James Maloney rescues Panthers after NRL bunker shocker

The Panthers unleashed one of the gutsiest performances of the season, overcoming two sin bins, a contentious video referee try call and a 10-point deficit — and James Maloney was the money again.

The video referee rules a try to New Zealand Warriors winger David Fusitua despite his left hand clearly touching the ground over the sideline in their NRL clash with the Penrith Panthers at Mt Smart Stadium.

Brent Naden scored an NRL try for the ages and James Maloney had the final say as Penrith snatched a dramatic 19-18 golden point win over the Warriors in Auckland.

The Panthers unleashed one of the gutsiest performances seen on Mt Smart Stadium, overcoming two contentious sin bin rulings and a 10-point deficit to notch their fifth straight win.

Rookie centre Naden was the hero with two tries in the final half-hour, including a memorable 90-metre solo try with three minutes remaining to put his team two points in front.

Brent Naden races clear to score a try for the Panthers. Picture: AAP

Maloney was deemed offside from the subsequent Warriors short kick-off and Patrick Herbert held his nerve, levelling the scores with a 35m penalty in the final minute of regular time.

A week after his influential State of Origin performance for NSW and without injured halves partner Nathan Cleary, Maloney capped an exceptional game with the winning field goal, after he and opposite Blake Green had both missed earlier attempts.

Maloney also laid on two of his team’s three tries, setting up a leaping Naden with a pinpoint bomb to start the fightback from 16-6 down.

James Maloney celebrates his matchwinning field goal. Picture: Getty Images

James Maloney is mobbed by teammates after his golden point field goal. Picture: Getty Images

The Warriors appeared destined to end their miserable run of home form when David Fusitu’a crossed after a fuming Penrith had been reduced to 11 players.

Maloney, who had a running battle with referee Gerard Sutton, was firstly enraged by Liam Martin’s 10-minute punishment for repeated Panthers offending soon before halftime.

He believed he hadn’t been given sufficient warning that a sin bin was looming. The veteran’s blood pressure doubled soon after the break when halves partner Jarome Luai was given his marching orders, reducing the visitors to 11 for three minutes.

Sutton deemed Luai had committed a professional foul for tripping Warriors skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck — a questionable ruling on two counts. The contact appeared accidental and Tuivasa-Sheck had already knocked on in the lead-up.

Moments later, on the right side of the field, winger David Fusitua looked to have scored a spectacular diving try against the 11-man Panthers defence.

The video referee gave the green light, despite television replays moments later showing Fusitua’s left hand clearly touching the ground across the sideline.

The refereeing blunder allowed the Warriors to skip out to a 16-6 lead.

This is the worst refereeing I’ve seen all year

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) June 30, 2019

Penrith getting dudded. Getting decisions like the Fusitu’a one wrong give the technology on offer is inexcusable.

— Nick Campton (@campo37) June 30, 2019

I would probably walk off the field if I was captain of the Panthers. Two shockers in the space of a minute. Inexcusable stuff. Hand clearly in touch. RTS knocked on before he was tackled #NRLWarriorsPanthers

— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) June 30, 2019

David Fusitu'a... can score a try! 🙌#NRLWarriorsPanthers 16-6#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/VCy5rwYoDn

— NRL (@NRL) June 30, 2019

Maloney’s men somehow regrouped in the most spectacular win of their mid-season revival, highlighted by 23-year-old Naden’s defence shredding run in just his fourth NRL game.

PENRITH 19 (B Naden 2 J Tamou tries J Maloney 3 goals J Maloney field goal) bt NZ WARRIORS 18 (B Afoa D Fusitu’a P Hiku tries P Herbert 3 goals) in extra time at Mt Smart Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, Adam Cassidy