​Panthers dominate Rabbitohs to keep finals hopes alive

Producing their best performance of 2015, Penrith have defeated South Sydney 20-6 in front of 14,068 fans at Pepper Stadium.

After a dominant victory over Wests Tigers last Sunday, the Panthers returned home with the short turn-around against the Rabbitohs, minus superstar Greg Inglis on Origin duty.

With a tough draw ahead of them, the Panthers needed to ensure they delivered a quality performance and wasted little time asserting themselves over the more fancied South Sydney forwards.

Once again the go-forward provided by young tear-away Reagan Campbell-Gillard was instrumental in laying the platform for the Panthers, who opened the scoring in the 9th minute.

With Joel Reddy isolated out wide, Jamie Soward took advantage of the Rabbitohs winger by kicking for Waqa Blake who used his size to get over the top of Reddy. Following a bat down, fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak burrowed under to open the scoring for the home side.

In the 23rd minute, the Panthers produced a contender for try of the year after Dean Whare finished off a superb effort instigated by Man of the Match Bryce Cartwright. Running the ball on the last, Cartwight delivered a wonderful flick pass before linking with his halves who sent the Kiwi centre over to give Penrith an 8-0 lead.

Following on from the half time break, the Panthers continually threatened the Rabbitohs but were unable to capitalise upon their wealth of possession.

In the 51st minute captain Peter Wallace followed through on a Jamie Soward grubber to touch down short of the dead ball line to take the score out to 14-0.

Ten minutes last Waqa Blake wrapped up the game by staying inside the field of play to touch down in the left hand corner. With Apisai Koroisau unable to convert, the Panthers took an 18-0 lead into the final 20 minutes.

South Sydney showed glimpses of attack throughout the game but lacked fluency at crucial stages, before Adam Reynolds managed to deliver a well-placed chip kick in-goal for Joel Reddy to touch down eight minutes from the end.

Ultimately the Panthers ran out deserving winners courtesy of a late penalty goal, giving the home side a well-deserved 20-6 victory, momentarily lifting them into the top eight.

For the Panthers, a strong platform laid by their forwards established the win, while Bryce Cartwright excelled in attack.

South Sydney may have more worries other than the scoreboard, with John Sutton (bicep), David Tyrell (cheekbone) and Ben Lowe (concussion) all leaving the field.

Next week the Panthers take on the Roosters at Pepper Stadium on Saturday night, while the Rabbitohs have the bye.

Match Details

Penrith Panthers 20 South Sydney Rabbitohs 6
Venue: Pepper Stadium
Crowd: 14068
Halftime Score: Penrith Panthers 8 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0

PENRITH PANTHERS (20)
Tries: Dallin Watene Zelezniak, Peter Wallace, Dean Whare, Waqa Blake
Conversions: Peter Wallace (0/1), Jamie Soward (0/1), Apisai Koroisau (1/2)
Penalty Goals: Apisai Koroisau (1/1)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (6)
Tries: Joel Reddy
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Bryce Cartwright
2 points - Peter Wallace
1 point - Regan Campbell-Gillard

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Round 17 Friday Night Football between Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs at Pepper Stadium.

For the Panthers, Josh Mansour is out with knee soreness - in a reshuffle Waqa Blake moves to the wing, Isaah Yeo to centre and Sika Manu starts in the second row.

For the Rabbitohs, David Tyrell replaces Tim Grant, allowing Jason Clark to come onto the bench.

Both sides coming onto the field.

Burgess takes the first run of the night.

1: Wallace kicks straight to Alex Johnston, Rabbitohs inside their own half.

2: Simmons tackled after catching a Luke Keary bomb on his own line.

3: Soward finds touch just over halfway - seemed like a strange kick early on.

5: Bizarre piece of play - Bryce Cartwright appeared to race away, linking with David Simmons who dropped the ball before the Rabbitohs knocked on as well!

5: Alex Johnston instigates a nice attacking raid that sees Aaron Gray pulled down 10 metres out.

