NRL 2021: Panthers eventually click into gear to bury Bulldogs in impressive show of force

He earned the ire of the referee just three minutes into his return from a long ban but Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett claims Jack Hetherington is becoming a victim of his own reputation.

Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett has defended fiery prop Jack Hetherington, claiming the Canterbury prop can be a victim of his own reputation when it comes to high tackles.

Hetherington, who was making his return from a six-week suspension in the 30-4 loss to Penrith, caught James Fisher-Harris and Viliame Kikau high in the opening three minutes of the match.

He was placed on report by referee Matt Noyen for the second tackle.

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Jack Hetherington is likely to face a nervous time over the next 24 hours.

But Barrett was on the front foot after the match, claiming Hetherington should not miss time for either shot.

“I didn’t think there was anything in that. Seriously, he might cop a fine but I’m hoping that’s it,” Barrett said.

“If you go through the game there’s probably six or seven others like that didn’t get pulled up, but because his name is Jack Hetherington — you can’t tell me the referees don’t have his name in the back of his mind every time he’s making a tackle, and the crowd get behind it as well.

“I really hope he doesn’t (miss time) and it would be a bloody shame if he did because they weren’t bad, at all.

“He was good (afterwards) and he’s worked really hard and I’ve said before — Jack Hetherington is not a dirty player. There was no force in any of those tackles at all at the start of the game.

“I really hope there’s nothing, or that a monetary fine would be sufficient. I’d hate to see him miss games for those. It’d be pretty sad.”

Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett went into bat for his besieged forward.

Given Hetherington’s frequent run-ins with the judiciary he faces a nervous wait over the next 24 hours to see if he’s cited.

His record is poor enough that even a grade one charge will likely result in the 24-year old spending even more time on the sidelines.

If he is charged, it will be Hetherington’s seventh trip to the judiciary in 31 NRL games and in the last 12 months he’s copped six and four game bans, both for high tackles.

There are many in the game who believe Hetherington has a serious future in first grade - he’s athletic and rangy and willing to throw himself into any collision regardless of what he’s facing.

But he must learn to temper his wild side because as it stands his lapses of discipline are putting too much pressure on a Bulldogs side that can’t afford to play from behind.

Penrith don’t need much of a chance at the best of times but they punished Canterbury for Hetherington’s indiscretions with Charlie Staines racing over for the opening try after the shot on Kikau.

It was another tough day at the office for the Bulldogs.

It would be hyperbole to say Hetherington’s early lapses cost the Bulldogs any chance of victory given they’ve been outscored by Penrith 100-4 in their last three meetings and entered this match as the heaviest underdogs in any NRL game this century.

But it made an already arduous task close to impossible as the Bulldogs slumped to their 11th loss in 12 matches this season.

Pocket rockets bolt into late Origin discussions

Penrith’s Origin candidates played like their minds were on selection at stages, but it’s unlikely to cost them a Blues berth despite a clunky performance against the bottom-placed Bulldogs.

As NSW coach Brad Fittler watched on from the stands with his selection pencil in hand, the Panthers struggled in the first half before flexing their muscles in the second to record a comfortable 30-4 win.

Penrith pocket rockets Brian To’o and Liam Martin produced solid performances to put up their hands up as Blues bolters.

It took a while but the Panthers eventually found their feet.

To’o, who is in a three-horse race with Parramatta’s Blake Ferguson and Roosters flyer Daniel Tupou for the Blues right-wing spot, ran for an impressive 266 metres and looked dangerous every time he touched the football.

He has now made over 200 metres nine times this season and he is on track to surpass Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s NRL-record run metres in one season from 2015.

And while To’o made a basic mistake in the first half, the stocky winger has done enough throughout a stellar season to date to earn his maiden Origin call-up.

Martin also did his Blues chances no harm with a workmanlike effort in the backrow.

The Temora Terrier ran for 101 metres and made 32 tackles and looks like a genuine chance to secure a bench role for the Blues.

Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai was also uncharacteristically off his game in the first half before finding his feet.

Brian To'o continues to pound out the yards.

Luai’s halves combination with Nathan Cleary places him in a strong position for Origin selection despite a push for Canberra’s Jack Wighton to wear the Blues’ No.6.

Bulldogs-bound Penrith centre Matt Burton also impressed against his future club with a try and a special no-look over-the-head pass for a Stephen Crichton’s second half try, and wouldn’t look out of place on the Origin stage as a back or utility off the bench.

On a negative note, Panthers lock and Blues certainty Isaah Yeo faces a nervous wait after being placed on report for a high shot on Bulldogs back-rower Matt Doorey in the first half.

It appeared Yeo’s initial contact was with the chest before bouncing up to the chin, and given his clean judiciary record, it’s unlucky he would be charged.

Fittler will name his NSW Origin squad on Sunday night, with at least five Penrith players expected to be named to take on Queensland on June 9.

The Panthers have now won their last 15 games at BlueBet Stadium while they have joined the Manly Sea Eagles from 1995 with a 12th straight victory to start the season.

Penrith prop Moses Leota was sin-binned in the final minutes for a high shot on Canterbury halfback Jake Averillo.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Panthers eventually click into gear to bury Bulldogs in impressive show of force