Edwards sends Origin reminder as Panthers belt Knights
Jasper Bruce |
Incumbent NSW fullback Dylan Edwards has sent a timely reminder of his State of Origin credentials by inspiring red-hot Penrith to a 44-12 thrashing of Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Less than 24 hours after nearest Origin challenger James Tedesco starred for the Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day, Edwards scored a first-half hat-trick on Sunday to ensure the premiership favourites remained ensconced atop the ladder.
The win puts paid to any concerns over Penrith’s past fortnight, when the Panthers fell to patchy Canterbury and then squeaked past the 12th-placed Dolphins.
But on Sunday, the Panthers recaptured their brutal best and dominated their hosts.
Tom Jenkins’ remarkable streak of try-scoring doubles ended at seven games, with Penrith’s left winger unable to find the chalk against his old club.
Edwards had no such problems against the Knights.
Newcastle did well to weather an early Penrith onslaught, but the levee broke after 12 and a half minutes, with Edwards skipping between Fletcher Hunt and Sandon Smith on the fifth tackle.
The error-prone Knights took 15 minutes to play the ball in the Panthers’ half, but in that first set Hunt spilt the ball and Edwards scooped it up.
The fullback ran 65 metres for his second try.
Edwards had his second NRL hat-trick inside 20 minutes of game time when a Moses Leota break put the Panthers in position for another attacking raid.
Again, it was the fullback on the end of offloads from Lindsay Smith and Isaah Yeo.Â
Marquee man Dylan Brown looked the likeliest to inspire a Knights comeback, sprinting 60 metres for a brilliant individual try.
But Edwards put the result beyond doubt, throwing a cut-out pass for Brian To’o to score the first of his two tries and give the visitors a four-score lead with 15 minutes to play.
For his part, star halfback Nathan Cleary continued his great season by nabbing a first-half try on the back of a 40-metre tear from Paul Alamoti.
Out-of-favour Izack Tago came on for some rare game time at right second row as the Panthers continue to account for Liam Martin’s absence through injury.
He snaffled a diabolical offload from Knights recruit Trey Mooney in the red zone to help the Panthers pass 40.
AAP