6: Goodwin tackled by Peter Wallace and Bryce Cartwright short of the line. The Bunnies centre looked certain to score, but great Penrith defence.

7: Penrith awarded a penalty coming out of their own end, but Jamie Soward may be in trouble with a hamstring injury, however he is staying on the field.

8: Great work from the Panthers - nice grubber kick traps Alex Johnston in-goal. Line drop out.

9: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is claiming a try!. Great work from Soward kicking for the isolated Joel Reddy, allowing Waqa Blake to leap, finding Sika Manu who may have knocked on.

9: We're onto our 10th replay - just award the try!

9: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dallin Watene Zelezniak. Kick to come.
Finally, the Panthers open the scoring.

9: Nice work from the Panthers to isolate Reddy.

10: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Peter Wallace unsuccessful.
With Soward suffering an injured glut, Wallace is unable to add the extras.

12: Panthers over halfway and appear to be playing with spark.

12: Penrith penalty 25 out. Good chance to score again.

14: DWZ made it look easy as he crossed, but the try has been called back for an obstruction against Peter Wallace running behind Sika Manu.

15: Waqa Blake makes a tremendous run coming out of his own end.

15: High tackle against Glenn Stewart on Sika Manu.

17: Penrith make an absolute meal of an attacking raid! 10 metres out they give up possession.

18: Dylan Walker finds a bit of space but is tackled 35 out.

18: Great take from Watene-Zelezniak.

20: Penrith have been dominant so far, the Rabbitohs haven't had any real attacking chances though.

21: Soward delivers a great cut out pass that Waqa Blake can't clean up. He knocks on, and once again the Panthers blow an attacking chance.

22: Aaron Gray met in a heavy tackle by three Panthers.

22: Tom Burgess makes a 50 metre run before DWZ takes him around the legs.

22: Koroisau is able to clean up for the Panthers close to the line.

23: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dean Whare. Kick to come.
You've just seen one of the tries of the year!

24: On the last tackle, Peter Wallace passes to Bryce Cartwright who runs up the middle, flick passes to Soward who links with Dean Whare who dashes down the ground to score.

25: Ben Lowe going up the tunnel.

25: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Soward pushes the kick right. 8-0.

26: Jeremy Latimore takes his first run of the game.

27: Watene-Zelezniak knocks on 30 metres out. Chance for Souths.

28: Keary grubbers in-goal, Aaron Gray chases and is able to trap David Simmons. Line drop out.

30: Sutton held up over the line. Great work from Peter Wallace holding up his opposite captain.

31: Cartwright finally puts a kick in on the last after the Panthers elected to run of the last.

33: Souths put in a woeful last tackle kick.

33: The difference between the two sides has been the kicking game - Soward and Wallace have controlled the game, Reynolds hasn't made an impact at all.

34: Souths get a penalty and find touch 40 out.

34: Isaah Yeo gives away a penalty. Souths tap and run.

36: Tremendous Panthers defence! Bryson Goodwin leapt high and looked to score but four Panthers did superbly well to hold him up.

36: Soward kicks inside the 40 metre line, but the kick doesn't have the angle.

38: Wallace finds the line to give the Panthers a rest. The home side have been dominant but an 8-0 lead probably isn't reflective of the way they've played.

39: Johnston makes a huge run, but is penalised after passing when tackled.

40: Great first half from the Panthers. They deserve the lead, but against the Rabbitohs they'll need to keep scoring if they're to get the two points.

40: Bryce Cartwright has been a standout so far, running for 121 metres and being a colossus in attack.

40: Luke Keary has shown moments of class, but overall the Rabbitohs have struggled.

40: Souths have actually dominated possession stats, but haven't been able to breach the Panthers line.

40: Both sides back on the field, play about to get back underway.

40: Cartwright gets a penalty on only the 2nd tackle.

42: Wallace bombs, Aaron Gray catches, but Bryson Goodwin is penalised for impeding David Simmons.

43: Soward goes for the line but is tackled short.

43: Goodwin bats the ball dead, resulting in a line drop out.

45: Soward bombs, but every Souths fans favourite player Joel Reddy makes a nice catch.

