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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
All aboard Penrith revival after gripping win over Dogs
Penrith's NRL revival is well and truly on after securing an 8-6 defeat of Canterbury for a fourth straight win. In one of the best games of the season so far, Nathan Cleary produced the defining moment when he charged down a Matt Burton kick and scored in the second half. It was Penrith's only try after they trailed 6-2 at halftime, but proved enough to overcome a Bulldogs side that had only been beaten twice previously this year. CHARGE DOWN! 😤 #NRLPanthersBulldogs — NRL (@NRL) June 26, 2025 Cleary did not kick goals, due to a groin issue, but got through the game unscathed, although there was a fresh concern for NSW winger BrianTo'o. Already battling his own hamstring issues this year, To'o required his left knee to be strapped in the first half at CommBank Stadium. That was about the only issue for the four-time defending premiers, who were last on the ladder a month ago but could now finish this weekend as high as sixth. And while last week's win over the Warriors was impressive without their five State of Origin stars, Thursday night showed Penrith can still match it with the best. In an absorbing first half the Panthers got on the board via a penalty goal for a Viliame Kikau high shot, before Jacob Preston bagged Canterbury's only try. But that did little to sum up 40 minutes that went from end-to-end, only for both sides' defence to hold on. After Cleary's match-defining charge-down with 26 minutes left, the Bulldogs still had late chances to win it. Matt Burton spilt a ball from 30 metres out with two minutes to go in the set after a To'o high tackle, before a Stephen Crichton pass went into touch on the siren. The result means Canterbury will be knocked off the top of the ladder for the first time since March if Canberra beat Newcastle on Friday night. But the Dogs lost no admirers, playing 80 minutes with 16 men after Daniel Suluka-Fifita was concussed in the first tackle of the game. Canterbury's best win of the season was a come-from-behind effort against the Raiders, but that remains their only match against a top-four side. The Bulldogs blunted almost everything Penrith threw at them. Crichton denied Casey McLean one try when he got to a ball and batted it out, and later hit Blaize Talagi hard to end a late first-half attacking raid. Connor Tracey also pulled off one of the try-savers of the season, denying McLean midway through the openting stanza. Canterbury's defence rushed Cleary at every opportunity, and it was telling that Penrith's only try did not come from structured play.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Zac Lomax prepared for boos from Dragons fans as he returns to Wollongong in Eels colours
Parramatta star Zac Lomax knows exactly what to expect as he prepares for a return to Wollongong this weekend. He also knows that the result is far more important than silencing any of the jeers that come his way. 'Oh, what do you think,' Lomax said when asked whether he expected to be booed by Dragons fans. 'That's footy. I'm not the only person that's been in this situation. I'm sure it will be weird. I'm sure I won't get a real nice reception there, but that's the way that it goes. 'They're all my good mates down there and they'll be some of my best mates forever you know. 'We have a job to do. I want to go down there and put in a good performance. It's going to be a good test for us.' • SAINT, SINNER, SHOOSH: SCHUSTER TAKES INDEFINITE BREAK FROM NRL Lomax left the Dragons at the end of last season in a blaze of controversy and he had a game to remember when he played against his former club earlier this year. On that occasion, Lomax stepped up and nailed a field goal in golden point to give the Eels a win over St George Illawarra. That game was at CommBank Stadium, where Lomax has quickly become a fan favourite. He was once feted by Dragons fans as well at WIN Stadium but a move to the Eels changed that and there seems little doubt he will be in the eye of the storm on Saturday night. Asked whether it would be emotional given it will mark the first time he has played at WIN Stadium in anything other than a Dragons jersey, Lomax said: 'To be fair, I don't even know. They're in a very similar boat to us where they have to win. 'You completely try to take the emotion out of it because the emotion can affect your game I guess positively and negatively.' The Eels will arrive in Wollongong with their spirits lifted after a big win over the Gold Coast, a result that gave them a buffer over the Titans at the foot of the ladder. Lomax kicked six goals from as many attempts against the Titans, exorcising the demons from the second State of Origin game in Perth when his goal-kicking radar was awry. Asked whether he felt any responsibility for the Blues defeat, Lomax replied: 'Oh man, it's easy to look at it that way because it's two points. 'For me I pride myself on being a good goalkicker as well. So for me, it was not ideal. We're in situations like that, that's, that's Origin. 'The thing is I probably couldn't have struck them any better, they just stayed out. That's the way that footy goes.'
