The Panthers’ trip to Canberra loomed as a dangerous one with fatigued players coming off Wednesday night State of Origin action.
The inconsistent Raiders would surely fancy their chances in frigid conditions on a typical winter’s night in the nation’s capital. It looked cold, wet and slippery at GIO Stadium, yet the players once again displayed the sheer talent in the modern game.
The Raiders were struck a cruel blow within two minutes as Joseph Leilua took a knock to the head, left the field and was not to return.
On the back of a series of penalties, the Panthers dominated the early stages, possessing over 80 per cent of the ball in the first 20 minutes.
The visitors were error free until the 26th minute mark of the first half.
Despite their dominance, an early try to Tyrone Peachey in the corner after a James Maloney chip and chase was their only four pointer. The conversion was unsuccessful yet Maloney did subsequently add two penalty goals and after 11 minutes the Panthers led by eight.
Stunningly, the Raiders responded. It was hard to comprehend after the immense defensive workload they were forced to undertake in the first 20, yet a magnificent set of six saw the home side travel something near the length of the field and Nick Cotric score out wide.
A successful conversion had the Raiders within two, but it was hard to understand how the Panthers were not well in front.
A late penalty to Canberra saw the two points taken, despite the home side a man to the good and a full set looming on the Panthers line.
It was a brave half from the Raiders and a few sloppy errors late in the term actually cost them a lead going into the break. Their cause was aided by the sin-binning of Kaide Ellis in the 34th minute and the halftime whistle came just in time for the 12 Panthers struggling to defend their line.
An early second-half penalty to Penrith was followed by one of the most confounding decisions of the season, as Blake Austin appeared to play at the ball in a one-on-one tackle and knock-on. The subsequent loose ball was swooped on by the Raiders and the resultant grounding was astonishingly given the all clear.
The Raiders took a 14-10 lead.
Blake Austin (Photo: NRL images)
I’m starting to think the video referees are actually watching Marvel movies in the Bunker rather than the game itself. It is the only explanation I can find for the lunacy over which they preside each week.
As the grind began midway through the second-half, Canberra finally took the initiative after a flick pass from Josh Papalii saw Elliot Whitehead score out wide. The 20-10 lead looked like a potential match-winning one.
Sadly for the green machine, errors eroded that lead all too quickly. Peachey scored soon after and despite a Jarrod Croker penalty that kept the locals six clear, they couldn’t resist the late-charging Panthers.
Error after error riddled the Raiders’ second half and Dean Whare finished off a lovely chain of passes to score in the corner. James Maloney continued his excellent form with the boot, drawing things level at 22-all.
All that was left for the Raiders was to make another error and set up the game-winning field-goal for New South Wales halfback Nathan Cleary.
Even a late chance for Canberra down the right flank was bumbled with a handling error and Ricky Stuart must be struggling to know where to turn. Instilling some discipline and control into his team after once again stumbling to a mistake-ridden loss must be the number one item on his agenda.
There were some mystifying calls in the second-half and a non-decision on an obvious strip by the Panthers appeared a leveller for the earlier error involving Austin.
However, the Raiders cannot expect even a remote sense of consistency until the clumsy, juvenile errors are eradicated from their game.
Cbus Super Stadium hosted the late match, as the Bunnies travelled to take on the Gold Coast. The visitors appeared in control throughout yet each time they threatened to break the game open the Titans came back strongly.
Ryan James scored in both halves to draw the home side back into the contest after the Rabbitohs looked likely to skip away. In the end, the final 20 minutes saw the visitors left with a two-point lead and a chance to kill off the pesky Titans.
The tension grew, chaos ensued and errors reigned. The Titans looked the more threatening late, yet lacked the poise to seal the deal and Souths held on for the win when their best football was left somewhere closer to Redfern.
Damien Cook (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
The Panthers continue their surge to the top of the table and the Rabbitohs win their fifth in a row.
The Raiders and Titans will rue the chances they let slip and both seem far from semi-final contention, as we round the bend and head towards the finishing post of season 2018.
Swannies
Guest
Hodgson. Croker is a Nice bloke and all that but not a leader.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Why do you imagine I said those things? All I said was the ref should've penalised Penrith for a strip. Your deductive reasoning is faulty Matt.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Whinge all you like Pomoz but it doesn't change the fact that the ref should've penalised the Panthers for a strip. A draw would've been a fair result but we have the Golden Point rule that everyone agrees is rubbish.
