Penrith's defence in a nutshell as SEVEN Panthers wrap up Cowboy to prevent game-tying try
It was sheer desperation from the Panthers in defence. They held off North Queensland's second-half comeback in a thriller for a 26-20 win.
NSW and North Queensland prop James Tamou can escape a State of Origin ban with an early guilty plea for dangerous contact on Parramatta’s Pauli Pauli.
Tamou was slapped with a grade-one charge by the NRL match review committee on Tuesday for his 76th-minute hit on the Eels forward.
It came the same day as the 26-year-old was again named in Blues coach Laurie Daley’s side for Origin II.
Eels forward Ma’u Manu was also given a grade-two dangerous contact charge for his effort on the Cowboys’ Ray Thompson just before halftime.
Manu faces three matches on the sidelines if he fights it but can get away with only two if he submits an early plea, even with 63 carry-over points.
NSW five-eighth Mitchell Pearce will also be looking to submit an early plea and avoid sitting out Origin II.
The Roosters halfback was on Monday handed a grade-one dangerous contact charge over a tackle on Michael Gordon in his team’s upset loss to Cronulla on Sunday.
Not so lucky are Newcastle’s Kurt Gidley and Manly forward Justin Horo, who are set to miss one NRL match.
Gidley was hit with a dangerous contact charge for his tackle on Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin, which carries only 90 points with an early guilty plea.
However, Gidley has 51 carry over points due to a prior offence in the past two years and therefore will miss a match.
Horo has been slapped with a grade-one dangerous contact charge for his tackle on Brisbane’s Darius Boyd near halftime in the Broncos’ 44-10 thumping of the Sea Eagles on Friday night.
He will receive a week’s ban even with an early plea.
Wests Tigers’ Sauaso Sue (grade two careless high tackle) can escape suspension with an early plea.
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It was sheer desperation from the Panthers in defence. They held off North Queensland's second-half comeback in a thriller for a 26-20 win.
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