Two second-half tries from half Moses Mbye enabled Des Hasler’s Bulldogs to escape from Pepper Stadium with their second away win in as many starts.
Debutant Kerrod Holland potted the conversion after the siren to seal an 18-16 victory.
The loss is a heart-breaking one for Penrith, who kicked off their season-long celebrations by paying homage to the remaining founding fathers from that first game ever played by the Panthers in 1967, ironically against the Bulldogs. They wore modified replicas of the original jersey worn back then.
Coach Anthony Griffin said after the game it was an improved showing by Penrith on last Saturday’s efforts in the wilting heat of Canberra that enabled them to lead for all but virtually 20 seconds of the game, but a plethora of missed tackles throughout the second half proved costly.
“Two weeks now we’ve been one play away [from winning] and tonight we probably did enough to win but we didn’t,” Griffin stated.
“I was impressed with our attitude for the whole 80 minutes and we’re building performances as a team.
“It’s heart-breaking we got beat at the death but as a team we’re getting a little bit better each week and learning the lessons we need to learn.
“I can’t wrap us enough regarding our effort and the way we are going about things.”
Penrith welcomed back Dean Whare (calf) into the side at the expense of Will Smith, which saw Waqa Blake move to the wing and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak play fullback.
In the forwards, Griffin surprisingly demoted last week’s debutant forward James Fisher-Harris for another club debutant, Sitaleki Akauola.
Griffin also shifted skipper Peter Wallace to hooker despite naming Tyrone Peachey to start in that position and said that he thought the move was a success, despite the result before adding that the decision was made early in the week.
“Wallace was picked to be hooker at our first training session earlier in the week,” Griffin said.
“We didn’t have a hooker with both our hookers injured and I thought for the team with Peter and his experience in there [that position], picking the ball up first and Jamie playing behind him worked really well.
“I thought Peter did a great job and gave us really good control.”
Both sides were hamstrung by injuries throughout the game including Dean Whare who suffered a likely re-occurrence of his calf injury during the second half, while Canterbury lost Aiden Tolman (concussion) during the first half.
Whare’s likely calf injury is another blow for a Panthers side still reeling from missing Matt Moylan and James Segeyaro just two rounds into the season.
The Panthers sprinted out of the blocks to lead the Bulldogs 12-0 after 11 minutes with tries to centre Peta Hiku (his second in as many matches) and prop Sam McKendry, whose barging effort from close range was his first try since Round 3, 2013 versus Souths.
The try was a fitting reward for the Kiwi international prop who some felt was lucky to retain his spot in the side after his minimal contribution in the Canberra game.
McKendry proved his detractors wrong, producing a much-improved performance that yielded 132 metres from 14 runs, a line-break, two tackle breaks and 28 tackles to go with his try.
“I was pretty happy that I scored,” McKendry said.
“They don’t come often and hopefully there’s many more to come this year. I ripped in and had a real go tonight.”
A penalty goal midway through the first half stretched the lead to 14 points before Sam Kasiano’s vision put Mbye into a gap from halfway. In turn, Moses found replacement fullback Will Hopoate to score next to the posts and reducing the gap to 14-6.
Penrith applied plenty of pressure early in the second half, being camped on Canterbury’s try line for several sets before opting to take the two points from in front to stretch the lead from eight to ten points. It was a decision that left many baffled and ultimately played a part in Penrith’s demise on the siren but according to Griffin, Penrith lost on the back of worse decisions that that.
“We got beat on a couple of decisions other than that and I don’t want to go into all of them but with a minute and a half to go we would have won the game if we could have defended that last set,” Griffin said.
“It was a really strong performance but a terrible loss to have and we’ll learn from that and be better for it.”
Minutes later the bunker’s decision to correctly overrule the on-field try decision to Josh Mansour, ruling the winger was accidently offside in the in-goal after the ball came off Hiku’s head, proved pivotal. A Josh Reynolds line-break soon after provided the catalyst for Mbye to score his first try after play shifted left where the half cut back inside to score from close range to reduce the gap to four points.
