Moylan who then tries to get a pass to Naiqama who fumbles it, then bats it dead for a goal line drop out.

12: Some enterprising play from the Tigers sees several passes exchanged from Brooks to Moses who then flicks a pass to Anasta who kicks and Naiqama has to bat it dead once again.

14: Luani goes from dummy half on the last and he's tackled a metre out. Penrith survive and they have the ball on their try line.

14: Penalty Penrith here with a strip called against the Tigers.

15: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Matt Moylan. Kick to come.
Penrith get first points of the game with Moylan slicing through a gap and stepping past Moses to score.

17: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Soward converts simply from in front and Penrith get out to an early lead after Tigers had all the field position and couldn't make the most of it.

18: A strong set from the Panthers sees them go 70 metres in 4 tackles and then Lewis Brown inexplicably drops a simple pass halting the momentum and giving the ball back to the Tigers.

19: Penalty Tigers here with Segeyaro penalized for a dangerous tackle on Anasta.

20: The Tigers go down the short side and Mansour forces Lulia over the sideline.

21: Soward goes high with Lawrence knocking on Penrith have the ball back close to the line. We will now go upstairs with Peachey claiming a try.

22: NO TRY: Latimore has obstructed Brooks and Peachey will be denied a try.

23: A pass is intercepted by Naiqama and Penrith have the ball back on halfway.

24: Soward goes to the air with Richards knocking it back for Lawrence to dive on and the Tigers will look to work the ball away from their line.

25: Brooks makes a half break and on the next play Anasta kicks to the corner for an easy take for Mansour.

25: Penalty Panthers with Soward taken out by Thompson as he was kicking the ball.

26: Going upstairs here for a possible obstruction.

26: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dean Whare. Kick to come.
All too simple for the Panthers with Whare strolling through untouched from a Moylan pass.

27: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Soward converts expertly from the sideline and Penrith go out to a two converted try lead with 13 minutes left in the 1st half.

28: Knock on Penrith. Peachey has knocked on from dummy half and the Tigers have a chance to get back into the game with a scrum on the 30 metre line.

29: Knock on Tigers. Lawrence knocks on a Moses pass and the chance is gone for Wests.

30: Soward's in goal kick is aimed for Peachey and it's just a bit too deep and it rolls dead. Tigers 20 metre restart.

30: Penalty Tigers now with Penrith penalized for the markers not being square.

31: Tigers come up with another knock on with Sironen offloading the ball and it is too low for Austin.

32: A kick down into the corner is chased by Richards and he brings it back.

33: Brooks kicks down into the corner for Moylan to chase and bring back at the Tigers defense.

34: Both teams trading completed sets with Soward's kick going dead and the Tigers having a 20 metre restart.

36: Lawrence looked to have scored with a great inside ball from Brooks, but he has knocked on from a great tackle from Whare. Tigers can't catch a break here today.

37: Soward's kick goes down field with Richards knocking it on. A rare mistake from the veteran.

38: Moylan skips away from a tackle and throws a long ball to Cartwright with his flick to Mansour knocked on.

40: Brooks tries a chip over the top with Moylan taking and giving to Mansour.

40: That's half time at Leichardt Oval with the Panthers leading the hosts by two converted tries. 12-0 at the break. The Tigers will look to bounce back in the 2nd half while the Panthers will look to build on their lead.

40: Richards gets us back underway for the 2nd half.

40: Soward's first kick of the 2nd half is a good one as he finds touch 10 metres out from the Tigers line.

42: Brooks goes high with Taupau catching and then being tackled.

43: Tigers have the ball now with Soward trying to find Moylan who knocks on.

44: The Tigers fumble around with the ball with no one wanting to kick and Thompson is tackled on the last on the 40 metre line. Panthers ball.

45: Soward grubbers in and Moses does well to get it on his try line. Penalty Tigers now with the Panthers inside the 10.

47: Brooks goes high with it being knocked on by a Tiger. Penrith have it back. Penalty Panthers now with Austin penalized for a strip on Mansour. Now another penalty with Anasta interfering with Soward.

47: Penalty number 3 in quick succession with a dangerous tackle by Anasta and he will have a talk with referee Shayne Hayne.

48: Possible try here for Naiqama. We're going upstairs.

48: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Kevin Naiqama. Kick to come.
Naiqama goes in for the Panthers who extend their lead. A set play sees Moylan double pump and then pass to Naiqama who finishes off the move in the corner.

49: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Soward is unsuccessful from the sideline with his attempt. The lead stays at 16.

51: Segeyaro kicks down field for Moses to retrieve and bring back.

52: Penalty Tigers here with Latimore penalized for holding down Galloway.

53: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Blake Austin. Kick to come.
Great reply from the Tigers with Austin breaking the line and slamming the ball down after beating some soft Penrith defence.

54: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Richards makes no mistake and the Tigers get on the board.

55: Brooks kicks down for Naiqama to take.

57: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Jamal Idris. Kick to come.
Penrith with a swift reply. Idris strolls through a huge gap as he dummies to Mansour and dives over

58: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Soward's attempt close to the sideline drifts wide of the target and Penrith stick to their 14 point lead.

59: Sironen bombs high and Moylan takes it well under significant Tigers pressure.

61: Segeyaro kicks it from dummy half and once again Richards knocks on. A day to forget so far for Richards.

62: Another Tigers knock on with the Panthers having the feed 10 metres from the Tigers line.

62: Another trip is needed upstairs with a try being claimed by Whare. Possible obstruction.

62: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dean Whare. Kick to come.
Soward goes to Moylan who once again assists Dean Whare with a short ball and Whare can run through a gap and score to increase Penrith's lead.

63: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Soward converts well from the sideline and Penrith are out to an unassailable 20 point lead.

64: Tigers have come up with the ball from the kick off and will look to dent the Panthers advantage.

66: Thompson is held on the last and the Tigers squander another opportunity.

66: Thompson is penalized for a strip and the Panthers will have the ball back.

68: Both teams trade completed sets with Austin bombing high for Naiqama to take.

69: Kite offloads to no one and it dribbles into touch. A stereotypical front row forwards pass there.

70: Austin tries to get on the outside, but he has been put into touch. It hasn't been the home side's day today.

71: Penalty Tigers here with an obstruction by Peachey.

72: Quick hands from the Tigers ends with Richards once again knocking on with Lawrence's pass too hot to handle.

74: Soward kicks it into touch 30 metres out from the Tigers line as this game heads to its inevitable conclusion.

75: Brooks goes high and Moylan takes a superb catch.

76: Soward kicks down to the corner for Nofoaluma to bring back. David has been very quiet today.

77: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Luke Brooks. Kick to come.
A consolation try here for the Tigers who kept the ball alive and Brooks was able to dive over to make the score look a bit more respectful. Lawrence goes through a gap and offloads to Brooks who started the move and then finished it.

78: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards unsuccessful.
Richards hooks his conversion away from the target.

79: An intercept by Bryce Cartwright and the Panthers have the ball back on halfway

80: A great solo run from Naiqama and he is tackled 5 metres out from the Tigers line and on the next play there was a knock on.

80: That's full time here at Leichardt Oval with the Penrith Panthers too good for the Wests Tigers winning by 26 points to 10.