The Penrith Panthers have made an NRL finals berth a certainty by taking a late win over the Gold Coast Titans.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Titans 14
Panthers 15
It’s eighth versus seventh when the Gold Coast Titans host the Penrith Panthers at Cbus Stadium in Round 25. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:30pm (AEST).
Three points clear of both the New Zealand Warriors and the Wests Tigers with two rounds left to play, if the Titans win this match they secure their spot in the finals.
The Tigers and Warriors play each other this weekend, so barring a draw, one of them will move to within a point of the Gold Coast if the Titans lose. This would place enormous pressure on them heading into their final round, against the Cowboys in Townsville.
Penrith are only a point ahead of the Gold Coast, but even if they lose the next two matches, their solid for-and-against record should still see them make the finals.
Titans coach Neil Henry has moved Jarryd Hayne to fullback for the first time in his NRL comeback this week, with David Mead on an extended bench. Ash Taylor is also back, after being rested last week. He returns at halfback, with Tyrone Roberts switching to the five-eighth spot filled by Hayne last week.
Penrith coach Anthony Griffin has named an unchanged squad of 17, but Moses Leota and Jeremy Latimore have been added to an extended bench.
The two teams last met in Round 11 this season, when the Titans scored a late try to snatch a 28-24 win at Pepper Stadium.
Prediction
The Panthers are coming into form at the right of time of year, but the Titans’ semi-final destiny is in their own hands and they will win a close one.
Join The Roar at 5:30pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Well, that's your opinion but I think the Titan's could still be in it without Bird. Take Moylan out and Penrith lose, that simple. If the awards were for workrate then Trent Merrin would get MVP every week (not this week though, Bird out work rated him) My point about the home ground is that it is more difficult for the away team to win. Moylan delivered away from home in the clutch with minutes to spare. But geez, Birdy did make a lot of tackles and metres. Anyway, the judge has made his decision and Bird is a deserving winner. I hope he can help his team beat the Cowboys and ensure they make the semis. They deserve it given the challenges they have endured this year.
The eye
Guest
Without going too nerdy I think theres a semantic difference between MVP and best on ground. Moylan was MVP for the reasons Pomoz listed and Birdy was best on ground for exactly what John said...same as last years GF JT was MVP but Milf was probably best on ground... The Peach was also sensational equally in his running and defensively completely shutting down Hurrell....
jamesb
Guest
Looks like Canterbury v Penrith (6 v 7) in week 1.
Gary
Guest
Bird was the right choice, you can still get man of the match in a losing team when there is a 1 point difference. Especially with the amount of work he did.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, its all subjective. I agree about Cartwright creating the try. He made many errors and had a problem with his hands. But then he just comes up with brilliant plays that other players can very rarely do. Flawed genius at the moment. if he becomes consistent......
John Coomer
Roar Guru
It was hard to split all 3, but for me, a bloke that did as much work as Bird did in both attack and defence deserves the 3 points. Moylan had a great game, but I'd actually give Cartwright the most credit for creating the Blake try, even though he was involved. And while it was great for Moylan to kick the field goal under pressure, he wouldn't have been in the position to kick it without Peachey making a crucial break. And Peachey made a lot of metres all night, not just on that play.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
I thought Bird was excellent by the way, he is the ultimate competitor. I have no axe to grind with him as a player, I would love him to be playing for Penrith and it was an inspiring performance. In a losing side. At his home ground.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
So lets get this straight. Moylan scores a try, creates a try, and scores the winning field goal. So just to be clear, he had a hand in every Penrith scoring play and you reckon the MVP is Bird? This is illogical. No Moylan and the Titans win. How do you find the weather on the Gold Coast John?
John Coomer
Roar Guru
I think they're both evenly matched, hopefully it will be a cracker!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
With the year that they've had you'd think Hull FC will win this one but who knows? Hoping it's a good match!
