Reynolds the hero as 'rattled' Panthers humbled

1 year ago 60

Brisbane maestro Adam Reynolds was the difference arsenic the Broncos pipped the Panthers 13-12 connected Friday night, humbling the heavyweights pursuing 3 NRL titles connected the bounce.

The Broncos were intelligibly the amended broadside astatine a soaked Penrith Stadium, but recovered themselves clinging to a one-point pb aft Panthers young weapon Soni Luke burrowed implicit from dummy-half with 3 minutes remaining.

The lone play that separated the sides erstwhile the full-time whistle blew was a cool-as-ever Reynolds tract extremity successful the 71st minute.

AS IT HAPPENED: Broncos borderline Panthers successful boilover

Like he'd thrown backmost to his kicking signifier astatine Redfern Oval arsenic a kid, Reynolds potted implicit the shot from astir 18 metres retired without a hint of emotion, turned and shuffled backmost to Brisbane's fractional of the field.

The tract goal, chalked up erstwhile the Broncos led the Panthers 12-6, got Brisbane implicit the enactment for its archetypal triumph successful Penrith since 2009.

One of Herbie Farnworth's first-half tries will instrumentality immoderate beating for NRL effort of the year, the Dolphins-bound weapon outrunning Brian To'o to works an Ezra Mam footwear astatine afloat stretch.

But the Panthers, striving to go the archetypal nine to triumph 3 consecutive premierships successful the NRL era, were not their calm, clinical, cohesive selves.

As the Panthers trailed 12-6 with astir 10 minutes remaining, Jarome Luai received the footy connected the near edge, skipped and threw a walk that went to nary one, sidesplitting a threatening backline determination successful an instant. It summed up the juggernaut's sour night.

Paul Gallen forecast connected Nine's post-match amusement that the Panthers would marque the apical 4 this year, but argued Ivan Cleary's broadside was not the unit it utilized to be.

"I'm a Panthers instrumentality I'm not panicking astatine all. I've inactive got nary uncertainty they'll beryllium (in the) apical 4 (at) the backmost extremity of the season," Gallen said.

"They had a immense practice astatine the World Cup, they astir apt didn't travel backmost to grooming until mid-January, truthful they've had astir apt a full batch less clip than different teams to hole for the season.

"I deliberation a squad similar the Broncos person had a truly big, agelong off-season and deed the crushed running.

"If I'm a Panthers instrumentality I'm not acrophobic astatine all; they'll beryllium successful the apical 4 astatine the backmost extremity of the year.

"But I inactive deliberation they've travel backmost to the pack. I've got to beryllium honest: I inactive deliberation they've travel back. I don't deliberation they'll beryllium arsenic ascendant arsenic past twelvemonth — I truly don't.

"Taking 3 oregon 4 players retired of immoderate broadside successful the competition, they're going to travel backmost to the pack."

Broncos' stunning effort of the twelvemonth contender

The Panthers mislaid Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers) and Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs) to rival clubs pursuing past year's expansive final, and are without Taylan May for the full play aft helium suffered a genu wounded successful the pre-season challenge.

Gallen saw similarities betwixt the Broncos and St Helens, who stunned the Panthers 13-12 successful Penrith past Saturday night.

"Watching the World Club Challenge, I thought that St Helens got close up successful the Panthers' face, and I thought the Broncos took a leafage retired of that tonight: coming retired of the line, targeting their playmakers, not allowing them immoderate clip astatine each to play the ball," Gallen said.

"I thought they worked, and look, it's astir clip idiosyncratic worked retired however to support the Panthers."

Phil Gould said connected Nine's sum during the 2nd fractional that Penrith looked "rattled".

The Panthers volition unfastened circular 2 successful a clash with the Rabbitohs in Penrith adjacent Thursday night, portion the Broncos are acceptable to conscionable the Cowboys successful Brisbane adjacent Friday evening.

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