Penrith took their next step towards a historic sweep of Premierships, defeating Norths Devils 44-10 in the State Championship Grand Final.
Having already secured the under-20s and under-18s titles, and competing for the first grade late in the day, the meeting of the NSW Cup and Q Cup Premiers evidently mattered massively to the Panthers.
Allied to their enthusiasm, 13 of their 17 had first grade experience this year, with two – Soni Luke and Sunia Turuva – highly likely to go to the World Cup with Tonga and Fiji respectively. The Devils had just Brendan Piakura to play NRL in 2022, and he only got 23 minutes of it. The mismatch was clear.
It mightn’t have been so. Tyson Gamble was scratched from the Norths squad an hour before kick off, and without him, a difficult task was nearly impossible.
Luke was the star for Penrith, creating multiple tries and grabbing of his own. His performance was so strong that he was a clear man of the match despite spending ten minutes in the bin.
J’maine Hopgood, in his last game before joining Parramatta next year, signed off in style. The Panthers captain scored twice and topped the metre count for his side.
Penrith’s dominance was set early. Turuva might have scored early after claiming a spilled kick, and while the bunker saved the Devils on that occasion, it could not when Hopgood touched down Luke’s kick.
Norths needed to throw the kitchen sink at Penrith to get something, but were consistently repelled by excellent Panthers defence. When they did break through, Jacob Gagan failed to stick the grounding.
He was immediately punished at the other end. Luke, who had laid on the first, grabbed an excellent solo try, before Matt Eisenhuth put Eddie Blacker through a gaping hole.
Kurt Falls injected himself into the game. He sent John Faimu through a gaping hole on the left, then did the same with Robert Jennings on the right.
The Devils threw back, with fullback Jack Ahearn – consistently their best – making a break through the middle and forcing a penalty from Luke, who was binned.
Playing a man light didn’t stop the Panthers. Luke Somerton ran through tired defence to take the lead beyond 30 points, though it was pegged back by Tony Tumusa on the back of a spectacular, through-the-legs offload from Leivaha Pula.
It was only a temporary respite. Luke, back from the bin, repeated his first half trick with the boot to get Hopgood in again. Rashaun Denny got a consolation with five to play, but it was merely that as Turuva got another on the bell.
For an encore, prop forward Faiumu goaled from the sideline.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I mock them for stealing South Sydney juniors. There is a difference.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Given your argument, you can never again mock the Roosters for their lack of juniors.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
???? the Panthers @#&$ Noel. :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
The Panthers had the toughest draw in the NRL in 2022? Really? I would love to see the URL of the source where you are getting that misinformation. Care to back up that claim with actual proof? I've seen the proof and the Panthers are neat the top of the easiest draw list.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
No. It was to be expected from a club that has a junior catchment area larger than Switzerland. Congrats though it was a great achievement. Enjoy. :thumbup:
What the !
Guest
South Sydney have won ‘1’ Premiership in the last ‘51’ years . Which we can make 52 years come the New Year. No need to say anything else about the Intercept Givers & High Hit Champs.
chris
Guest
Penrith can’t help that South’s love throwing intercepts. You would have loved this whole season, with 4 GF Wins by Penrith from the top 4 grades , plus the interstate challenge win. Something that South’s will never achieve. Enjoy your off season you proser.
Panthers
Guest
Favourable Draws? Penrith had the toughest draw of any side in the Premiership in 2022. You should get off of those drugs .
PeterCtheThird
Guest
Jesus wept. Man of the match even with ten minutes in the bin. Still, it’s just “most impact”, isn’t it, not best and fairest. On this reasoning, break Cleary’s jaw in the first minute, get red-carded and get MOTM because you had the greatest impact on the match. You know it makes sense.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I didn't realise there was a statute of limitations on the truth, Tim.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
If everyone held on to the past then most supporters would be complaining after just about every game. Time to move on mate, and other supporters are not continuing to bring up the same argument over and over.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Lol.. No problem Noel, I did not take offence anyway… :thumbup:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
It would be much better for the Panthers to win this game on their own merits. They did that in last year's GF with a little help from Cody Walker. But they should never have made the GF after their travesty win over the Eels in the 2021 semi-finals.
Noel
Roar Rookie
Sort for the ????, It was meant to be a :laughing: emoji. Does change the tone of my response a little bit.. my bad.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I am hoping the officials do not get too involved also Glory. No matter who wins I am wanting a great and clean game.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Maybe not quite the same success but still successful. You are right about the jealousy part rather than giving credit.
Noel
Roar Rookie
'No one complained when Broncos had the same success with their juniors' Not quite true, there mate ????. Jealousy is a curse. If Penrith haven't worked that out by now, I imagine they will very soon! To have across the board success this season the way the Panthers have.. what can you say... May never be repeated. ..
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I complained, Tim. I complained that it gave the Broncos an unfair advantage to have most of QLD as the Broncos junior nursery. The majority of the Broncos success was before the salary cap era. They won their premierships with most of the QLD Origin side and more than half the Australian side in a Broncos jersey. I just hope that the referee and bunker don't decide the result. With Dumb & Dumber (Atkins and Klein) controlling the game that is a justifiable concern given the history of this pair giving the Panthers a leg up. Gerard Sutton was the only hope for a fair game. Last week Gerard Sutton pulled up 3 out of 4 tries that were No Trys for the Panthers. I don't expect that to happen tonight with Panthers membership holder and Ivan Cleary's mate Grant Atkins as the Senior Review Official. The point that upsets me most Tim is that the Panthers are a talented football side. They don't need help. They shouldn't have the benefit of preferential treatment which extends to the MRC and judiciary. Is that too much to ask mate?
Nat
Roar Guru
I wouldn't be surprised to see Ahearn pick up a train and trial based on today. He was pulling them apart on his own but the others couldn't follow - or tackle
Tim J
Roar Rookie
C’mon Glory, are you saying that the NRL favoured the Broncos and Storm when they were dominant? Now they have randomly selected the Panthers for favouritism? They have a great junior program set up so which is credit to them, no one complained when the Broncos had the same success with their juniors.