NRL 2022 preliminary final: Charlie Staines no-try, Panthers Spencer Leniu fight with Taane Milne

League greats Phil Gould and Andrew Johns have combined to slam a controversial no-try decision which threatened to blow up Penrith’s dream of back-to-back titles.

Andrew Johns has angered South Sydney Rabbitohs fans.

Sydney is about to experience its own version of the Wild West after the Panthers beat South Sydney 32-12 to set up a showdown with local rivals Parramatta in next week’s NRL Grand Final.

It looked for 35 minutes like the promoter’s dream wouldn’t eventuate, but a furious finish to the first half from the defending premiers flipped the game on its head to set up a dream clash between the pride of the golden west and the blue and gold army.

There were no soldiers on Saturday night but security was needed to ensure we didn’t see an assault at Accor that would have rivalled the battle of Brookvale.

It all started when Taane Milne leapt off the ground and whacked Spencer Leniu across the head with a savage swinging arm that knocked the Panthers firebrand out of the game and saw the winger marched.

Taane Milne, centre, was sent off for a high tackle on Spencer Leniu in the second half Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Milne was sin-binned twice in the win over the Roosters two weeks ago and becomes the first player since Gary Larson in 1994 to be sent off in a finals match.

“It’s probably an area he needs to work on,” Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou said.

But the drama wasn’t over as both men left Accor Stadium at the same time just like Glenn Stewart and Adam Blair did 11 years ago when Sea Eagles and Storm players ran in for one of the ugliest fights in the NRL.

Panthers officials had to hold back Leniu who gave Milne a verbal barrage for a tackle that ruled him out of the contest and will have him in doubt for the grand final.

“He was a bit emotional, but he’s fine,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said. “He controls himself pretty well. He’s emotional and he doesn’t take a backwards step. It’s probably good that he didn’t get back on.”

GUS SLAMS ‘FARCICAL’ RULING

Penrith’s thumping win could’ve been even more emphatic, with four tries wiped off by the video referee - one which left former Penrith general manager, and now Canterbury boss, Phil Gould fuming.

Charlie Staines was denied a try when he crossed in the first half, finishing off a thrilling play in which Jarome Luai threw a long cut-out pass following a dropped bomb by Rabbitohs’ winger Taane Milne.

However it was deemed by the video referee that Luai had gained an advantage by running behind teammate James Fisher-Harris to deny Souths’ Richard Kennar an opportunity before unleashing his pass.

“Even under present rules, for there to be an obstruction, the defending player has to be in a position to make or attempt to make a defensive play (tackle),” Gould said.

“If he is in no such position, he’s not obstructed from doing anything. That was a farcical decision last night.”

FYI - Even under present rules, for there to be an obstruction, the defending player has to be in a position to make or attempt to make a defensive play (tackle). If he is in no such position, he’s not obstructed from doing anything. That was a farcical decision last night.

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) September 25, 2022

Gould’s view was supported by one of the finest to ever lace a boot, with league legend Andrew Johns labelling the decision “laughable”.

“They brought in the rule on not running behind a player purely on block plays,” Johns said on Channel 9 on Sunday.

“You cannot have back and white decisions in ad lib footy, because naturally there’s going to be players in front.

“That is not an obstruction. No one was obstructed there. It’s laughable.”

NERVOUS NIGHT

It wouldn’t be grand final week without some drama, and two of Penrith’s biggest stars are right in the middle of it.

Viliame Kikau’s hopes of playing in next week’s game are in jeopardy after he was placed on report for a shoulder charge in the first half.

The destructive back-rower bashed Campbell Graham with a huge shot that rattled the Rabbitohs centre, but replays showed he didn’t wrap his arm, leaving referee Ashley Klein no choice but to put him on report.

Kikau has already been charged this year for a shoulder charge against Cronulla back in Round 19 when he copped a fine.

“I got it wrong,” Kikau said. “Those things happen in games. I just got off the line and tried to lead the team with defence and got it a little bit wrong. Fingers crossed.”

Viliame Kikau was put on report for a shoulder charge. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The Fijian enforcer was superb on Saturday night and did everything but score.

He was one of three Penrith players to have tries disallowed in the first half while he went close after the break when he charged down a Lachlan Ilias kick, only for Leniu to score that set to break the 12-all deadlock.

The Panthers are also sweating on Jarome Luai after he was put on report for a swinging arm that collected Graham high.

The tackle sparked a melee that had the 50,034 fans on their feet and will have plenty more clicking refresh on social media to see if the five-eighth cops anything worse than a grade one charge.

“I think I’ll be sweet,” Luai said. “I was just trying to save a try.”

Teammate Charlie Staines could also be in hot water for a shoulder charge that went unpunished moments before a Dylan Edwards line-break put Penrith in position for Luai to kick through for an Izack Tago try.

MISSING MITCHELL

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary talked up Latrell Mitchell all week but he must have secretly spent the whole time plotting a way to bring the South Sydney superstar unstuck.

Mitchell has been their mercurial man at the back but he was a non-factor in their biggest game of the year.

The tone was set early when Moses Leota whacked him with a shot that rattled the star fullback.

Latrell Mitchell had a quiet night against the Panthers. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

He was restricted to just 52 running metres, and while that’s not his strength, his side desperately needed him to do something special from the back.

Mitchell was bamboozled by some Api Koroisau magic for Penrith’s opening try, while he was out of position for two Nathan Cleary kicks that led to tries.

It summed up South Sydney’s night as Milne predictably struggled under Cleary’s bombs while Cody Walker lost his cool once it became clear that Souths were done.

“You can have a plan. Everyone has a plan, but to beat this team, you have to be able to stay at it for 80 minutes. You’ve got to be as relentless as they are,” Demetriou said. “The competitor in me wants to hate Penrith, but the coach in me is so respectful of what they do.”

Nathan Cleary kept his cool under pressure to steer the Panthers home. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

TO’O THE TANK ENGINE

South Sydney really need to stop throwing passes that get intercepted by Penrith’s outside backs.

Last year it was Stephen Crichton who picked off a Cody Walker pass to score the go-ahead try that won them the premiership.

Crichton also plucked a pass to score when the teams met at Accor Stadium earlier this season, and this time it was Brian To’o who came up the play that broke South Sydney’s hearts on the stroke of halftime.

The Bunnies led 12-0 early but that buffer evaporated when To’o intercepted a pass that was put down by Graham.

The diminutive winger still had plenty of work to do and looked like he’d be reeled in, only for To’o to fend Walker into the path of Damien Cook who tripped over and presented a clear path for the winger to score.

It capped a stellar night for the Blues winger who shifted from the right edge to the left to cover for the suspended Taylan May and finished with a game-high 267 metres.

Originally published as NRL 2022 preliminary final: Charlie Staines no-try, Panthers Spencer Leniu fight with Taane Milne