46: Rabbitohs penalty.

48: Tom Burgess makes a horrific play the ball that results in a turnover on tackle one on halfway.

49: 6 again for the Panthers.

50: Brown goed from dummy half but is taken centimetres out.

51: Peter Wallace is claiming a try. Soward grubbered in-goal, but the grounding may be an issue.

51: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Peter Wallace. Kick to come.
Two tries in two weeks! Wallace is a try-scoring specialist.

51: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Apisai Koroisau successful.
The third kicker of the night adds the extras.

52: It looks like a long road ahead for the Rabbitohs, if the Panthers score again I'll declare them winners.

56: Koroisau loses the ball in a messy offload. Souths with a good opportunity.

56: Walker tackled short of the line.

57: Take a bow David Simmons. The winger saves a certain try and puts the Panthers on the attack, that is as good as the try Whare scored in the first half.

58: With a 3-1 advantage, Simmons was able to intercept Johnston's pass. Beautiful rugby league.

59: Souths penalty.

60: With 20 to go Souths can win this game, but up to the point their attack and the Panthers defence look unlikely to change the status quo.

60: Big break from Peachey gets the Panthers inside the Rabbitohs half.

61: Waqa Blake is over in the corner, but we'll check with the video ref.

61: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Waqa Blake. Kick to come.
Blake scores. Barring a miracle the Panthers will win. Souths haven't been in this match.

61: After the display the Rabbitohs dished up against the Tigers you wouldn't think they could play as bad as they are tonight.

62: Credit to the Panthers, they were good last week, but tonight they've been nothing short of outstanding.

63: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Apisai Koroisau unsuccessful.
It looked likely, but ultimately it misses. 18-0.

63: David Tyrell is down injured

64: Tyrell's cheekbone came into contact with Nigel Plum's head.

64: It appeared similar to the James Graham / Sam Burgess tackle in last years GF.

64: David Tyrell being carried off on the stretcher. Tom Burgess to replace him.

64: Play restarts with Latimore making a run.

65: Soward beats Reddy to a chip kick. It's all Penrith tonight.

66: Reagan Campbell-Gillard back on for the Panthers replacing Nigel Plum.

67: Soward chips for Waqa Blake, but Joel Reddy knocks it dead first.

68: The Panthers were setting up for a field-goal, but Soward knocks on.

69: Grevsmuhl goes close for Souths.

70: On the last tackle, George Burgess runs from dummy half. It's not the Rabbitohs night.

71: Souths penalty.

71: Another penalty.

71: Koroisau knocks on. Souths get another scrum 10 metres out.

72: It hasn't been discussed tonight, but Greg Inglis is clearly missed for the Rabbitohs.

72: Grevsmuhl may have scored. The referee has indicated a try, but wants to check.

72: It looks as though Grevsmuhl is short of the line.

72: No Try.

72: Peter Wallace with another great tackle on the line.

72: Reddy may have scored. Reynolds chipped, the ball appeared to beat the winger, but on replay it appears as though Reddy has scored.

72: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Joel Reddy. Kick to come.
Finally the Rabbitohs are on the board.

72: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
It's not over yet. But it should be.

74: Penrith moving into position for a field goal.

74: Penalty to Koroisau against George Burgess.

75: The Panthers will kick the penalty and secure the result.

76: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL PENRITH PANTHERS
Penalty goal attempt by Apisai Koroisau successful.
From right in front, Koroisau seals the win. 20-6.

76: Penrith get a penalty for a strip.

78: Cartwright puts in a great kick for Watene-Zelezniak, the Rabbitohs are able to clean up, but it goes to show how dominant the Panthers have been.

79: Penrith shut off a Souths attacking bust.

79: Whare collects Goodwin in a solid tackle, but the pass was forward anyway.

80: It's been a cold, cold night at the foot of the mountains; but it matters little for Panthers fans, they've got home 20-6.

80: Big news coming out of South Sydney: John Sutton may have torn his bicep. Depending on the results of scans, he may be out for the season.