A Corey Norman masterclass for Parramatta has condemned Penrith to their fourth-straight defeat as the Panthers’ woeful start to the NRL season continued.
Norman scored two tries and set up the other in the Eels’ 18-12 win at ANZ Stadium, as Penrith fell from pre-season equal favouritism to two-and-six from the opening eight rounds.
While Norman starred for the Eels, the Panthers’ halves floundered as Bryce Cartwright returned at five-eighth for the injured Te Maire Martin.
Cartwright struggled to make an impact in his first game since round two, in his comeback game from an ankle injury.
He let the opening kick off go over the dead-ball line, forcing the Panthers in to a drop out from their own goal line.
Minutes later he fumbled a Brad Takairangi grubber in goal and failed to ground it, allowing Norman to score his first.
Cartwright also twice dropped the ball on the attack for the Panthers, and threw a crucial forward pass as Penrith were threatening to make a late charge with 20 minutes remaining.
In comparison, Norman was sensational in the opening half but did it tough in the second without a regular five-eighth, after makeshift partner Takairangi was taken from the field with a knee injury.
After the Eels were controversially denied a try midway through the first half when the bunker ruled Clinton Gutherson had knocked on a similar ball to that of Brisbane Anthony Milford on Friday night, Norman steadied the ship.
The 26-year-old kicked perfectly for Semi Radradra just moments before half-time to extend their lead to 12 points at the break.
Norman was then in the thick of the action immediately after the break, latching onto a Gutherson kick that came from a Kaysa Pritchard break on the last tackle.
Penrith threatened to mount a comeback when they broke a 126-minute point-scoring drought as Peta Hiku finished a left-edge movement.
They had their second try in the 77th minute when Corey Harawira-Naera crossed but the Eels held on to revive their season with back-to-back wins improving their record to four wins and four losses.
Glenn
Guest
Penrith were very poor and if Parra hadn't lost Taka the score could have been anything. Putting Edwards (a forward) in as a 6 disrupted their second half where they tried hard to then lower themselves to Penrith's level. Regarding elite players, was Tamou even on the field yesterday? Only noticed him once in the second half, same with Merrin conspicuous by his absence also.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
What is even more concerning is that Parramatta were pretty woeful themselves and penrith still couldn't win.
kk
Roar Pro
Agree Albo, The distance between Parramatta and Penrith via the M4 is 34k and provided no truck has overturned or caught fire takes about 34' to travel. The scoreboard read 6 points difference but it may as well have read '34' in my mind. The look on their faces and body language was depressing, even to a neutral observer. Could the big money paid to the under-performing elite be the source of this problem?
Albo
Guest
They have certainly been disappointing so far this season. Seemingly playing with no confidence and making atrocious errors like not catching the ball from the kick off or grounding the ball in the in goal , or missing simple tackles around the ruck , or not kicking the ball into the in goal to get a repeat set, or not competing for the ball via the bombs they keep putting up . Not sure expecting these basic things to take place is "overrating" the team ? But there is something wrong out there at Penrith as this group of players firstly, doesn't look fit enough for NRL right now, and certainly there appears no real desire to over extend themselves ! They show no mongrel or fight in their performances, just a bunch of GenY nice guys . On this ANZAC weekend , apart from Wallace, you wouldn't want any of the others in the trenches with you ! Most disappointing for Panthers fans !
Joe
Roar Rookie
There were several roarers at the start of the season saying yhey were overrated and that seems to be the case so far. They were lucky to be close in this game due to some soft and wrong calls going their way in the 2nd half. Their vaunted attack has been easily handled by good defensive teams. I don't think they will be in the finals.