The Penrith Panthers are through to the second week of the NRL Finals after putting in a brilliant second half to record a convincing 16-point victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium in the second elimination final.
» Re-live all the action with our live blog
The Panthers struggled during the first half, a lack of finals experience seeming to get to them, but the second half saw them run away with the match on both ends of the park as they dominated the contest.
Penrith’s kicking game was non-existent during the first half, and not much better during the second, but the difference stood as they were able to get their structure right and test the Bulldogs defence on a number of occasions, crashing over for plenty of tries.
Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright were absolutely fantastic throughout the match and their combination tore shreds off the Bulldogs.
With the Panthers forward pack holding solid throughout the match, led by Trent Merrin and their explosive front rowers Suaia Matagi and Leilani Latu their backs did the damage as the Bulldogs’ defence was put to the test.
Canterbury would struggle with injuries after a strong defensive first half, with Brett Morris and Michael Lichaa both going down.
Their second half though, saw what could only be described as a weak attack and not good enough defence.
Canterbury would be the first to score in the 14th minute, taking it left with a number of passes on a play that looked like it was absolutely going nowhere before Moses Mbye through a massive dummy and ran straight through the line, past Bryce Cartwright and onto the try line.
After a missed conversion, Mbye would make that up with a penalty goal to send the Bulldogs up by a converted try.
The Panthers would get back into the contest during the final 10 minutes of the first half though, and eventually scored right on the stroke of halftime as Matt Moylan ran to the middle, got an offload away and Nathan Cleary supplied a wonderful cut-out ball for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score in the corner.
It didn’t take long for the Panthers to get cracking in the second half as Moylan and Mansour, along with Bryce Cartwright and Peter Wallace got firing.
Waqa Blake would be the man to get the scoreboard ticking over with a long-range try. The Bulldogs finished a standard attacking set before Moylan found Mansour and he broke the line, running about 80 metres before passing to Blake who crashed over in the corner.
It took about quarter of an hour for the Panthers to go over again, but it was the try that broke the Bulldogs defence in half as Mansour and Moylan combined on a wonderful wrap around, before Isaah Yeo ran down the sideline, passed inside to Blake and then found Wallace who scored under the sticks.
It didn’t take too long for the next try though as the Panthers extended their lead and landed a death blow after Wallace ran the ball on the last play, offloaded it back in and then a number of tip on passes followed before Peachey scored in the corner.
Following a penalty goal and a bit of controversy as Josh Morris was denied a try, the Panthers would boot over a penalty goal and then add one final try as Josh Mansour broke out of his own half and ran 50 metres to score.
Sam Perrett, in his final first-grade game, would add a consolation try and then step up to convert it, but in the end it was all too little too late.
Penrith now go on to face the Canberra Raiders away from home next week in what is all set to be a cracking contest, while the Bulldogs can make their plans for mad Monday.
Final score
Penrith Panthers 28
Canterbury Bulldogs 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
Unlucky TB! At least your mob made the finals and weren't the worst team in the competition to watch! But yeah your right - the Bulldogs might need a change somewhere and I wrote just as much in my talking points today. Not sure where, but the side isn't working as a unit.
bexdog
Guest
Graham hasn't been playing like a ball player since 2013. He doesn't throw more than 1 pass per game. This is the problem. It's like when gallen had the keys to the sharkies offence a few years back. Completely stifles our attack. He and Tolman play way too many minutes and don't even possess an offload anymore. These 2 are the reason we don't score points. Both have been great servants for the club but we can't move forward with both of these guys starting. Time to change the script.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Penrith in full flight are a joy to watch.In attack regardless of the defensive qualities of the defence,they throw the ball around ,backing up the man,almost touch football fashion. Give me that style over the dour Dogs any day of the week. I've seen plenty of attacking skills in a few U20 sides.The Dogs could do a lot worse,than get a couple of them in their squad.Hell they wouldn't be any worse than Williams(a five minute player).
