Jinking James Segeyaro scored his first NRL hat-trick as Penrith recorded a 28-12 win over Brisbane in Friday night’s clash at Centrebet Stadium.
In a pulsating match between two of the seven sides locked in a battle for the last two finals spots on offer, Segeyaro’s guile proved the difference as he scored from dummy-half twice before adding the sealer in the 72nd minute.
Having danced over the line with far too much ease in the 27th minute, the 22-year-old substitute repeated the dose in the 46th minute when Broncos Dunamis Lui and Lama Tasi bought his dummy like it was solid gold.
Penrith then showed brilliant resistance to defend their 18-12 lead for almost half an hour, before a high shot from Ben Hannant on Panthers skipper Kevin Kingston resulted in a decisive penalty.
Panthers halfback Luke Walsh slotted the goal and two minutes later the match was over when Segeyaro sold more candy to the opposition and trotted past Andrew McCullough and Josh Hoffman.
Walsh kicked the conversion and added another penalty goal in the 77th minute, as the Panthers grabbed ninth spot on the table in front of 8,817 fans.
Penrith face a tough ask to scrape into the finals in coach Ivan Cleary’s second season in charge, with away games against Canterbury and Manly to come.
Brisbane, who suffered their first loss since July 12, could be as low as 13th by Sunday depending on other results in round 24.
Broncos centre Jack Reed was knocked senseless in a collision with Panthers winger David Simmons, while Corey Oates scored a first-half double for the visitors.
The Broncos gave away two penalties in the opening four minutes, and Penrith’s Ryan Simpkins started the scoring following a knock-on from Jordan Kahu.
Kahu fumbled a bomb from Walsh in windy conditions, with the hosts taking a 6-0 lead when Walsh added the extras.
The Broncos levelled the scores in the 19th minute, when Matt Gillett produced the decisive break and a creative one-handed pass to put 18-year-old Oates over in the corner.
Segeyaro sauntered to his first try, but Gillett and Oates combined once again to lock the game up 12-12 at halftime.
Tasi was put on report early in the second stanza for a high hit on Segeyaro, as the Panthers once again pounced when the visitors gave away two penalties in the space of five minutes.
“It does (make it tough to reach the finals),” Broncos coach Anthony Griffin said of the prospect of his side missing the top eight for what would be just the second time in 21 years.
“We were courageous at times but we just weren’t good enough when it mattered, defensively.
“Those two (dummy-half) tries (from Segeyaro) were the difference.”
Cleary wasn’t getting carried away with his team’s chances of contesting the finals.
“We’re still alive. It’s good,” he said.
“If we play like we did tonight, then we’ll certainly be competitive (against Canterbury on Saturday week).
“If you’re competitive, you never know what can happen.”
The Koomz
Guest
James' dad has links with Gus Gould.
Maroon Blood
Guest
In a Kenny Callender voice?
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Thaat was a shocking decision and turning point when they missed coote being offside. Especially when the onfield ref asked them to check if he was onside. Il be interested to see Andersons explanation for that.
up in the north
Guest
Thanks for bringing the Cowbies into this damnstraight. Segayaro is a sensation! (sing it out loud) Don't know who let him get away, but whoever it was, should be knackered.
Luke M
Guest
I bet you weren't complaining when Penrith made a hot start, then 5 consecutive penalties brought Brisbane back into the game.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
How the cowboys let Segeyaro go, I'll never know. Every time he he touches the ball he looks dangerous.They have definitely missed him this year.
Nappa
Guest
I'd say Hook is the reason you lost, get rid of your coach and Scott Prince
Maroon Blood
Guest
It's not like there's heaps of other things to do in Penriff on a Friday night anyway.........apart from the Maccas drive thru.