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Benji Marshall fumes at match officials and claims he 'feels sorry for his players' as Nathan Cleary's Panthers have the last laugh against Jarome Luai's Wests Tigers
A seething Benji Marshall admitted he 'felt sorry' for his players, as he fumed at referees for two controversial calls against star man Jarome Luai, following his side's 18-14 defeat by Penrith. Nathan Cleary 's side had the last laugh over their former five-eighth, Luai, as they leapfrogged the Tigers to go one point clear of them in the NRL ladder. Luai had a mixed reunion with the Panthers, playing a hand in all of the Tigers' three tries but gifting Penrith penalties ahead of two game-defining scores in Sunday's second half at CommBank Stadium. After the teams were locked at 10-10 at halftime, Cleary kicked for goal to put Penrith ahead after Luai tackled Penrith's new five-eighth Blaize Talagi. The four-time reigning premiers later scored off an escort penalty, conceded by Luai. Sat next to the Tigers' five-eighth, Marshall unloaded on referees, appearing to claim they were too involved in the contest. 'I thought it was one of our best performances of the year,' the Tigers boss said, reflecting on the loss. 'We're playing against quality opposition that play at a really good level. 'They test you with their attack. Probably got the best kicking game in the competition. And we went toe to toe with them. And I honestly thought we were the better side tonight. 'The game is so hard and demanding. And I actually feel sorry for our players because they didn't actually get to decide tonight. 'I thought two calls, the first one on Jarome, on last, making a tackle. I thought it was outrageous. That decision took them to 12-10. 'And the second one, he got done for an escort, which I thought was bad too. And then they scored off the back of that set. Just let them decide. Let them play. 'The game is actually hard enough. So I'm proud of our boys and proud of the effort. And we'll keep fighting and turning up like that the way we did tonight and keep improving.' On reflection on the escort penalty, Marshall said he would be taking his concerns up with the NRL. 'Absolutely,' he said, when asked whether he'd get in touch with the league. He again affirmed that the escort penalty was the 'wrong call'. 'I agree with protecting the kickers, but he didn't take his legs out. They didn't put him in a dangerous position. It was simultaneous when he kicked it and he made contact there. Like, that's not a penalty. 'I'm all for protecting kickers. Don't get me wrong. OK, I just I thought it was the wrong call. And I thought it actually cost us because we're in a cycle there where they got field position, kicked the goal, got the ball back, went down, got a penalty and then scored, so anyway, I've had my rant.' Luai, meanwhile, was a little more reserved in his comments. 'I think the ref gave me the explanation of it was a bit careless. So, I understand the rules and in that moment, you know, I understood what I was doing. He's just in the rules.' But interestingly, that was when Marshall quickly interjected, saying: 'He's saying he doesn't want to make any comments.' Despite the contentious penalty, the Tigers' co-captain almost helped his team to victory in the final 10 minutes when Jack Bird regathered his bomb close to the line and offloaded to Jahream Bula. But a miraculous cover tackle from Scott Sorensen and Nathan Cleary stopped the fullback inches short of the line and the Panthers held on. Marking the Tigers' other ex-Panther in Sunia Turuva, left winger Tom Jenkins scored his first hat-trick in a win that keeps Penrith's mid-season resurgence humming. An away clash against the Warriors is set to prove a litmus test in a fortnight, with Penrith only able to lose four more games this season to finish with a 50 per cent winning record. Three-time reigning wooden spooners the Tigers head into their bye on a four-game losing streak that threatens to undo their improved start to the season. Jenkins completed his hat-trick, crossing just after Luai was cited for collecting Liam Martin on a kick chase. But Luai had been involved in everything the Tigers did well in a better first half for Benji Marshall's side. He first put boot to ball from his non-preferred right foot ahead of Starford To'a's try before again swinging to the right side as the Tigers shifted for Turuva to score. The 28-year-old was at the centre of another memorable moment early in the second half, flooring opposite man and long-term teammate Cleary in a bone-crunching one-on-one tackle. In his first game back from a hamstring injury, Jeral Skelton gave the Tigers a sniff with 10 minutes to play as Luai and Adam Doueihi found him on the left wing. But for a second consecutive week, the Panthers rediscovered their gritty best to hit their second bye in form.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers have last laugh over Jarome Luai
