History-making Penrith Panthers winger Brian To’o played the role of the Storm slayer, ending Melbourne’s finals hopes once and for all.
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The Panthers regained their mojo after back-to-back losses for a half at least in a 22-14 victory at AAMI Park on Thursday night, stepping up their defence of top spot that has become increasingly under pressure in recent weeks.
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Staring a 22-point deficit in the face at halftime, a never-say-die Storm piled on 14 unanswered points to make it a nervous finish for the Panthers, who went scoreless for over 50 minutes.
The Panthers were down to 11 men in the second half after sin bins to Liam Martin and Liam Henry for professional fouls, while five-eighth Jack Cogger spent time in the bin for a high tackle, leaving the door ajar for the spirited comeback from the undermanned Storm, which ultimately fell short.
It was a night that To’o will not forget, as he moved into outright second on the Panthers all-time try-scorers list with 102 tries, overtaking the legendary Greg Alexander and Ryan Girdler (both 101).
Panthers remain in the hunt for 1st | 06:18
To’o will begin his chase for Panthers leading try-scorer Rhys Wesser, who brought up 113 in his illustrious Panthers career.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary would have been relieved to get a victory in his 500th game as an NRL coach with the Swan Street venue an unhappy hunting ground for his club over the years with just a second win from 11 visits.
Bellamy speaks on missed comeback chance | 07:05
A spiralling kick from Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary unlocked the Storm defence for To’o’s first try.
The Storm decided against contesting the bomb and allowed Martin to tap the ball back uncontested to Smith, who produced a peach of a pass to To’o out wide.
The Panthers extended their lead through a scrumptious team try.
The visitors went sideline to sideline, stretching the Storm defence before it eventually snapped and Cogger put Henry in for the try and a 12-0 lead when the rain started to tumble down midway through the first half.
Fullback Sua Fa’alogo, Storm’s only genuine offensive threat in the first half, produced a sloppy pass that was intercepted by To’o and he set sail for the tryline and Storm’s slim finals hopes were fading fast.
New Storm recruit Oryn Keeley was placed on report for making contact with referee Grant Atkins and a short time later found himself in the sin bin after his side committed three professional fouls.
“You guys are significantly slow in three straight tackles, I have no option on that,” referee Grant Atkins told a bemused Storm captain Harry Grant.
With Storm down a man, To’o brought up his fourth career hat-trick and 12th try and 10 games against Storm.
‘You’re in the bin!’ Martin punished | 00:37
Significantly, the 28-year-old brought up career try 102.
Down 22, the Storm received a lifeline when Martin went to the sin bin for a professional foul, adjudged to cut off a gap that Fa’alogo was set to run into off his own kick, leaving the Panthers a man short in the shadows of halftime.
Off the back of the penalty, Storm captain Harry Grant looked to have produced a spectacular try from dummy half, grubbering in behind the defence and beating To’o to plant down, but senior review official Wyatt Raymond saw the tiniest of bobbles in Grant’s collection and wiped off the try.
It was 13-on-11 early in the second half when Smith joined Martin in the sin bin for a succession of professional fouls and Storm took advantage through a try to Tyran Wishart.
Guard of honour for Tui Kamikamica! | 01:07
With the Storm on the march, Cogger produced a jarring tackle to dislodge the ball from Grant, but they could not halt Jack Howarth from scoring in the corner.
Cogger found himself in the sin bin for a high tackle on Wishart and Storm again relished numerical advantage when Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown skirted the sideline to score.
Meanwhile, the Storm made a guard of honour for long time forward and fan favourite Tui Kamikamica, who announced his retirement during the week.
Kamikamica made 142 appearances for Storm and 23 test matches with Fiji Bati.
JUDICIARY WATCH
Penrith had three players sent to the sin bin.
One was for repeated infringements and the other was for a professional foul, so it is Jack Cogger who could be in hot water after being placed on report and sin binned for a high tackle. He has already been suspended twice for high tackles this season.
Meanwhile, Oryn Keeley was placed on report for making contact with referee Grant Atkins and could also be facing a ban.
Grant: ‘We’re not playing touch footy’ | 00:38
STAT ATTACK (via Fox Lab)
Expected Set Points: Storm 33.1, Panthers 16.0
Storm completely dominated possession and field position, especially in the second half, but could not take advantage. They finished the match with 58 percent possession and 41 tackles to 11 in the opposition 20. Penrith led 22-0 after 32 minutes.
Penrith avoid a third straight loss to climb back to top spot on the ladder (temporarily at least). Just their fourth win following their round 15 bye. Sixth time in their past seven games they have conceded less than 20 points.
Storm miss the finals through a lack of wins for the first time since 2002. They missed 2010 due to being stripped of all of their points for salary cap breaches.
Just six wins from their 11 games at AAMI park this season – their worst ever there. Melbourne’s first ever loss in Melbourne on a Thursday night.
Just Penrith’s second win from 11 games at AAMI Park.
Fox Lab POTM – Brian To’o grabbed a first half hattrick to climb into second position all time for the Panthers. He jumped Ryan Girdler and Greg Alexander (both 101) to sit on 102 tries. Only Rhys Wesser (212) has now scored more tries for the Panthers. He ran for 214 metres and busted 7 tackles.
Brian To’o had a big game.Source: FOX SPORTS
BIG HITS
Cleary sends ‘ominous warning’
While some people may think the Panthers are limping to the finals, Luke Keary has the opposite opinion.
He has warned rival teams losses to the Roosters and Warriors could only see halfback Nathan Cleary go to another level in the finals.
“Just knowing Nathan, it’s an ominous warning to the rest of the competition what has happened in the past fortnight,” Keary said on Fox League, with Cleary setting up three tries in the win.
“He would have taken so much from playing the Warriors and Roosters. It almost just lights another fire in him and he knows the level he has to get to in the next month.”
Nervous wait for Storm star
Storm forward Oryn Keeley was placed on report for contact with referee Grant Atkins.
Keeley was picked up on the eagle cam making contact with the back of Atkins and could find himself in hot water, with Lehi Hopoate and Heath Mason suspended in the past two years for referee contact.
“I didn’t get a close look at it I must say,” Craig Bellamy said post-game.
“When I heard what happened, we had a quick look at it but it was only on an eagle cam.
“We didn’t have what we could hear what he [Atkins] said.
“We just saw the incident in eagle cam, so we’d have to have a look and a listen to see what we think and we’ll go from there.”
Blaize back on deck?
Blaize Talagi was omitted from Penrith’s 19-man squad entirely just before kick-off but could be recalled after Jack Cogger was sin-binned for a high tackle gone wrong.
Cogger was banned for two games earlier this year after a similarly bad tackle on Ashton Ward and now could be looking at another sideline stint.
If that happens, it would give Talagi a chance to prove to Cleary he should be the first-choice five-eighth entering the finals.
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