Mixed emotions in epic finals stoush
NOW that was a classic. Cronulla live. Penrith go. But don’t let anyone tell you the young Panthers went bowing out of the 2018 NRL finals race without one hell of a fight.
In one of the most thrilling and heart-stopping matches of the season, a field goal to Chad Townsend set up a showdown with reigning premiers Melbourne next Friday night as the Sharks held on for a gutsy gritty 21-20 victory.
If there is one team who don’t mind playing the Storm in Melbourne it is the Sharks.
And after their gritty and gutsy performance last night they will head south backing their chances as they fight off for a spot in the grand final
It finished up last night with three tries apiece but Cronulla scored all theirs in the opening 40 minutes and Penrith dominated the second half.
The poor Panthers looked absolutely gutted as they collapsed to the ground at fulltime with their season finished.
But they deserved plenty of credit for the wonderful second half fightback that brought the crowd of 19,211 at Allianz Stadium to life.
Nathan Cleary had an opportunity to level the scores when he had a clear shot at a field goal with four minutes left on the clock.
But unfortunately for Penrith fans the young halfback this time failed to hit the mark.
Cleary had a fine game while his halves partner James Maloney had a night to forget.
The match up between Maloney and Matty Moylan was all the talk in the build up but it was the Sharks’ fiveeighth who emerged a clear winner in their showdown.
The Panthers looked absolutely gone when they went to the break trailing 18-2.
But they really picked up their energy in the second half and gave themselves a hope when Cleary put on a superb chase to claim a clever Tyrone Peachey kick.
Valentine Holmes looked to have the ball covered but the Sharks No.1 played it too cool waiting for the ball to go dead and Cleary made him pay.
Holmes landed another penalty conversion to push the lead back out to two converted tries heading into the final quarter of the match.
But to their credit the Panthers continued to throw every ounce of energy they had left at the Sharks and when Isaah Yeo crashed over it was 20-14 with 14 minutes remaining.
That’s when big Viliame Kikau produced one of the best barnstorming charges you’ll ever see in a finals match.
Running off a ball from Maloney, he busted through the line and with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak unmarked inside Kikau took on Holmes, pushing past before offloading to Waqa Blake to score.
Cleary’s kick levelled the scores heading into the final 10 minutes before Townsend’s field goal sealed the win.