NRL 2022, round 4: Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney, Nathan Cleary shines on return

Latrell Mitchell may not have been able to get the victory in Penrith - but he won over a fan with an impressive gesture after the match.

He might’ve failed to sink the boot into Penrith, but Latrell Mitchell was at least classy enough to give his away to a fan who was struck by a ball.

The grand final re-match between South Sydney and Penrith was all but over when Mitchell defused a grubber by booting it into the crowd, only to accidentally hit an elderly woman.

The Rabbitohs star immediately went to check on her welfare, stopping play for a few minutes before the contest finished with the Panthers prevailing 26-12 to remain unbeaten after four rounds.

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Latrell Mitchell gives a hug to the supporter who was hit in the face be a wayward kick. Picture: Getty

The NSW State of Origin and Kangaroos star then returned to the north-west corner of BlueBet Stadium after the match and gave his boots to the supporter, who appeared to have recovered.

“That looked like a nice moment, having a little chat with that fan,” a Fox Sports commentator said during the game.

Mitchell copped plenty of criticism for an ugly hit on former Sydney Roosters teammate Joseph Manu late last season, which resulted in Manu suffering several facial fractures.

Mitchell also handed his boots to the fan. Picture: Getty

Mitchell was suspended for six games, including the Rabbitohs’ heartbreaking grand final defeat to the Panthers last October.

However he was unable to reverse the result on Friday night, despite laying on three tries and busting four tackles in a loss that leaves them outside the top eight.

PANTHERS’ NEW WEAPONS STRIKE ANOTHER BIG BLOW

By Adam Lucius

There were signs of rust and he wasn’t perfect, but Nathan Cleary is back in a big way as Penrith inflicted further pain on South Sydney with a 26-12 win in the grand final rematch at Bluebet Stadium on Friday night.

Cleary, playing his first game since guiding the Panthers to the 2021 premiership, shanked his first three conversions in the blustery conditions and missed his assignment at times, but the class and composure shone through when needed.

With Cleary and partner-in-crime Jarome Luai kick-starting the deadliest halves combination in the game, the Panthers made it 19 straight wins at home.

The premiers remain the only undefeated team four rounds into the season.

Cleary, last year’s Clive Churchill Medal winner, got better the longer the game went in the perfect test for his reconstructed shoulder.

Panthers skipper Nathan Cleary was solid on his return from injury. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

It wasn’t his most polished performance but it’s scary to think where his game will be after he gets a few more miles in the legs.

The Rabbitohs headed west hoping to exact some sort of revenge for last year but their start to the game was the stuff of nightmares.

Front-rower Mark Nicholls literally crawled out of the game after just one minute, suffering an ankle injury as he dragged himself to the sideline.

Tries to Izack Tago and Stephen Crichton just compounded the agony as the red-hot Panthers

jumped out to an 8-0 lead.

The Bunnies looked stuck in the headlights as the onslaught rolled on but hit back in one of their first visits to Penrith’s end.

Long-striding centre Campbell Graham sliced through some poor defence on 16 minutes to open business.

Penrith scored the next two tries to halt the momentum – the second an eight-point try after

Lachlan Ilias was ruled to have contacted Taylan May with his knees as the Penrith winger touched down in the corner – but Souths came again.

Izack Tago is forming a lethal left-edge combination with Taylan May at the Panthers. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Cody Walker, looking to bury the memory of the intercept pass that gifted the Panthers their grand final win, gave his side a lifeline with a try on the hour to bridge the gap to eight points.

But it was as close as the Rabbitohs would get, Penrith going into over-drive to give the capacity crowd what they came for.

ILIAS ALMOST GETS CLEARY’S NUMBER

They all came to see the No.7 in black – but it was the bloke in the same number but different colours who almost stole the show.

Lachlan IIias is only five games into his NRL career but lost little in comparison to the game’s premier halfback.

Cleary finished on top but Ilias pushed him and the Panthers the whole way, producing an astute clever kicking game mixed with some clever ballwork to keep the defence guessing.

Ilias’ defence for a little bloke is tough and reliable.

His seamless entry into the big time has helped ease some of the torment Souths fan still feel over Adam Reynolds’ exit.

And the best part? The journey is only just beginning.

Ilias did end the game on report – and cost his side an eight-point try - after making contact with May early in the second half.

Latrell Mitchell charges into to Jarome Luai and Scott Sorensen. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

GETTING HIS KIKS

There were plenty of potholes outside BlueBet Stadium thanks to the recent rain – and Viliame Kikau left a few more holes behind inside.

The big man with the skunk-like hairstyle tormented South Sydney’s right-side defence all night, trampling over the top of defenders and setting up the men outside him.

Reg Gasnier would have been happy to own the pass Kikau produced to send May over 10 minutes into the second half.

Originally published as NRL 2022, round 4: Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney, Nathan Cleary shines on return