Penrith have produced their second remarkable NRL comeback in as many weeks to outscore Canberra 40-31 in a Panthers Stadium try-fest.
The Panthers were 14 points down at halftime, 12 down midway through the second half and seven behind when Sam Williams nailed a field goal in the 67th minute.
But tries to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Josh Mansour in the space of three minutes saved the Panthers from an insipid defensive display on Sunday.
Panthers captain James Maloney sealed the win with a 78th minute try to go with his three linebreak assists and two try assists.
The win means the Panthers remain in fifth spot but keep their top-four ambitions alive by moving to 28 points alongside fourth-placed St George Illawarra.
“It was a weird old game. Every time we’d kick or threw a pass, there was an intercept or they got their points,” Panthers coach Anthony Griffin said.
“But second half was 28-5. I just thought our performance was better than last week.”
The Raiders will rue yet another one that got away.
And while coach Ricky Stuart bit his lip over what appeared to be a Maloney forward pass leading to their go-ahead try, he also turned the torch on his team’s game management.
“That’s why we’re not in the eight,” Stuart said.
“We’ve got to so many leads this year and should’ve won games. So many people ask me the question, ‘Why aren’t you in the eight?’ There’s your reason.”
Defence was left in the dressing sheds as both sides treated a healthy crowd of 12,915 to a 12-try attacking spectacle.
Panthers fullback Tyrone Peachey had two, while Raiders pair Jordan Rapana and Joseph Leilua combined for four tries as they tore the Panthers’ left edge to shreds.
But it wasn’t enough as the home side ran in its highest score of the season.
Penrith started brightly enough when James Tamou barged over in the second minute.
And while Peachey also found his way over the line inside the opening quarter of the match, the Panthers’ defence showed little resistance when the Raiders had the ball.
Maloney in particular had a horror outing without the ball, missing six tackles in the first half alone as the visitors crossed for four tries in the opening stanza.
The Raiders’ right flank of Leilua and Rapana dined out on the Panthers’ flimsy left edge with a combined three tries in the opening 40 minutes.
Rapana’s second was easily the highlight of the lot, intercepting an attempted Viliame Kikau offload to beat four defenders in a 100m dash to the line.
Adam
Roar Guru
No those two tries probably shouldn't have been allowed. But unfortunately on review I think the Rapana 90m try shouldn't be allowed. Watch the take from the intercept, he doe not manage to take it cleanly.
Gary Harvey
Guest
As a fellow long suffering fan of the once mighty green machine I feel your pain mate. This season its not just the losing, its the frustration that nothing is being done to address why we are losing, and that the players/coach are never held accountable. Where is the heat on Stuart? How could he possibly be re-signed? Why does he keep picking useless #@$@s like Boyd, Paulo, Blake "the turnstile" Austin? Why aren't we properly blooding young players like Guler and Murchie? And wtf do we let so many good players go? TPJ. Vaughan. Barnett. Even when we were up by 14 yesterday I knew we would lose. What does this say about the club?
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Got the old Penrith goggles on I see Albo just as I've got the green goggles on. The replay shows Kikua about to pass to his left and Rapana snaffles it and runs the length. And the Panthers defenders got caught napping when BJ barged over. We all see things how we want to. What was your assessment of the Maloney pass to Mansour for the second last Penrith try and the obstruction of Havilli before Maloney slices through for the final try? All good? Thought so.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
If the Raiders are stuck with Ricky in the short to medium term - which seems likely until the end of 2020 at least - then they need to at least employ the most skilled and successful defensive coach they can find. It's a disgrace that the club allowed Ricky to employ a mate in Brett White as an assistant coach with vrtually no experience.
Albo
Guest
Not to mention other dubious calls in the Raiders favour, like the strip by Rapana off Kikau to run the length of the field to score, or Leilua's quick tap from 5 m out to score, and a number of milked penalties. Plenty went the way of the Raiders, but they were still not good enough on the day. Its "swings and roundabouts" with officials decisions.
Mark
Roar Rookie
My thoughts as well, Adam - Ricky seems to do a good job of energising a team early on but can't keep them focussed over time. I get the sense that he fosters a siege-mentality amongst the team but doesn't place emphasis on accountability, which ultimately turns toxic. Raiders should have done what other clubs have done with Ricky, sack him as soon as the gloss wears off...
Nat
Roar Guru
https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2018/round-21/panthers-vs-raiders/
sham
Guest
It has been sad to watch the Raiders this year - they have so much potential that is not being realised. It is not hard to identify their issue - defence on the edges. The sad thing is that they are not improving - they do not defend well as a unit which is about working within an agreed structure and knowing your role. It is night and day compared to the Storm who defend so well as a team with everyone knowing their role.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Penrith got lucky... because Canberra rolled over and didn't execute several try-scoring chances they had in the second half when Penrith's middle defence was shaky. That forward pass was questionable. But there was a forward pass in the lead-up to the Leilua try in the second half. There was a potential obstruction in the lead-up to the Leilua try off a kick in the first half. The forward pass ruled against Penrith when DWZ flicked it back inside could've gone either way. Then, when Maloney scored it was off an accidental knock penalty and possible obstruction. Both teams had decisions go against them, the refs didn't decide this one. Regardless, neither team really deserved the win.
Butch
Guest
Another comeback victory for the home team on the back of a forward pass for a match winning try (Knights in Townsville last week)
Adam
Roar Guru
There's so much talent. particularly in the back line. I think you have perfectly identified where they need to improve next year. I think Ricky is good at getting his team on the same wave length. Unfortunately, it's resulted in everyone drinking the kool-aid and not looking at ways in which they can move forward and improve.
Adam
Roar Guru
10-8 to the Panthers. It's under negative play stats.
Forty Twenty
Guest
I've just watched the replay of Cotrics great tackle early in the game to stop a try and stripping of the ball after the player was apparently held. There is a massive double standard on when a player is deemed to be held in the game. Pangai junior scored a try the other week and he was held and stopped by four players but allowed to wrestle for ages. If Cotric was shrugged off it would have been play on but because he stripped the ball they adopt a different ruling.
Forty Twenty
Guest
This game is a perfect example of why we need a captains challenge. The penalty against Rapana , the forward pass and the Maloney try all needed looking at but the captain is powerless. Maloneys try looked like obstruction to me , why not use the bunker?
Cedric
Guest
I'm not a Raiders guy but what is going on, they appear to get so many calls against them and a lot of forward pass calls, one of which resulted in a try again. Can someone advise me, I can't find the penalty count on any game on the NRL sight or here or anywhere. The NRL stats show soooo many stats it's unbelievable. Am I not looking in the right places or are these critical stats being hidden from the public. Once it was shown as one of the main stats.
Taree Raider
Guest
There are only two things that are lacking at the Raiders. 1. A halfback who can manage a game, get repeat sets & has a consistent kicking game. 2. A coach who admits when they are wrong, can manage his team, doesn't play favorites & doesn't have a history of early successes, followed by poor performances by any teams he's coached. So Ricky do us fans & our club a favour & give it away, you've had long enough. I've had enough please Ricky just go. Nathan Cleary, Ivan Cleary. Problem/s solved.