The Penrith Panthers will be up against it as they host the high-flying South Sydney Rabbitohs in this round three clash. Join us from 3.00pm AEDT with live scores and commentary from the foot of the Blue Mountains.
After starting the season with a great first-up win over the Raiders, the boys from Penrith were handed a tough loss by the Wests Tigers last Sunday, who were not really made to work very hard for the victory.
The big talking point has been the season-ending injury to Lachlan Coote – a blow that just might help solidify the Panthers as the wooden spoon candidates that many had been talking them up as before the season started.
Souths on the other hand, turned in an insipid attacking performance against the Sharks on Monday night but still managed to come away with a gritty 14-12 win.
The 11-day turnaround from their previous game was evident as they appeared rusty throughout.
After scoring two quick tries in the opening ten minutes, both from the gifted boot of Adam Reynolds, many thought Souths would run away with it.
Instead, the margin of victory was only the penalty goal Reynolds added on the stroke of halftime.
The attack may not have been up to speed but the defence certainly was, as both of Cronulla’s tries came from fortunate circumstances.
One was a dropped ball that bounced perfectly for Michael Gordon (the former Panther) to split the line and the other a 90m Beau Ryan intercept.
Prediction
It’s unlikely that Penrith will have any more joy attacking this vaunted Rabbitohs defence than the Roosters or Sharks have had this season.
Without their star playmaker for the remainder of the season, it might already be time to start looking ahead to 2014.
But who knows? Teams have rallied past injured stars before and gone on unlikely playoff runs.
The Panthers might get something going in the next few weeks, but they should be no match for Michael Maguire’s men in this one.
Greg Inglis is in career best form and appears unstoppable.
I very much doubt we’ll see the attacking ineptness that we saw last week from Souths – including a Nathan Merritt dropped ball with the line begging.
I’d expect him to be among the scorers this weekend, along with fellow winger Andrew Everingham, who scored with his first-ever touch of a football in first grade in a round three encounter with Penrith, on this day a year ago.
It was also on that day that Greg Inglis first made a move to fullback, which has re-ignited is career and again prompted discussion that he could be the best in the NRL right now.
And plus, what kind of Souths fan would I be if I didn’t pick them in my first live blog of the season?
Rabbitohs by 16.
WOW
Guest
Souths defence is shet haahahahhahah. GF threat pfft
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
A strange game but a win for the Rabbitohs. Penrith gave everyone a heart attack after being all but out of the contest at half time. Segeyaro was the best for the home side and it was a valiant effort from a depleted Penrith side - but the class of the Rabbitohs was enough to get them over the line. Greg Inglis named man of the match and deservedly so; he is in career best form. That's all from us here, feel free to drop me a tweet @TheMattBungard - thanks for following along, I'll see you next time.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME PENRITH PANTHERS 32 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 44
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Reynolds hooks it wide and that is that!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Quick hands to the left, Ben Lowe gives it to Merritt who motors away for a hat trick!! What a player!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
79th min: AND MERRITT FINISHES IT OFF!!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Puts it over!!! 8 point margin!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
The push right, Te'o cuts back in on the angle and he's too big and too strong from that range!!! An easy conversion attempt here. If Reynolds puts this away it's over...
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
76th: TE'O GETS OVER THE LINE!!!! THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
75th min, SOU 34-32: They spread it wide early and Tighe puts it down!! Souths scrum 30 out from the Panthers' line!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
74th min, SOU 34-32: Sutton puts it up on the last but it's a handover!! Nervous times here for Souths!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
73rd min, SOU 34-32: McKendry drops the ball on the last!! Souths scrum on halfway!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Walsh kicks it from the sideline and it's a two point game!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
71st min: NAIQAMA IS OVER IN THE CORNER!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
69th min, SOU 34-26: Segeyaro with a last tackle grubber and he forces a dropout!! Penrith still in with a real shout here
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
67th min, SOU 34-26: The kick on the last is diffused by Sutton - he flicks it Inglis who is away!!! But he's taken down by Whare just beyond halfway and into touch!!! Unbelievable effort by the former Eagle!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
66th min, SOU 34-26: Now a penalty to the Panthers!! They'll go right back on the attack!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
He goes himself on the last, pushes through some average tackle attempts from Lowe and Lima and it's suddenly an 8 point game!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
64th min: SEGEYARO IS OVER UNDER THE POSTS!!! THIS GAME ISN'T OVER YET!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
64th min, SOU 34-20: Rabbits with an error and Penrith have a scrum on halfway!