Penrith were victorious by 23 points against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday.
Final score
Penrith Panthers 35
Gold Coast Titans 12
The Penrith Panthers will look to continue their impressive start to the season and keep pace with the top of the ladder when they take on the inconsistent Gold Coast Titans. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2pm (AEST).
The Panthers have been playing some very good footy to start the new season. The first five weeks have seen them win four games, only dropping their Round 4 clash to the Canterbury Bulldogs by just two points.
Sitting third spot on the ladder, they can leapfrog the Warriors and jump into second spot with a victory today after the Auckland-based club lost to the Broncos at home yesterday.
Penrith certainly aren’t completely without issue at this point of the season. They spent the first few weeks starting slowly and having to recover, but a win in Townsville over the Cowboys seemed to spark them to life, the club not looking back since.
Their win last Sunday against a poor Parramatta side saw lots of gritty and determined defence, as well as patience and willingness to get into the scrap. While it wasn’t pretty, and they may well need more points today than last week, their defence is where they need to build from.
The Titans sit just outside the top eight after five games. They have won three, but it includes two on the trot, with the club starting to get into their work.
A 54-8 thumping from the St George Illawarra Dragons in Toowoomba during Round 3 seemed to wake up the Gold Coast, who have since caused back-to-back upset wins over the Brisbane Broncos and Manly Sea Eagles. Running 32 points up on Manly was particularly unexpected.
The catalyst of their attack is having a set halves combination in Ashley Taylor and Kane Elgey. The pair have dominated the last two games played by the Gold Coast, and it will be interesting to see if James Maloney can continue to stand up and lead the Panthers as senior half against the young duo.
Prediction
The Panthers both on paper and in terms of form should be the stronger team here. It’s hard to fathom why they are playing so well without Cleary, but they are, and should win this one at home to make it a five and one start to the season.
Panthers by 10.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 2pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Albo
Guest
After a slow scrappy start the Panthers pack got on top in the second half creating all the go forward needed for Maloney to run riot on the edges. Harawira -Naera had a golden afternoon in the centres with plenty of ball coming his way . Edwards followed Maloney waiting for any opportunity and Wallace , Peachey & Yeo were strong all day. The Titans weren't helped with some injuries and a sin binning, but they were not a match once the Panthers clicked into gear.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NRL season as the Penrith Panthers got the better of the Gold Coast Titans. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. That'll be me done for the weekend, but be sure to check out my talking points at the conclusion of the final game, as well as Riley Pettigrew's call of the Sea Eagles and Tigers. Just flick over to the home page for all the best sport coverage. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - FULLTIME The Panthers have won it. They finish with another solid set and Don takes the final tackle of the game, running it from the back after the kick. Penrith are going to be 5 and 1, sitting second place on the ladder at the end of Roud 6. Great performance from Penrith today, particularly in that second half. The first half was scrappy for both teams, with lots of errors categorising things, but no one could stop the Panthers in the second half, with Tyrone Peachey and James Maloney leading things around. Panthers 35 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Arrow with the first run, then it's Wallace backing into the line and offloading to Taylor who is tackled. Now they spread it to the right-hand corner of the ground and Don has it, but great defence from Whare, plus some scrambling cover defence, forces him over the sideline. Panthers 35 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Another penalty for the Titans. Surely the sin bin has got to be used again. James Maloney called out for a chat now. Panthers 35 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - The Titans working it back onto the attack. Wallace played the ball, but ended on the ground with a second effort in the tackle. Penalty called. Panthers 35 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Merrin brings it back from the restart, then it's Campbell-Gillard up the middle. Yeo has the next just to the left, before Campbell-Gillard has a second run. Wallace with a flat ball to Maloney as they chase more points, but that one doesn't stick. Panthers 35 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by JAMES MALONEY Panthers 35 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - TRY PANTHERS, CHRISTIAN CRICHTON The Panthers with a full set to continue attacking from ten metres out. Katoa and Ragan-Campbell Gillard have the first couple, but on the very next play, it's a floating cut out ball to Christian Crichton. He had to stop, get the ball and then put the foot down, throwing his body into the air and scoring parallel to the ground, his body suspended out of play. Wonderful work from the youngster. Panthers 35 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - Maloney! Through he goes! He is away and eventually held, the next play giving away a penalty. Wonderful drifting run across the face of the defence from the Panthers half right there. Panthers 31 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - FIELD GOAL PANTHERS, JAMES MALONEY It's Campbell-Gillard bringing it away from the scrum for the Panthers, then they go through Fisher-Harris and Naera. Merrin now takes on the line, goes through the line and heads over halfway with a barnstorming run. They head right now and Crichton is through, eventually tackled. They shift back into the middle now and Maloney, out of absolutely nothing, puts a field goal over the black dot. Panthers 31 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - The Titans now make an error on the attack. Panthers 30 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
69' - Proctor has the first run on the right for the Titans, then it's King back towards the posts. They spread right from Elgey to Rein and then Don who is tackled. Jarrod Wallace comes back into the middle of the park, before they spread right again, Hurrell being dragged to ground by Kikau. Ash Taylor with a kick on the last and Crichton comes up with it. Well, hang on just a moment. Double knock on somehow. Titans scrum feed. Panthers 30 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
68' - SIN BIN! KAIDE ELLIS The Titans going nowhere fast on their first two plays, and here is another penalty. Holding in the tackle and Kaide Ellis, on debut, is going to have to head off and take a seat for ten minutes. This game might not be completely over if the Gold Coast can score right here. Panthers 30 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
68' - INJURY REPORT Dale Copley now heading off. Looks like he might have a hamstring injury. Josh Mansour has gone to hospital with a broken cheekbone. Jarrod Wallace will stay on the field with his head being bandaged up. Panthers 30 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
68' - Wallace takes a run at the line and picks up another penalty here. Here comes the official warning for Peter Wallace. Jarrod Wallace, on the other hand, is out the back with some blood coming from his head. Panthers 30 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
68' - Arrow and Matthews with a couple of good runs, before Simpkins is stopped five metres out right in front. Cartwright taken on the next before the Panthers give away a penalty. Panthers 30 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
67' - The Titans pick up a penalty now. Panthers 30 Titans 12
Scott Pryde
Expert
66' - The Panthers knock on now coming out of their own end. Panthers 30 Titans 12