NRL 2021: Cowboys make things easier for Panthers with Taumalolo call

The Penrith Panthers outclassed the Cowboys on Saturday night, but they had some help in the North Queensland coaching box.

The Panthers always threatened to race in points. It took late in the second half for them to finally pile the score on running away 24-0 winners against North Queensland.

The Panthers led by just eight until Dylan Edwards sliced through a lazy North Queensland middle to score in the 53rd minute in front of 14,077 people.

The cohesion was again there for last season’s runners-up but they just lacked the polish at times as they cruised to their 10th consecutive win at Panthers Stadium.

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Kurt Capewell is caught high by Jake Clifford. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Their attack was led by the direct running of Nathan Cleary and a side-stepping Jarome Luai – both looked a threat for different reasons. The relentless of the Panthers attack eventually took its toll on the Cowboys.

Penrith had to wait 46 minutes in between their first and second try. But only nine minutes separated their Edwards’ try and their fourth through co-captain Isaah Yeo.

Their third came just five minutes later when the destructive left edge of Luai and Stephen Crichton combined to send winger Brian To’o diving over the line before Yeo’s try.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said his side was “never going to play our best” in the opening round.

“The first half I was really happy with them apart we couldn’t ice some opportunities that we’re going to need to,” Cleary said. “The first round, short pre-season. I thought the Cowboys were pretty desperate in defence. Second half the game got a bit sloppy. In the end we will get our two points with a fair bit to work on.”

TAKING TAUMALOLO OUT OF THE GAME

It has taken just one game, but North Queensland coach Todd Payten has already come under fire for reducing the workload of star forward Jason Taumalolo.

Taumalolo was missing for 30 minutes of the contest, with Payten making good on his promise to seek more quality than quantity out of the former Dally M medallist.

In an opening 26-minute stint, Taumalolo had just 28 metres from three runs.

“I’m not sure what Todd’s thinking,” Fox Sports commentator Braith Anasta said.

“It doesn’t make sense. We could see how tired (Coen) Hess and (Josh) McGuire were there. But if there was a fresh Taumalolo on there, he stops that.”

Jason Taumalolo was very quiet throughout the night. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

TALE OF THE TAPE

Remarkably the Panthers led by just eight at half-time. The Panthers dominated the opening proceedings and their ball movement was slick, but they failed to captalised on all the territory and possession they had. After Capewell’s try they could only add a penalty goal in the opening half. Paul Momorivski dropped the ball over the try-line as part of eight first half errors by the Panthers. The Cowboys did not get a crack inside the Panthers 20 metre line until midway through the first half.

Yeo said there was “no panic at half-time.”

“You expect that in round one,” Yeo said of the poor ball control. “We know they have a big forward pack so if we held the ball we felt like it would come off at the back end of the game and it did.

“We went too sideways in the first half. They defended well but it took a toll.”

While the Cowboys showed great grit defending their try-line, they kept making simplistic errors coming out of their own end, heaping pressure on their defence. Both team’s completed at just 65 per cent in the opening half with the Panthers dominating territory with 74 per cent.

Viliame Kikau was more than a hand full on the Penrith left edge. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

CAPTAIN’S CALL

Penrith may have new captain’s but the Cleary and Yeo combination got their challenge’s off to an unprecedented start. The Panthers had two on-field calls correctly over-ruled with their captain’s challenges inside the opening 14 minutes and had another in the second half. Cleary’s boot produced a 40/20 in the opening half after Kyle Feldt refused to attack a spiraling bomb – allowing it to bounce into touch.

Ivan Cleary said his team is “well connected”.

Esan Marsters of the Cowboys is tackled. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

GRUDGE MATCH

Penrith will play their newest rivals Canterbury on Saturday for the first time since former assistant coach Trent Barrett left the club. The Bulldogs not only raided the Panther’s coaching ranks but also their playing stocks with firebrand Jack Hetherington already at Belmore while the ongoing tug of war for Matt Burton’s services continues. Burton played reserve grade for the Panthers on Saturday.