NRL 2021: Penrith Panthers beat Wests Tigers 30-16 in NRL Round 24

The Penrith Panthers juggernaut gained more momentum as they look to go one better than last year and claim an NRL title.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 29: Tevita Pangai Junior of the Panthers celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during the round 24 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Wests Tigers at Moreton Daily Stadium on August 29, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Superstar halfback Nathan Cleary became the second youngest player in history to score 1000 points as Penrith overcame a scrappy start to keep their slim minor premiership hopes alive.

It wasn’t the cricket score many were expecting, but the Panthers moved level with the Melbourne Storm on 42 competition points with a 30-16 win over the Wests Tigers that justified the smack talk from their officials and social media team during the week.

They’ll face an Eels team next week that will likely be without Clint Gutherson and Junior Paulo, and should they win – and the Storm lose to Cronulla – they will finish the regular season on top for the second year in a row.

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Nathan Cleary on the charge for the Panthers (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

In a round that saw the Rabbitohs lose Latrell Mitchell, the Roosters lose Joseph Manu and the Storm simply lose, the Penrith juggernaut gained momentum as they look to go one better than last year.

Brian To’o returned from injury and steamrolled his way to a game-high 265 metres, Jarome Luai rediscovered his running game, while Cleary overcame a few errors to rack up two try assists.

It was a rare mixed bag from the usually methodical Cleary, who had the accuracy of an Easter Show fortune teller with a couple of wayward bombs, but then displayed military-like precision to set up Moses Leota with an angled grubber that ricocheted off the post and into the prop’s arms.

He repeated the dose to force a line dropout, and his trusty right boot landed five goals, including the conversion that brought up his milestone.

“He won’t be overly happy with a couple of things he did today, but he’s still trying to find his way,” dad, and coach, Ivan Cleary said.

“It’s a nice milestone for him. Hopefully those points will keep racking up in the years to come.

Tevita Pangai Junior celebrates a try (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

BASH BROTHERS

Ivan Cleary may be onto something with a new-look bench rotation that should strike fear into opposition coaches.

It’s hard enough trying to contain Penrith’s starters, but it’s almost unfair now that Viliame Kikau comes off the bench along with Tevita Pangai Junior to terrorise tiring tacklers.

Pangai, who at one stage was being courted by the Tigers, is the x-factor who has the skills to produce the one big play that wins the Panthers a grand final.

“That’s why we got him here,” Cleary said.

“There were some good signs today.”

The former Bronco bullied his way through several would-be defenders to grab a try late in the first half, and was backed up by Kikau a minute later when he brushed two Tigers away and then produced a stunning flick to Matt Burton who was held up in goal.

The big Fijian then backed up a Cleary half-break to score in the second half as Penrith kicked clear with the wind at their backs.

“I thought ‘Kiks’ was very good today,” Cleary said.

Brian To'o scores in the corner (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

EARNING THEIR STRIPES

They were disgraced last week against the Sharks in a loss that ended their finals chances, but as they’ve done a few times this season, the Tigers responded with a far more encouraging effort that should win back some respect.

The next step is to ensure they don’t have any more embarrassing performances when there’s still plenty to play for, but there were positive signs on Sunday as they defended stoutly against one of the premiership heavyweights.

The Tigers enjoyed just 24 per cent of the territory in the first half but kept the Panthers to 12 points thanks to a couple of outstanding try-saving tackles by David Nofoaluma.

It looked like they’d be blown away in the second half but they nabbed two late tries to keep the score respectable, while youngster Stefano Utoikamanu continues to impress after he crashed over for his sixth try of the season.

“To see the boys fight and compete is something that we need to take forward,” Michael Maguire said.

“You play like that throughout a season, and you play consistent footy like that where you’re competing, then you’re going to find yourself with a lot more wins.”