Matt
Guest
If you strip it one on one and the ball goes back, it's play on. Strip one on one and it goes forward, it's a knock on. The ball clearly goes forward from the Austin strip. Not sure how slow-mo couldn't help the three blind mice adjudicating
Matt
Guest
You're totally right Peter. Those Panthers tries were crafted by the ref, and Cleary's accuracy taking the decisive drop kick was due to the ref too. Canberra's lack of accuracy taking drop kicks was also due to the ref not doing their job. Yeah, you really know your stuff, Pete.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Look, I hear you, the Raiders had a few issues. But here's the thing. You can be guilty of talking your team up and making excuses when maybe they just aren't good enough. The Panthers lost Kikau early on, their gun back rower. He was a huge loss. The following players are missing from the team. Blake, Mansour, Hetherington, May (still coming back from injury), Wallace, McKendry, Browne. The Raiders were facing two rookie wingers and 4 players backing up (Cleary looked out on his feet and made a lot of mistakes). The Raiders were playing at home. The Panthers had a player in the bin for 10 minutes and yet with all the fatigue from travelling, SOO players backing up, losing Kikau, when it came down to the last five minutes they turned up the heat and the Raiders left the kitchen.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
How so. A try awarded that everybody agrees was a no try and a player in the bin that everybody agrees was ridiculous. There is a massive leg up for the Raiders. Meanwhile the Panthers have four players backing up and several first graders missing including their fullback and test winger. They were away from home and the SOO players had less than 40 hours between games (granted Papali was also backing up). Seriously, the Raiders had every opportunity to win the game and the Panthers were too tough but get no credit. "Refs this' and 'refs that'. The Panthers won because this year they are tough as buggery. RCG 147m after playing front row for NSW and he got smashed by Canberra in every tackle. He dug deep and kept going (as did Papali, but he is the only one who gets a mention and he didn't start for QLD, when it is harder with everybody fresh).
Rob
Guest
How is stripping the football a Sin Bin? Maybe 4 penalties for deliberately being off side or holding down consecutively gets someone in the bin. The officials lost the plot on the Gold Coast.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
The try to Jordan Rapana was a very contentious call with pretty much everyone agreeing it was a bizarre call so Penrith certainly weren't handed that win Peter.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
It wasn't a Raiders error but a referee error that set up the game winning field-goal .
Doc79
Guest
Yeah the Raiders had their chance- all pile in again. This despite the fact they lost to league leaders by one point after losing their centre to HIA within 2 mins and a strike winger in the 2nd half, a bit sketchy thoughout the game admittedly, and still without their international hooker. Fill in hooker shanks a drop goal from in front, makeshift winger drops crucial ball late and everyone's a critic. Have a go yourselves, armchair specialists. In regards to the Austin strip/no strip. Initially he played at the ball but once that seemed to have failed I believe in trying to reach back around the player to effect a tackle the back if his hand has dislodged the ball without intent. A simple call of 'fumble' (similar to NFL) and a free for all to regain possession without all the guess work as to who tried what or who it went forward off-were they playing at it?- would put this nonsense to bed.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
What can you do DP? You pick a team and stick with them despite the cr#p they serve up. But yes it is frustrating and Raiders supporters are fed up with it. Closing out games should be fixable but Ricky doesn't seem to have the answers. At least they are competitive I guess. I re-watched the game and didn't think they were too bad up to the 65 minute mark - but when they tried to use Hingano to cover for the injured Rapana out on the wing they looked vulnerable and it seemed to be only a matter of time before the Panthers rolled over them.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Penrith are a good team and look like a good chance of being premiers this year but the referee helped them win last night.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
What ruined the game last night was the ref not penalising Penrith when they stripped the ball. If a team infringes they should be penalised. They should have kept tries worth 3 points.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Penrith won because the referee didn't penalise the Penrith player when they stripped the ball. At that stage of the game, wth the scores level, it's hard not to blame the referee when the ball hit the ground with such force.
DNZ
Guest
I doubt it, although it at least means they will have one intelligent footy player on the paddock. They lack determination in defence, which should be easily remedied but Ricky seems incapable of getting the side to lift.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The old argument that refereeing errors even themselves out is rubbish. It was clear there should've been a penalty to Canberra and they would've been kicking for touch and play would've been in the Penrith half and who could say what would've happened. There wasn't much time left and a draw was on the cards but there is no doubt the referee gave Penrith the win because the ball had to be stripped to hit the ground with that speed.
DP Schaefer
Guest
Geoff, Assuming you are a Raiders man - don't know how you are keeping a sane mental state at the moment. I'd be pushing bats**t crazy. They were coasting upwards at 14pts and on the way to a win I thought, couldn't happen again.
Eccles
Guest
“A disaster just like Rugby Union”. Union has one video ref, not a whole bunker full, and rely on the TV feed, not a couple of million dollars worth of tech, and yet they still get more things right than the Bunker, and even rule on forward passes, successfully, something that is too hard for the NRL.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I have to agree. The Raiders were poor. Too many mistakes but the refereeing was deplorable. The rules as they stand do see the refs up against it week in and week out. In other codes, if the ref or umpire makes a mistake, the other team can compete for ball and win it back. Not so in league where a decsion can cost a team the game.