GIO Stadium: Well, this suddenly makes things interesting.
Penrith are a chance of dropping to as low as fourth on the ladder by the end of the round after Canberra stunned the premiers 22-18 on Saturday afternoon. The Green Machine kept their own slim finals hopes alive.
Penrith looked in cruise control until Xavier Savage scored a 90m intercept try with seven minutes remaining. Matt Timoko snatched a Jarome Luai pass out of the air, sprinted 50m, then offloaded to his winger to do the rest.
Only nine days ago, Penrith were a chance of leapfrogging Melbourne at the top of the ladder.
Should the Roosters and Sharks win on Sunday, the Panthers will be in fourth.
The all-important chance to host a qualifying final could be swapped for a one-versus-fourth daunting trip to Melbourne.
Coach Ivan Cleary was aware of the ramifications, but also confident in his playing group.
Canberra’s Albert Hopoate celabrates a try against the Panthers.Credit: Getty Images
“I’m honestly not too worried about that,” Cleary said.
“We’ve had years in the past where this time of year we’ve been kicking around waiting for the finals to start.
“It definitely won’t be like that this year. What’s important is we hit the finals playing well. At the moment, we’re not playing well enough.”
Co-captain Isaah Yeo also said they were prepared to win a potential fourth title the hard way.
“As a group we’ve discussed that, but the belief couldn’t be any higher,” Yeo said.
Canberra’s Josh Papalii and Kaeo Weekes combine to pull down Penrith forward Liam Martin.Credit: Getty Images
“Obviously off the back of that you want to make sure you perform well and perform at the right end of the season.
“We’ll be chasing that the next fortnight. I don’t care where we finish or how it looks on the ladder. I have total belief in this group.”
Penrith’s superstar halfback Nathan Cleary injured his shoulder last week and will not return until week one of the finals. He sat on the sidelines at a blustery GIO Stadium and watched Luai do a mostly solid job directing the team, and back-up half Brad Schneider belted with almost every carry by his former Canberra teammates.
Cleary said the new-look spine, which also featured Luke Sommerton replacing Mitch Kenny (concussion) at hooker, did not connect as well as it could have.
There were no excuses for the defeat – but the premiers have too many champions to be written off this late in the season.
The loss, however, has tipped the title race on its head.
Canberra showed plenty of spirit, and the 17,523 crowd could not have hoped for a better way to celebrate the departing Englishman Elliott Whitehead in his final game in the nation’s capital.
The Raiders had a strong breeze behind their backs early, with Jamal Fogarty’s right boot causing a few problemsfor Penrith.
New father Isaah Yeo charges into the Raiders defence.Credit: Getty Images
Eleven first-half penalties made it difficult for either side to get into a rhythm.
“The first half was very stop-start, and it was probably what they [Canberra] wanted, but not what we wanted,” Ivan Cleary said. “The second half we got the game we wanted, we just didn’t do enough with it.
“Sometimes when that happens, it can open the door [for your opposition]. Canberra plugged away really well. In the end you can’t begrudge them the win.”
Canberra’s back five were excellent, with Albert Hopoate also bagging a long-range try.
There was a nice moment when new dads James Fisher-Harris and Yeo – the senior Panthers each welcomed their third babies during the week – combined to score early in the second half.
But Canberra refused to go away, scoring through Hopoate, then Savage.
The Raiders now face the Roosters and Dragons away, while the Panthers host South Sydney and the Titans.
Canberra will be sweating on the Dolphins and Broncos to slip up, and the Dragons to lose their next two games.
Storm sink Dolphins to secure Giltinan Shield
Melbourne have clinched the minor premiership with two rounds to play, taking an insurmountable lead with their 48-6 thrashing of the Dolphins on Saturday night.
The Storm moved to 42 points on the ladder, six points clear of Penrith, who were their closest challengers for the J.J Giltinan Shield.
Melbourne still have games against North Queensland and Brisbane but are set to rest players as they look to launch into the finals and try to end Penrith’s three-year title domination. The Storm’s last premiership came in 2020.
Josh King (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring a try.Credit: Getty Images
The Dolphins stuck with Melbourne until the 19th minute, when youngster Sua Faalogo opened the scoring when he crossed for the first of his two tries.
But the wheels start wobbling for the visitors a minute later when they lost both star playmaker Kodi Nikorima and veteran prop Jesse Bromwich to head knocks.
Ponga brilliance helps keep Knights in finals hunt
A moment of Kalyn Ponga brilliance has helped Newcastle keep their top-eight hopes alive, as the Knights outgunned South Sydney 36-16 at Accor Stadium.
Needing a win to stay in top-eight contention, Ponga provided the highlight of the match on Saturday night to keep his team in 11th spot.
Kalyn Ponga makes a break against the Rabbitohs on Saturday night.Credit: Getty Images
Newcastle will need results to go in their favour over the next fortnight to reach the finals, as well as wins of their own against the Dolphins and Gold Coast.
They also need Ponga firing. Last year’s Dally M Medallist and a man on a hot streak this time 12 months ago, Ponga has lacked the same impact in 2024.
But there were flashes of it on Saturday night. After Newcastle led 20-12 at the break, Souths began to claw back into the match with the territorial advantage shortly after the resumption.
Then the Knights fullback provided the most influential moment of the match.
Ponga first took a kick on his own line and stepped a number of Souths defenders to sprint 40 metres and put Newcastle on the front foot. Later in the set he got involved again, dummying and stepping his way through the Rabbitohs line and sending Jack Cogger in under the posts.
with AAP
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