Penrith machine malfunctions without keg cog Cleary
George Clarke |
Penrith have faced down all comers through their dynasty but they have never had to win an NRL finals game without Nathan Cleary.
And in the end, that mountain proved too steep to climb as the Panthers fell to a 22-14 preliminary final loss against Newcastle at Accor Stadium.
The Knights will play the Sydney Roosters next Sunday but hooker Phoenix Crossland will be watching from the sidelines after he produced a hip-drop tackle on Cleary that left the superstar halfback a compound ankle fracture and dislocation in his left foot in the 35th minute.
Penrith have nursed players through injury – lock Isaah Yeo has battled a ruptured pec through the back half of the year – but they have never had to contend with so much unravelling in one game.
The Panthers had hoped to get Cleary through Sunday’s game unscathed after coach Ivan Cleary started his 28-year-old son on the bench.
Cleary had been battling a stress issue in his foot that he picked up in the dying stages of their week-one finals win over the Roosters.
Penrith kept the severity of his injury a closely-guarded secret.
Cleary ran on midway through the first half before leaving on a medicab with a green whistle in hand 10 minutes later as Crossland was given his marching orders by referee Gerard Sutton.
Penrith pushed ahead to lead 14-6 at halftime but with Cleary off – and even with a one-man advantage – they failed to score a point after the break.
As he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his contract, Cleary underlined his importance to the Panthers machine which malfunctioned without him.
As Newcastle battled and pushed on, the Panthers made seven second-half errors.
Winger Tom Jenkins kicked the ball away on the first tackle and made mistakes coming out of his own end.
When Newcastle hit the lead through Sandon Smith in the 60th minute, the Panthers all had their backs turned as the Knights halfback took a quick tap and surged away to score.
Penrith players complained about Smith’s try, which came after a high shot penalty, and their frustrations came to the fore.
Jack Cogger dropped a ball cold and Luke Garner chucked a pass into touch after being sent on at centre for Blaize Talagi, who suffered a suspected achilles rupture.
Then as the Panthers pushed for a winner in the final minute, Liam Martin threw a ball infield.
Smith was on hand to intercept, the halfback racing the length to score and send the Knights into the grand final.
AAP