Panthers
40
Match Complete
Dragons
18
| 69 |  | C. Norman | ||
| 69 |  | P. Vaughan | ||
| N. Cleary | | 61 | ||
| R. Campbell-Gillard | | 59 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 55 | ||
| B. Naden | | 54 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 53 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 51 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 44 | ||
| M. Leota | | 43 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 38 | ||
| B. To'o | | 37 | ||
| 35 | | C. Norman | ||
| 34 | | J. Kerr | ||
| 25 | | C. Norman | ||
| 24 | | M. Ravalawa | ||
| N. Cleary | | 20 | ||
| B. Naden | | 19 | ||
| B. To'o | | 7 |
| 7 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 6 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Match result:
A strong second half from the Penrith Panthers has delivered them a 22-point victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons, who were in the match at half time but outclassed thereafter.
Final score
Penrith Panthers 40
St George Ilawarra Dragons 18
Match preview:
The Penrith Panthers will be looking to just about end St George Illawarra’s season this Friday night at Panthers Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:55pm AEST.
It wasn’t that long ago that questions were being asked about Ivan Cleary’s appointment and the Panther’s season seemed like it was in freefall.
Six wins in a row later, the Panthers have re-discovered their mojo and sit inside the top eight. Their 24-2 win over the Gold Coast Titans last Friday night was simply clinical. There was nothing special about the win, but they never looked threatened.
After missing the last few games due to injury, Nathan Cleary returns in the halves this weekend, with Jarome Luai going to the bench. Jed Cartwright returns to the reserves.
With the squad they have, you’d expect the Dragons to have a better winning record than they do. The loss of Gareth Widdop for the season and James Graham to long term injury has no doubt impacted on their year, but the fans will have wanted a lot more.
Their last start 36-14 loss to the Raiders in Wollongong was poor, with a whopping 54 missed tackles.
Ben Hunt will be rested this weekend with Darren Nicholls starting at halfback. Blake Lawrie comes in at prop for Jeremy Latimore with Josh Kerr and Patrick Kaufusi starting from the bench. In a massive in for the Dragons, James Graham returns to add plenty of starch to the Dragons pack.
Prediction
This is a must-win game for the Dragons, who could fall 3 wins out of the 8 with another loss tonight.
You’d expect that St George Illawarra will be desperate, and James Graham will certainly have his team up for a big performance.
However, the Panthers are on a roll and get Nathan Cleary back to help James Maloney organise Penrith’s attack.
A big crowd at Panthers Stadium should see the home team get a win tonight.
Penrith Panthers by 8
When: 7:55pm AEST
Where: Panthers Stadium
TV: Nine, Fox League
Online: Live Pass, Kayo
Betting: Penrith Panthers: $1.60; St George Illawarra Dragons: $2.35
Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Dean Whare 4. Brent Naden 5. Brian To’o 6. James Maloney 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Frank Winterstein 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Wayde Egan 15. Jarome Luai 16. Moses Leota 17. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Matthew Dufty 2. Jonus Pearson 3. Euan Aitken 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Darren Nicholls 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. James Graham
Interchange: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Korbin Sims 16. Patrick Kaufusi 17. Luciano Leilua
Tricky Ricky
Guest
Mal Meninga after his work at the Titans ends needs to get down to the Dragons and go through them like Epsom salts.
WA DRAGON
Roar Rookie
How can u have a fullback at any level of football who can’t catch? Dufty must go! He can share a ride with the coach and Lafai (why can’t anyone in the club see how hopeless this guy is? We’ve let go 3 young promising centres, two (Garrick and Herbert) are killing it in first grade and are goal kickers and the third Marsters is off to Souths. Can somebody at that club do their job properly? I’m sure there 1000s of dragons supporters who would love to earn half what these bozos are on and could do their job for them at worst as bad as they do
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
And Slater didn't have to spend his retirement money on plugs to regrow the forest! ;-)
Stormy
Roar Rookie
He did play with East Tigers early in the season then signed with the Dragons - silly boy
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Combined with Fittler they are both far worse covering a Roosters game, especially when it is against the Rabbitohs. That was a big reason why I stopped watching CH9. Way too much BS! Like anyone cares about what they did playing golf last week or driving to the game.
jamesb
Roar Guru
McGregor has been a Dragons coach for five years. I think the players are tired of him. The players need a fresh voice.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
The Panthers haven't dominated teams during that period (excluding their 22 point win last week against the 16th placed Titans). They beat the Roosters by 9 points, Souths and the Warriors by just 1 point and your Sea Eagles 3 points. So before tonight, and not counting their 24 - 2 win over the 16th placed Titans last week, the Panthers average winning margin over the previous 4 weeks BEFORE tonight was just 3.5 points! The Panthers last two games before the finals are against the Roosters and the Knights. They should come crashing back to earth by then.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Mate, even Neo from "The Matrix" couldn't stop the bullets that are heading Mary's way. And Mary won't be able to dodge them either!
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
— COMMENT DELETED —
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
But it wasn't late EJ. Not in real-time. FOX Sports were saying that there are just 4 frames of footage from when the ball left the hands to the shot and Kikau was already commited to the tackle and tried to use his arms, unlike Fifita.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Enjoy your weekend all and, as always, thanks for the banter
MORDAC
Roar Rookie
That was me but I had to retract the comment after being flamed for making it.
David Holden
Roar Guru
I will be back tomorrow afternoon for the Raiders vs Tigers clash and then backing up to call the Diamonds' World Cup semi final tomorrow night
Doug Graves
Guest
Cheer up Dragons fans you did get flogged and your season is officially over but look on the bright side, at least you didn't choke.
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Dragons will back up next Friday night against the Rabbitohs. Any remote chance of them making the finals would be snuffed out with a further loss
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I hear one of the enticements in the hunt for the new Titan's coach is that he gets the Dragons twice before the end of the year....
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Panthers will be back at home next Sunday afternoon when they take on the Canberra Raiders in a match that will have a bearing on the 8
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Ha haha ha ahaaaaa ah ha ha ha.. Then Mary gave one of his famous half time rev-ups....
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
&*^% that
David Holden
Roar Guru
FT' The Dragons were right in the game at half time but were simply outclassed by the Panthers in the second 40mins Panthers 40 Dragons 18