The Panthers are playing for the minor premiership and scored the first five tries but the Cowboy, who need to win to play finals, are coming back and it’s 26-12 after 55 minutes.
MATCH CENTRE: Scores, teams, highlights, stats
Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary is playing despite chatter he would be rested and it was Stephen Crichton who crossed out wide for the opener in the fifth minute.
Crichton then turned provider when he leapt for a chip and batted it back for Sunia Turuva to score in the 23rd minute.
Next it was Liam Martin who barged his way over thanks to a nice short ball from Jack Cogger in the 27th minute.
“They’re in a mood tonight, they’re in a real attacking mood,” Shane Flanagan said on Fox League.
It essentially became a training run for Penrith when Brian To’o crossed for another soft try in the 33rd minute.
“Penrith are putting on a clinic,” Dan Ginnane said.
In his second game of NRL, Luke Sommerton scored his first try when he ran hard and crashed over on the stroke of halftime.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten had some stern words with his men at halftime and they came out the better side in the second half.
Griffin Neame got the visitors on the board in the 44th minute before Zac Laybutt closed the gap further in the 49th minute.
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MATCH PREVIEW
The Penrith Panthers will have the chance to wrap up the minor premiership as they taken on the North Queensland Cowboys at BlueBet Stadium.
With the Brisbane Broncos losing to the Melbourne Storm on Thursday, the Panthers’ point differential will mean a win over the Cowboys will see them leapfrog the Broncos and take out top spot.
Although there is the risk of losing players to injury or the judiciary in pursuit of the minor premiership, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has named a strong side for his team’s final game of the season.
Izack Tago also makes his return from a lengthy lay-off with a leg injury, bumping Tyrone Peachey to the bench and Soni Luke out of the 17.
As for the Cowboys, a win over the Panthers would secure finals football for another season.
Todd Payten’s side are in 10th place on 30 points but have a points differential of +36.
If the Cowboys can secure the two points, they would go ahead of the Sydney Roosters who are in 7th on 32 points but have a points differential of -24.
TEAMS
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 19. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cogger 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. James Fisher-Harris 17. Zac Hosking 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 3. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 21. Luke Garner 18. Jaeman Salmon 22. Matt Eisenhuth
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Heilum Luki 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Coen Hess 16. Griffin Neame 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 19. Robert Derby
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