Penrith have had the last laugh over Jarome Luai, edging Wests Tigers for an 18-14 win in the four-time premiership hero's first game against his old side. Luai had a mixed reunion with the Panthers, playing a hand in all of the Tigers' three tries but gifting Penrith penalties ahead of two game-defining scores in Sunday's second half at CommBank Stadium. The Tigers' co-captain almost helped his team to victory in the final 10 minutes when Jack Bird regathered his bomb close to the line and offloaded to Jahream Bula. But a miraculous cover tackle from Scott Sorensen and Nathan Cleary stopped the fullback inches short of the line and the Panthers held on. THE TRY SAVER! 🤯#NRLTigersPanthers — NRL (@NRL) June 8, 2025 Marking the Tigers' other ex-Panther in Sunia Turuva, left winger Tom Jenkins scored his first hat-trick in a win that keeps Penrith's mid-season resurgence humming. An away clash against the Warriors is set to prove a litmus test in a fortnight, with Penrith only able to lose four more games this season to finish with a 50 per cent winning record. Three-time reigning wooden spooners the Tigers head into their bye on a four-game losing streak that threatens to undo their improved start to the season. After the teams were locked at 10-10 at halftime, Cleary kicked for goal to put Penrith ahead after Luai tackled Penrith's new five-eighth Blaize Talagi. Jenkins completed his hat-trick, crossing just after Luai was cited for collecting Liam Martin on a kick chase. But Luai had been involved in everything the Tigers did well in a better first half for Benji Marshall's side. He first put boot to ball from his non-preferred right foot ahead of Starford To'a's try before again swinging to the right side as the Tigers shifted for Turuva to score. The 28-year-old was at the centre of another memorable moment early in the second half, flooring opposite man and long-term teammate Cleary in a bone-crunching one-on-one tackle. In his first game back from a hamstring injury, Jeral Skelton gave the Tigers a sniff with 10 minutes to play as Luai and Adam Doueihi found him on the left wing. But for a second consecutive week, the Panthers rediscovered their gritty best to hit their second bye in form.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nathan Cleary opens up on Jarome Luai clash after ugly act with teammate emerges
Nathan Cleary insists he'll be ready to respond if Jarome Luai tries to sledge him when the former teammates square off against one another for the first time in the NRL on Sunday. And if Luai's spray for his own Wests Tigers teammate Jack Bird is anything to go by, there could be fireworks when the four-time premiership winners lock horns at CommBank Stadium. Cleary's Panthers climbed off the bottom of the NRL ladder with an 18-10 win over Parramatta on Sunday. And the four-time reigning premiers will be looking to register back-to-back victories for the first time this season against a Tigers side coming off the back of a four-point defeat to North Queensland. It will be the first meeting between Cleary and Luai in the NRL, after the latter decided to join the Tigers at the end of last season. The pair won an astonishing 78 of 89 matches in the halves together for the Panthers and shared in all four of Penrith's grand final triumphs as part of the greatest club dynasty in the NRL era. Cleary admits it will be weird to view Luai as a rival again, having achieved so much alongside his good friend. The Panthers co-captain got the better of Luai's Samoa in 2022 when Cleary helped the Kangaroos win the World Cup final but the Penrith star still has vivid memories of coming up against Luai's St Marys Saints in his junior footy days for Penrith Brothers. "We had a few duels back then but obviously it's been a long time," Cleary said. "I'm looking forward to it. "I do remember probably the biggest upset in junior footy history. We beat them one day and they were stacked. They were so good. "They used to beat us just about 50-nil every time... and one day we got them. He (Luai) might have cried. I'm not sure that'll happen again." Cleary says he's been impressed by the impact Luai has had on the Tigers since joining the three-time reigning wooden spooners and reckons they're "one of the best teams in the comp" when momentum is on their side. Cleary says the energy Luai brings is "probably his greatest asset" but played down suggestions there could be animosity when they square off. "There's just always that mutual respect there. We don't talk all the time but whenever we do or whenever we see each other, it's always love," he said. "You'll never be able to take away what we've been able to achieve together." But Cleary insists he will be ready to fight fire with fire if Luai resorts to sledging on Sunday. "I don't really start the chirp but if he starts it then we'll see," Cleary said with a smile. Luai has already shown that even his own teammates won't be spared from a spray if they fail to meet standards after he was captured giving Tigers forward Jack Bird a bake during Saturday's loss to North Queensland. Bird copped it after a miscommunication with prop Terrell May that saw a pass go to ground before Luai scooped up the footy and got smashed in a tackle. WATCH: Jerome Luai blows up at Jack Bird after the decoy runDT wrote a whole article about happens constantly on the footy field; the cameras are just picked up on this one. — NRLCentral (@nrlcentrall) June 2, 2025 Luai clearly felt it was sloppy from Bird but the Tigers co-captain was himself to blame after being sin-binned earlier on for holding down in the ruck off the back of multiple infringements. That proved costly as the Cowboys put on two tries to race out to an early lead , with the home side also running in three more either side of halftime when Adam Doueihi was binned. The Tigers scored four tries in the final 20 minutes to set up a grandstand finish but it was ultimately too little, too late. Heath Mason impressed in his first game at No.6 and will be hoping to get another crack as Lachie Galvin's replacement at the Tigers, who will be desperate to avoid four straight defeats. with AAP