The Barry
Roar Guru
I disagree. I don't have stats to back it up but he passes before the line heaps less than he was doing in say 2012. If he was ballplaying it would be one thing that he was getting so much ball in key positions of the field but he's not, he just tucks it under his arm and runs. Same with Tolman. They're not creating anything and getting in the way of the players that could.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
But Graham isn't hitting the line like he did two seasons ago, he'd be no where near the top for metres after contact. His first instinct now is to pass before the line, that stifles the attack.
Joel
Roar Rookie
Moylan sure did milk that penalty, but the dogs gave him the opportunity by making a second effort to get him there
The Barry
Roar Guru
I haven't heard anything but mad if they're not. He'd be perfect in this team. Don't like our chances but they certainly should be throwing their hat in the ring if they've got the coin.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Watching M'bye screaming for the ball and the hooker passing it to the forwards anyway doesn't help
The Barry
Roar Guru
Graham led the NRL for metres gained by a forward so there's nothing wrong with his go forward. Klemmer was close to the top in avg metres. Both were strong yesterday. Graham and Tolman just get the ball too often in the wrong areas of the park.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Cmon Robbo , just accept the dogs got whooooooooped by a better team . I thought the Penrith player copping two slaps across the moosh in one tackle was worth a penalty at least , but having said that I'm quite happy to see a level of biff ignored as long as the refs are consistent. Raiders V Panthers should be an entertaining game.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
The 2 props need to go back to playing like props. The only forward that actually goes forward can't go for more then 15 minutes
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Commiserations TB, in the middle part of the season the Dogs looked unbeatable but then fell away at the end. The chemistry is not there between Lichaa and the halves, he should follow Williams out of Bankstown if Bulldogs are to be a force in 2017.
Jimmmy
Guest
Commiserations Baz. The Panthers were as you say deserved winners. The Dogs will be OK next year though. They always find a way to be competitive. The big problem for the Dogs is their ability to score points. They lack flair and cohesion,mI think your nine and one are real problem areas . Lichea looks average both to me and to Mbye. Hoppa ( the part timer ) is not a premiership winning fullback by a long way. Whoever okayed his ' Flexi' contract is crazy. Great to hear Williams is off. It is embarrassing to watch him play at times. Have the Dogs tried for Gillet?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Well played Panthers...too good and deserved winners. Good luck for the rest of the season. The Bulldogs need to look at the makeup of their squad. Their forward pack are all good players individually but they're not an effective unit. I thought they looked really good in the first half and played a power game that the Panthers forwards were at times struggling to go with. But they were shown up in the second half. They need to get some mobile backrowers. Guys like Yeo, Cordner, Gillett, Fisher-Harris that can keep going all day. Williams is going, thank goodness (after stealing over $2.5 mill from the club). Eastwood is skilful but nowhere near fit enough for this day and age. Disturbingly the young blokes they have coming through like Faitala-Mariner and Fualalo are more of the same. Then there's the question of where and when they get the ball. This was Mbye's first season as the first choice halfback so I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, but Des needs to stop protecting him and give him the reins for the team. Until he does we'll never know if he's good enough. If Hasler has doubts why have they just signed Mbye to an extended deal? Same thing with Lichaa. I have bigger question marks over him but he seems to be operating under instructions to pass and nothing else. He's playing far below the level he was 18 months ago.
MAX
Guest
Mad Monday Mourning. Well done Penrith. Too fit, too strong, too fast.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
only would have delayed the inevitable
robbo
Guest
You want to talk about turning points how anout moylan milking the penalty when dragged towards the sideline morris actually stopped the tackle as he knew it would be a penalty and moylan reaches out on purpose to go into touch akin to diving in my book lead directly to a penrith try but commentators thought it funny game changer as i saw it if it goes to a scrum or a dogs penalty who knows what happens
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Fantastic second half from the Panthers, geeez they are good to watch when in this form. Mansour was an absolute beast, Moylan was great and Peachey strong as an ox. The halves were very poised off the back of a strong forward effort. That said the Dogs didn't throw a lot at them which has been issue their issue all year. They really need to change their approach in how they play. The forwards run the show and get in the way of there halves. The Panthers will need to be more structured in Canberra on 5th play options, today they didn't kick a lot on play 5 to keep the pressure on. They will need to do this next weekend. That said I don't think the Raiders will be thrilled to play an inform team.