Finals hopes already all over
STICK a fork in Penrith, they’re done.
The Panthers’ disastrous season is all but over in May after producing another limp display in their 30-10 defeat to the Warriors.
Their sixth straight loss leaves the embattled club in their worst stretch of form since dropping nine in a row between 2001-02.
No NRL side has made the finals after opening the season 2-8. It was a comprehensive display from a Warriors side that was dangerous for most of last night behind a reborn Kodi Nikorima and Issac Luke.
The win leaves Stephen Kearney’s men within sight of the top eight.
They took full advantage as a confidence-sapped Panthers outfit, who already led the league in missed tackles, dropped off 44 more at home.
James Maloney and Viliame Kikau were the biggest culprits with seven and eight respectively in a side where every player missed at least one. Penrith weren’t much better with the ball either, with the league’s worst attack bombing a two-on-none opportunity midway through the first half.
At one stage, Dylan Edwards and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak collided fielding a routine bomb that could’ve resulted in serious injury.
Star halfback Nathan Cleary also failed to spark an attack that couldn’t cross the stripe until the 71st minute.
If he and Maloney hadn’t lost their NSW State of Origin jumpers before this weekend, then the Panthers’ latest flop may have been the final nail in the coffin.
The inept performance even prompted some boos from the 10,084 at Panthers Stadium at full-time.
The signs were ominous from the kick-off, when the home side failed to score despite having six straight sets on the Warriors line.
And when the visitors finally had the ball, Issac Luke strolled over from close range and then Patrick Herbert doubled the lead not long after.
Back-to-back penalty goals either side of halftime kept Penrith at arm’s distance before Nikorima put the result beyond doubt with an individual try.
Liam Martin and Kikau picked up consolation points, while Agnatius Paasi also barged his way over from close range late.