The Canterbury Bulldogs have defeated the Penrith Panthers 18-12 in the preliminary final to reach their second NRL grand final in three years.
They will play South Sydney in the decider next week after another strong performance from the Bulldogs’ big men up front set up their win.
It was a sloppy game, with both sides committing multiple handling errors and conceding penalties. The Bulldogs had the better of the forward battle, and the Panthers were never quite able to find chinks in their defence.
James Graham opened the scoring for the Bulldogs, charging over under the posts after a couple of back-to-back sets on the Panthers’ line. Skipper Michael Ennis took advantage of the markers being out of position close to the line, and threw a well-timed pass to a rampaging Graham.
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Penrith Panthers vs Canterbury Bulldogs live blog
The second try for the Dogs game soon after, with Josh Jackson slipping through the Panthers’ line after clever decoy runs from both Sam Perrett and James Graham.
At 12-0, the Panther looked like they needed a try before half-time to get themselves back into it.
They got precisely that after some sustained pressure on the Canterbury line late in the half. It was the first time the Panthers had received the weight of possession and territory, having committed plenty of errors and giving away penalties in the first half hour.
The pressure they put on for five minutes leading into half-time paid off, however, with Matt Moylan sliding over after a well-worked decoy play off Jamie Soward. They went in the sheds just six points down, 12-6 Canterbury leading.
The Bulldogs lost captain Michael Ennis for the second half with a foot injury, and it as a telling blow. Josh Reynolds took over at dummy half, but it impacted the Bulldogs’ shape in attack.
It didn’t matter though, as some well-worked play between the forwards saw them cross over through Dale Finucane.
From there, Penrith were unlucky to lose Dean Whare after a sickening headclash with Sika Manu. In need of points, losing one of their best attacking weapons didn’t help their cause.
With 10 minutes to go and still 12 points down, the Panthers needed to score next to have any hope.
After some scything dummy half runs from James Segeyaro gave Penrith some reasonable field position, a towering Jamie Soward bomb was thrown high in the air in the direction of Canterbury fullback Sam Perrett.
But Perrett wouldn’t come up with the ball.
Young Penrith winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak flew in the air, stole the ball out of the arms of Perrett, and crossed the line to give the Panthers hope with seven minutes to play.
It was the play of the game, but it wouldn’t deny the Bulldogs, who defended strongly enough to maintain their line until the final whistle.
The Panthers had a penalty in the final seconds, but with Josh Morris defusing the Jamie Soward bomb, it was over. The Bulldogs are through to their second grand final in three years, with Penrith’s dream run coming to an end.
Michael Ennis will be a concern for the Bulldogs, not participating in the second half at all with ice on his ankle after being trampled by Frank Pritchard in the first half.
Tony Williams is also on report for a high shot on Josh Mansour after his arm bounced up into the face of the Penrith winger off the ball.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! The Panthers simply saved their worst game of the season for this match ! Some ordinary refereeing decisions yet again, just compounded the embarrassment . They should have easily accounted for a very ordinary Dogs side carrying plenty of injured, but they choked badly and just made schoolboy errors all night ! Soward was completely put off his game by a few Doggie sledgers, and their attack was just chaotic off the top of their head's stuff ! The Panthers could have probably played their NSW Cup team to comfortably account for the Dogs, and the have them back up the next day for Newcastle !
Kepu
Guest
The TV audience need a close game and they delivered so will get a GF. Another gracious Souths winner which may cause me to change the habit of lifetime and barrack for the Dogs. The refs have caned them in the second half two weeks in a row to make it interesting...
Kepu
Guest
The TV audience need a close game and they delivered so will get a GF. Another gracious Souths winner which may cause me to change the habit of lifetime and barrack for the Dogs. The refs have caned them in the second half two weeks in a row to make it interesting...
Luke M
Guest
No the ref said " We have high contact from Sam Burgess", then realised he was wearing a Souths shirt and told SBW to play the ball.
Tom G
Guest
Couldn't agree more, although I may include Jackson with Graham. The rest are without doubt lucky as hell to be there. This will be one of the ugliest Grand Finals in living memory
Muzz
Guest
Psst TB - are you awake?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Gee up Open the other eye mate.
Gee up
Guest
You mean Greenbergs conclusion?? Everyone else saw it as a chicken wing. It was a disgrace he wasn't suspended
Christian D'Aloia
Roar Guru
Good one mick
Gaz
Guest
Karma!
Peter
Guest
This game was as bad as the Souths-Easts game was good.
steveng
Roar Rookie
If the Souths game was 50/50 then what would you call the Penrith vs Canterbury game? 75/25 Canterbury but they obviously outplayed and out grubbed the Panthers on all occasions. Is that it?
steveng
Roar Rookie
Alex L
Roar Rookie
In that case, it should've been a penalty for stripping the ball after the tackle was over.
Quitwhinging
Guest
thats all it is double standards
Cyclone Country
Guest
Ennis is out. LOL!
Kepu
Guest
Again the games this weekend there were comebacks. Souths got all the calls after falling behind 12-0 to even up at 12 all but then went on with it although they may have got the 50-50s but obviously outplayed the Roosters. Penrith cam e back into it at 18-6 down because 60 min Forward pass for Dogs called by TJ but there would be 10 a game if that was the criteria and they followed every TJ call which they don’t 64 Brent Kite high tackle and Dogs penalty 65 Dogs loose ball immediately in tackle where there is a crush of players – sometime called against the tackler 67 Dogs Morris penalised for continuing tackle, the players progress wasn’t stopped and he was dominat – how is he supposed to hear if ref calls held from more tham 15 metres away in a 45K crowd 68 Segayaro loses ball in tackle and appears injured but plays on after treatment ( shades of Hayne mysterious lost ball call at end of SOO1) 71 P score 18-12 74 Penrith attacking and kick ahead but Soward touches ball but Morris regains possession - Penrith penalty but Fox commentators query it 75 Penrith knock on – first marginal call against them in 16 mins 79 Dogs Reynolds late tackled – no penalty The GF refs will be Hayne and Cummins after great weekends
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The halves did exactly what they were brought in to do in SOO: link up with Hayne and direct some traffic. Creativity hasn't always been needed to win grand finals anyway.
gt
Guest
Plenty of grit being shown by the bulldogs. I cant help thinking they are the worst team to make the grand final for a long time. Morris struggling with injury and the rest of the team real grafters apart from graham. Souths have talent all through their list.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The Panthers attack was pedestrian, they offered very little. The Dogs will definitely be niggly in the Big Dance headed by the skipper. Could make for an ugly game. Let's hope the Bunnies can rise above it.