NRL qualifying final: Penrith Panthers win thriller against Sydney Roosters
The Panthers are through to the preliminary final but it took a massive effort after a late blunder sent the game right down to the wire.
The Penrith Panthers are through to the preliminary final after a stunning 29-28 win over the Sydney Roosters in an absolute classic NRL thriller.
The Roosters started strongly with two tries in eight minutes before the Panthers roared back with four straight tries including a hattrick to Nathan Cleary.
It was a masterclass effort from the NSW halfback with Cleary scoring 21 points himself as the minor premiers flexed their muscles.
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But the Roosters aren't back-to-back premiers for nothing, bouncing back in brilliant fashion to take the game down to the wire.
At 28-22 with 2 minutes and 44 seconds to go, Cleary kicked what turned out to be the match winning field goal to seal the game.
It made it 29-22 but a brainsnap from Brent Naden put the NRL world on the edge of their seats as the Panthers centre charged onto a short kickoff.
But the ball hadn't gone 10m, giving the Roosters a penalty.
"Oh Naden, what are you doing?" Andre Voss yelled in Fox Sports.
"It's a brain explosion from Brent Naden. This is not over."
And it wasn't with Angus Crichton scoring just 33 seconds later.
It left 92 seconds for the Roosters to snatch a result from the jaws of defeat.
But the Panthers muscled up in defence, keeping the Roosters 40m out with Luke Keary's shot touched and falling well short of the line.
It's a massive result for the Panthers and sends the minor premiers one game short of the finals.
Asked post-game about whether he'd go and speak with Naden about the incident, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said: "I just did actually".
"I think that sort of just showed the excitement got to him...I don't know what happened there but it didn't help the blood pressure, that's for sure," Cleary said.
It was an incredible match with Channel 9's Andrew Johns blown away by what had transpired.
"That's the best semi-final game I've seen in a long time," Channel 9's Andrew Johns said.
It's the Panthers' 16th straight win, now just behind the 2002 Bulldogs on 17 and the 1975 Roosters on 19 on the all time win streaks in Australian rugby league history.
BRENT! I can’t watch this shit ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ #NRLPanthersRoosters
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) October 2, 2020
This game is a killer....#NRLPanthersRoosters pic.twitter.com/ibI9sDe3Ih
— Kurt Fearnley (@kurtfearnley) October 2, 2020
That play by Naden 🤯
— Nick McGrath (@nickmcgrath4) October 2, 2020
Oh boy #NRLPanthersRoosters
Helluva game of footy! 🤯 Well deserved win for the Panthers & Nathan Cleary, wow!
— Trent Copeland (@copes9) October 2, 2020
...but that Roosters 2nd half should put a few teams on notice ! #NRLPanthersRoosters
Originally published as NRL qualifying final: Penrith Panthers win thriller against Sydney Roosters