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Agree, they are like the Dogs. Tyrone Roberts brings little to the game, kicks a few goals and misses tackles.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on tonight’s coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments, and make sure you switch over now to the live Roar blog of the the Cronulla/Roosters game. For those that will be up later tonight to watch the Challenge Cup Final from Wembley between Warrington and Hull, I’ll be blogging that match as well. Quite a few ex NRL players will be on display for both teams and it should be a great clash.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
I agree, they were gutsy as usual, but too easy for the Panthers' defence to read.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match report Penrith 15 Gold Coast 14 A Matt Moylan field goal with three minutes to go broke secured victory for Penrith over the Titans tonight at Cbus Stadium on the Gold Coast. The win has moved the Panthers to within striking distance of sixth spot and a potential home final, with 1 round still left to play. The Titans’ loss makes their top 8 spot potentially vulnerable. They are currently in 8th spot and 3 points clear of both the Warriors and the Wests Tigers. But the Warriors and the Tigers play each other tomorrow in New Zealand, so barring a draw, one will move to within a point of the Titans. The Titans face a tough away match in the last round next week against the Cowboys in Townsville. Penrith scored two first half tries tonight to take a handy 14-0 lead into the sheds at halftime, with the Titans looking a little sluggish in the first forty minutes. Matt Moylan sliced through their defence too easily to score Penrith’s first try under the posts, followed by Waqa Blake capitalising on a Bryce Cartwright line break to force his way over for Panthers’ second try. The Penrith forwards were well on top in the first half, making some easy metres up the centre. The Titans managed to grind their way back into the match in the second half, getting on top in the forwards on the back of some Penrith handling errors. Titans’ interchange forward Leivaha Pulu scored the first try of his NRL career to get the Gold Coast back in the match. That was followed by an equally determined effort by Greg Bird to cross the line, to bring the Gold Coast to within two points at 14-12. With 5 minutes to go, a Panthers' high shot gifted Tyrone Roberts an easy penalty goal for the Titans, and the scores were locked at 14-all. Tyrone Peachey then made a crucial break when the Panthers next had possession, giving Matt Moylan the field position to slot the winning field goal. Both sides won’t be happy with the number of handling errors they made, but Penrith leave the Gold Coast with two crucial premiership points. Try scorers (Penrith): Matt Moylan, Waqa Blake Top metres gained (Penrith): Tyrone Peachey 186, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Bryce Cartwright 141 Top tacklers (Penrith): Peter Wallace 54, James Fisher-Harris 50, Trent Merrin 46 Try scorers (Gold Coast): Leivaha Pulu, Greg Bird Top metres gained (Gold Coast): Jarryd Hayne 222, Greg Bird 183, Ashley Taylor 114 Top tacklers (Gold Coast): Ryan James 44, Greg Bird 35, Nathan Peats 34 Roar MVP Points 3 – Greg Bird (Titans). He was on the losing side, but didn’t deserve to be after scoring a determined try, making 183 metres in attack and 35 tackles in defence. All of this after having to go off to get a nasty head gash stitched in the first half. 2 – Tyrone Peachey. Made 183 metres for the Panthers, and the most important ones were the break he made with 3 minutes to go to give Matt Moylan the field position to slot the winning field goal. 1 – Matt Moylan. Scored a try, was dangerous in attack all night and iced the match for Penrith with a field goal with 3 minutes to go.
sham
Guest
I was hoping that the Titans could win this one but their attack is a bit predictable. They had enough chances to win this. They have so many single player hit ups. There is also little support play. They need to get 'out of the grind' more often if they are to beat other top 8 sides. Still a great game.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time The hooter sounds and its victory for Penrith! Gold Coast 14 Penrith 15
John Coomer
Roar Guru
79’ Titans back in possession 10 metres out from their own line. Gold Coast 14 Penrith 15
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Short kick off by the Titans doesn’t go 10. Penalty Penrith on halfway! Gold Coast 14 Penrith 15
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Peachey has been shredding the Titans all night with his dummy half running, impressive.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Break by Peachey and Matt Moylan slots a field goal! Gold Coast 14 Penrith 15