Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:42pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:42pm

34′ Poor play from Lachlan Galvin

The Bulldogs are surging on the fourth tackle with all the momentum as they go to the left. Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau and the rest of that side of the field are all deep expecting the shift.

But Galvin kicks! There’s oodles of space but none of his teammates are awake to it, and don’t respond in time.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:37pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:37pm

31′ What a play by Tom Jenkins

Stephen Crichton tries for the 40/20 and just about nails it, but Tom Jenkins does brilliantly to bat it back into play AND regather AND get some momentum into his first run.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:30pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:30pm

24′ Penrith misses out

The Panthers think they’ve scored through Tom Jenkins as he comes away with the ball after an aerial contest with Jacob Kiraz.

But referee Gerard Sutton says Kiraz caught it cleanly in the in-goal and Jenkins stripped it out.

The bunker upholds the on-field ruling, but it was a really tight call. I’m not certain Kiraz took it cleanly, but that’s a tough one for the bunker to overturn.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:23pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:23pm

20′ More of the same from the Panthers

I don’t know if Panthers hunt in packs, but these ones do.

Yet again the Bulldogs are contacted within 10 metres of the sideline, this time Tom Jenkins haranguing Jacob Kiraz, so he holds him up and waits for reinforcements.

Liam Martin and Moses Leota arrive and Kiraz is carried into touch.

No-one does it better than the Panthers.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:21pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:21pm

18′ Connor Tracey under assault

The relatively diminutive fullback is being peppered by high balls with Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin and now Casey McLean on his hammer, but he’s acing every test at the moment and now he’s hit high by Lindsay Smith to earn his team a penalty.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:15pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:15pm

13′ Crichton hands Penrith another look

After his poor kick, Stephen Crichton’s night goes from bad to worse as he he knocks on cold just outside his 10m line and cops a spray from former teammate Liam Martin.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:14pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:14pm

11′ Jacob Kiraz looks shot to bits

The Bulldogs try to kick high to Jacob Kiraz’s wing but he just can barely move, as has been the case all season.

Connor Tracey gets through to contest, but he’s run off the ball by Isaiah Papali’i.

The Dogs get a fresh set right on the tryline, but Stephen Crichton’s grubber is way too heavy.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:08pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:08pm

6′ Trademark Penrith defence

Viliame Kikau throws a brilliant ball to unleash Enari Tuala down the left, but he’s corralled and despite trying to stop, prop and get to ground, he’s dragged 10 metres into touch by Nathan Cleary, Brain To’o and Izack Tago with a little help from Liam Martin.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:07pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:07pm

5′ Cleary still peppering the sidelines

Nathan Cleary has found the sideline twice now. He’s hunting 40/20s but can’t quite find the angle.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:03pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:03pm

2′ First kick from Cleary is too long

It’s a powerful defensive set by the Bulldogs, forcing Nathan Cleary to put his boot through the ball to end the set, but it’s too big and dribbles dead.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:00pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 8:00pm

Here come the Panthers and Bulldogs

We’re ready for action at Western Sydney Stadium.

Isaiah Papali’i is leading out his Penrith side in his 200th NRL game.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 7:46pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 7:46pm

Suli is over for the Dragons

Off the kick-off blunder, the Dragons get a couple of set restarts and Kyle Flanagan rolls a grubber into acres of space for Moses Suli to swoop.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 7:44pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 7:44pm

76′ Back Fence Brown can’t catch a break

Nathan Brown is all revved up to take a hit-up off the kick-off, literally charging from the back fence, but he’s denied the chance for the second straight time.

The first time Jason Saab got himself in a tangle and allowed Brown to overrun him, and this time Jamal Fogarty slips and knocks the ball on.

Fri 28 Aug 2026 at 7:41pmFri 28 Aug 2026 at 7:41pm

Quick hands send Lehi Hopoate over on the left

What a brutal dose of salt in the wound for the Dragons, who have a try taken off them at one end then concede at the other as the Sea Eagles just put it through the hands at pace and Lehi Hopoate goes in for their ninth of the night.