Moylan torments Panthers

MATT Moylan enjoyed the last laugh at Panthers Stadium while giving Cronulla’s top-four hopes a significant boost with a 24-12 win over his former club Penrith.

Once the golden child of Penrith’s young brigade of talent, Moylan was booed from the moment he entered the field to the full-time siren last night.

But it did little to hinder his performance as he scored his first try in Cronulla colours and then put Valentine Holmes away to seal the win with four minutes left.

After Penrith trailed 12-2 at halftime and hit back through Waqa Blake after the break, Moylan ran on to a Scott Sorensen inside ball for an 18-6 lead.

Penrith then hit back through Corey Harawira-Naera with 11 minutes to play, but Moylan ended any hopes of a home-team comeback when he dummied and sliced his way through from within his own half to put Holmes over for his second try.

Moylan finished the game with 105m and five tackle busts, enough to potentially force his old club out of the top four for the first time since Round 3, if the Sydney Roosters win well over the Gold Coast tomorrow.

The win also moves the Sharks level with Penrith on 24 points, but still behind on for-and-against as part of a six-team logjam between third and eighth separated by only one win. CRONULLA 24 (Holmes 2, Katoa, Moylan tries, Townsend 4 goals) d PENRITH 12 (Blake, Harawira-Naera tries, Luai 2 goals) at Panthers Stadium. Crowd: 11,742.