Maroon Blood
Guest
Certainly wasn't the reason the Broncs lost but the reffing WAS rubbish. Parker called back when he wasn't held followed by ref way too slow calling six to go then blatant knock on at the play the ball missed and finally the video ref joining in the blunder fest by missing Coote being offside and Broncs having a goal line drop out instead of a penalty. I don't know if it was home ground advantage or what but, geez, the Panthers were the refs Golden boys last night. Bye bye Broncs, just not good enough this season. Sure hope the Barba Broncs are an improved outfit next season.
oikee
Guest
Hehe, what about the monster crowds we are getting in our heartlands, i have seen more turn up for Australia's got talent auditions. 29 thousand to the Bunnies Dogs blocky buster. I heard it was a little Windy down in Sydney, we dont want fans messing up their hair do we duckies. 8 thousand to the Panthers Broncos, strueth, you get bigger crowds in the penrith drivethru's takeaways. Here is a ideal, bring in the clowns and jumping castles dave, hehe Oh and a drive-thru. hehe
Ozziejoebujjere
Guest
The refs? Are you kidding? You sound like a 12 year old school girl. Or maybe you really are?
Dayer
Guest
I am glad the "PRETENDERS" Broncs lost last night because they are useless and this is coming from a Broncos fan. 2012 and now 2013 ... no attacking skills and no defence. I think it's time to bring in a new coaching team that can bring coach the players new skill plays in attack. Broncos were boring. sob sob sob. Go the Titans.
ferret
Guest
Yes Oik, the refs were incompetent but that's not why the Broncos season is over for 2013. We're a mediocre side, with a mediocre coach, and a very mediocre recruitment strategy. Bring in Kevvie Walters as attacking / head coach please.
Pest
Guest
Oh what a beautiful day, did someone mention spring the other day ,can you drown in your own dribble cause I reakon someone just did , he he he ,,,,,,,,,that's the clue :) :) :)
Pest
Guest
Well well well, what's it like falling flat on your face , see what happens when your mouth is so big , beatn by a side that doesn't have a single rep player, better still NO FINALS FOR YOU , so how about doing everyone else a favour and dropping off, ta ta bye bye , sayonara , afidasen , ovouar , GOOD RIDANCE
eagleJack
Guest
Does this mean you will also switch off from the Roar????!!! You'll be pleased to know Manly are fighting the $10k fine. The integrity of the refs were never questioned and what's the point of having post match conferences if you can't express yourself emotionally? It adds to the theatre of the game, and if curtailed then expect coaches to simply send an assistant in the future to throw out one word answers. The refereeing is sub standard. Toovey just pointed out what many are thinking.
oikee
Guest
That was the worst reffing performance i have ever seen. This is why Toovey should be fined 10 thousand, because if ever there was a game where the refs beat you, it was this game. The softest penalties i have ever seen. Even the composed Corey Parker went off. Oh well, at least we know the Broncos did not get beaten by Penrith, we got beaten by Penrith and the refs. Thanks Sydney, you killed off another queensland team and 1 million fans, keep it up you have nobody watching the game. I went to bed after that, i thought bullocks to you, bunnies and dogs can have less viewers as well. I am now in protest, i will show Toovey how to make a point, as another drop in viewers surely make somebody sit up and take notice.
ferret
Guest
The Broncs were very ordinary and don't deserve to make the finals. The 12 points they scored last night is about the capacity in attack for the side they fielded. Hunt and Prince have provided some good ball skills in the last few weeks but last night when they looked outside what do they see? David Stagg and Jack Reed in the centres and a NYC second rower (Oates) on one wing and a kid with a dodgy knee or two on the other. Where's the speed?!?! This is a question Bronco fans have been asking all season. I don't know the stats but I bet the Broncos have scored the fewest tries from inside their own half. When they make a break they get run down in about 10 metres. So apparently David Stagg is our next best option at centre. There is no-one better playing Q-cup or NYC than David in the eyes of Hook. Stagg's selection encapsulates Hook's coaching philosophy - DEFEND, DEFEND, DEFEND! but there is no attack. I'm not convinced Hook is an NRL coach.
des right hand
Guest
Good game beaten by the better team broncos don't deserve to be in the finals