Panthers pounce after dark Knight sent off
THE Panthers’ lethal left edge has them purring ahead of next week’s grand final rematch after Newcastle’s quest for a third straight win was derailed by a shocking moment of madness by Mitch Barnett.
The Bathurst locals were gearing up for a Saturday afternoon classic when Newcastle led late in the first half, but it became one-way traffic once Barnett was marched for a nasty elbow off the ball.
The 38-20 win has Penrith unbeaten heading into Friday’s blockbuster against the Bunnies, and it can thank its ridiculous assembly line for helping the side slay the Knights. You’d think losing a guy like Brian To’o would be too much given Penrith is also without Nathan Cleary, James FisherHarris and Liam Martin.
But what might be an excuse for one team is simply an opportunity for the Panthers.
In his second NRL game, Taylan May scored three tries as he and fellow young gun Izack Tago had a field day on the left edge.
May grabbed the first points of the afternoon when he pounced on a Jarome Luai grubber and then had his centre to thank when Tago put a lovely move on Dane Gagai and then toed it ahead for his winger to cross in the corner. Tago grabbed a second-half double of his own to continue his hot start to 2022 as Matt Burton’s replacement before the pair combined once more to complete May’s hat-trick at the death.
Barnett is the first player sent off in the NRL this season after a shocking elbow off the ball into the throat of Penrith’s Chris Smith.
Smith was a decoy as Penrith shifted to the right and was just standing in the line when Barnett raised an elbow and hit him high. Replays confirmed the ugly shot that will result in him being hit hard by the match review committee.