From there Penrith lost their way in attempting to regain scoreboard ascendancy on the back of some poor last tackle options in the last 20 minutes. Their defence started to look fatigued and they missed 20 of their 30 missed tackles in the second half.
“No, I thought we were pretty sharp out there [during that second half],” McKendry explained.
“We just clocked off in that last minute that’s all it was.
“Concentration let us down in the end.”
A Jamie Soward grubber that went dead and gifted the Bulldogs a 20-metre restart with seven tackles proved to be Penrith’s undoing. Mbye took advantage of some disjointed defence on Penrith’s right edge to level the scores before Holland nailed the angled conversion.
Despite the nature of the loss, Wallace said that it was a big improvement on the Canberra game, especially when in possession.
“It was a big improvement on last week [where] I thought we were way off in that game,” Wallace exclaimed.
“But tonight I thought we were really good and we’ll take a lot out of it and obviously we have to be good next week [against the Broncos].”
The RiffMarn Stew Moses
Roar Guru
I have to agree - had Penrith elected to continue attacking the line and come up with 4 or 6 points I firmly think that would have sunk the Bulldogs given the way they were playing up until that point. But they didn't, the Bulldogs got a sniff and the rest is history.
The RiffMarn Stew Moses
Roar Guru
Funny haha - put it this way they never trailed at any point until those last 20 or so seconds
The RiffMarn Stew Moses
Roar Guru
I'm not sure the Bulldogs were that confident of coming back as early as the 30 min mark - I sense they thought they were in the game when Penrith elected to bizarrely go for the two to go out from an eight to ten point lead when attacking the line repeatedly early in the second half.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
True Barry , I can see exactly where Des, and your thinking lies. I also think that it's a great tactic, but only if you're ahead on the score board. The dogs were chasing points last night, and I reckon they got lucky with that poor kick from Soward at the death. The cross-field kick I'm referring to was used big time during the 90's . Maybe it was Langer or Johns who perfected it. I vividly remember Nathan Blacklock scoring a number of tries from such kicks. It was a grubber aimed towards centre-field in the vicinity of the goal posts. Play on the prior tackle would be orientated towards a sideline. The kicker would usually get the ball at first receiver and run a few yards side-wards to encourage the line to move up. The ball would be grubbered through on a sideways flat angle quite hard, to deter defenders in the line from getting to the ball first. It tended to favour players at pace coming through with the opportunity to gather and score. More often than not though, the fullback would be first on the scene and he'd get smashed a few metres out from his line. Sometimes they would be pushed back into their in-goal and a drop-out was forced. Every now and then the plan backfired, and a flying fullback would gather the pill and end up racing downfield. Employed as an attack coach, I'd utilise the same tactic but with a few alterations. I'd compress the line by bringing the far winger and centre infield about 15 metres. I'd also have my fullback in a defensive position and placed midfield on the 20 metre line just in case the kick went awry and he was needed to stop a runaway. Like the run-around, I'm not sure why that style of kick is barely used in the modern game.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
True Barry , I can see exactly where Des, and your thinking lies. I also think that it's a great tactic, but only if you're ahead on the score board. The dogs were chasing points last night, and I reckon they got lucky with that poor kick from Soward at the death. The cross-field kick I'm referring to was used big time during the 90's . Maybe it was Langer or Johns who perfected it. I vividly remember Nathan Blacklock scoring a number of tries from such kicks. It was a grubber aimed towards centre-field in the vicinity of the goal posts. Play on the prior tackle would be orientated towards a sideline. The kicker would usually get the ball at first receiver and run a few yards side-wards to encourage the line to move up. The ball would be grubbered through on a sideways flat angle quite hard, to deter defenders in the line from getting to the ball first. It tended to favour players at pace coming through with the opportunity to gather and score. More often than not though, the fullback would be first on the scene and he'd get smashed a few metres out from his line. Sometimes they would be pushed back into their in-goal and a drop-out was forced. Every now and then the plan backfired, and a flying fullback would gather the pill and end up racing downfield. Employed as an attack coach, I'd utilise the same tactic but with a few alterations. I'd compress the line by bringing the far winger and centre infield about 15 metres. I'd also have my fullback in a defensive position and placed midfield on the 20 metre line just in case the kick went awry and he was needed to stop a runaway.