Panthers defeat Bulldogs 8-6 in all-time classic after Nathan Cleary charge down try
A game for the ages. Penrith claimed a two-point victory over the Bulldogs thanks to a rare Nathan Cleary charge down try, but the result could have been different had it not been for a potentially costly late call from the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have done a brilliant job of impersonating the Panthers this season, but they found out the hard way that there’s no one quite like Nathan Cleary as the champion halfback overcame a groin issue to lead his side to victory.
The four-time defending premiers were in last spot at the end of round 12 but have now won four on the trot to move inside the top eight thanks to a gripping 8-6 win over the ladder leaders in the game of the year so far.
It may have been ice cold on Thursday night but it felt like a heavyweight finals bout between two teams that will be there at the business end when the season heats up.
There were bruising shots in defence, an incredible try-saver from Connor Tracey and non-stop action between two of the fittest teams in the competition who love to keep the ball in play.
But in the end it was a Cleary charge down that sealed the deal as he knocked down a Matt Burton kick and coolly collected the bouncing Steeden to give his side the lead with 27 minutes to go.
NSW coach Laurie Daley would have breathed a huge sigh of relief as Cleary got through the game unscathed, but the fact he didn’t kick goals suggests he’s not quite fully fit.
The champion halfback battled through a groin issue in Origin II but was never in doubt for Thursday’s heavyweight bout, with Cleary doing the majority of kicking but not running as often as he normally does.
A Nathan Cleary masterclass! 🔥
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Dylan Edwards nailed a penalty and a conversion but then missed a simple penalty goal in the dying minutes which opened the door for the Bulldogs to steal the win, only for the blue and whites to turn down a sideline attempt from 30 metres out.
Matt Burton knocked the ball on a few plays later, with a Stephen Crichton pass going into touch as the siren sounded to end the best game of 2025.
HARSH LESSONS
They’re coached by a former Panthers assistant and some of their best players won comps with Penrith, but the Bulldogs found out they’re not quite there yet as they try to replicate what the mountain men have achieved lately.
They were dogged in defence as they have been all year, but you have to be perfect if you want to beat the best.
Their execution was slightly off in key moments, while Ciraldo’s reluctance for Burton to unleash the bomb was justified after the chasers were penalised for being offside.
PLAN LG
Ciraldo said on Wednesday that he had a plan A, plan B and plan C for how to use Lachlan Galvin, but he had to come up with something new just one minute into the contest when front-rower Daniel Suluka-Fifita was forced off.
The starting prop was ruled out by the independent head doctor after a heavy collision from the opening kick-off which threw their interchange plans into disarray.
Galvin came on 12 minutes into the second half for Reed Mahoney, with Toby Sexton shifting to dummy-half just as we saw when the Bulldogs beat the Eels.
The mid-season recruit gave away a penalty and struggled to make an impact after Sexton and Mahoney had earlier combined to set up Jacob Preston for the game’s first try on the back of some lovely short passes through the middle.
TO’O TROUBLE
Brian To’o got through plenty of work but there have to be concerns after he required strapping to his left knee in the first half and battled for the rest of the night.
To’o overcame a hamstring injury to score a hat-trick for the Blues last week but never looked comfortable on Thursday in a worrying sign ahead of game three on July 9.
Originally published as Panthers defeat Bulldogs 8-6 in all-time classic after Nathan Cleary charge down try
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