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Depends on the way the game is being played and whether you think your team is capabke of scoring from open play. Handing the ball over 5 metres out with 6 tackles and with your defensive line set is a big difference to giving your opponents 7 tackles, 20 metres and a running start while your defensive line is going backwards. This will become a much more common play.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Dean when the dogs ran it on the 5th it was usually when they were playing the ball within the 10 metre line. That doesn't really allow room for a cross field kick to land 5 metres out from the goal line. Sowards kick at the end of the game shows there's more than your 'little chance' of the ball going dead. The opposition also get 7 tackles and 20 metres if they catch the ball in the in goal. Before this rule putting the ball into the in goal was almost always the right play. Since the rule change it has no greater chance of success but a far worse outcome if it goes wrong. Teams invariably get an attacking kick in at the end of their set when the start from a 20 metre restart, I'm not suggesting that running it is always the right play but when you're in the arm wrestle it's becoming more and more the safer play.
Ken
Guest
I think in that specific circumstance, where your team is holding a slim lead with a few minutes to go, that's probably a safer option. I'm not sure that I could be convinced it's more beneficial in general play though, that's a significant opportunity for tries and repeat sets (and the tries, repeat sets and penalties that can flow from them) that you're giving up on.
Xnowmann
Roar Rookie
That's what you get for playing negative football, why would you kick for goal when up by 2, to be up by 4?...negative negative negative. UP THE DOGS.
fp11
Guest
This whole article was all about Panfers. As Ali G would say - Serially?
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Penrith hopefully learned THE big lesson last night that they have to attack for 80 minutes.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
If you begin your last tackle close to the try line, then a low attacking cross-field kick where your team has an opportunity to put points on the board and close out (or win) the match is the best option, as it also provides an opportunity to force a goal line dropout or make your opponents play the ball on their own line. The kick needs to be focused on an area about 5 metres out from the try-line so that there's a 15 metre buffer to the dead ball line, and little chance of kicking it dead to give your opponents a 7 tackle set. Running on the last can be a good option if you have a set move or there is a reasonable probability of scoring a try due to an overlap.The Dogs didn't look likely to score by running the ball on the last tackle though, and were always behind on the scoreboard. You need the ball in your hands to score, and a repeat set not only wears opposition defenses down but gives 5 extra plays to put on those points. I consider running on the last a poor tactic when faced with someone who has the kicking game of the caliber of Soward, and I was amazed that he didn't try an early 40/20 kick, to turn their big forwards around and play the game at the other end of the park when the Dogs kept repeating this last play running option.
Giggle
Guest
I know you are just a rookie, Stew Moses, but at least get your story straight. How can a team lead for all but 20 seconds yet not score until the 4th minute. Duh.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Miracle? Never in doubt. Haha Panthers played really well in the first 30 mins particularly the pack and Soward. Once the dogs weathered that I always felt we were going to get home. It was an interesting tactic that the dogs kept running it on the 5th close to the Panthers line. Takes away scoring chances but it's a better option giving the oppo the ball five metres out than from the 20 and with seven tackles. Conventional wisdom says Soward at 77:00 rolls it into the in goal to try and get a repeat set. He missed by inches and the dogs get 7 tackles from the 20, march down the field and score? With the benefit of hindsight, if Soward takes the tackle on the last, do the dogs get a scoring opportunity at the other end? Running it on the last might actually be the safer option.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I almost feel as bad for Panthers fans as I feel for Jamie Soward for having those horrendous Larry Bird 3 + 3s on each arm
Dutski
Roar Guru
Exciting finish to a scrappy game. I don't know if it is the camera angles at Penrith but it looked to me like they had given up on the idea that the dummy half needs to pass it backwards.