Brutal admission as finals hopes slip away<\/a><\/p>\nCiraldo laments fine margins in defeat | 04:32<\/p>\n
BIG HITS<\/p>\n
NO REST FOR THE WICKEDLY GOOD<\/p>\n
The win moves the Panthers back to the top of the table, with coach Ivan Cleary facing a big selection call next week with his side fighting for the minor premiership.<\/p>\n
The Warriors can join them on 40 points and can move above them on for and against if they beat Newcastle by 14 on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Cleary will then have to decide if he wants to rest players for next week\u2019s game against the Wests Tigers, with an all-important top two finish also on the line with the Roosters lurking.<\/p>\n
Cleary will be thrilled with his side\u2019s defence which bundled a few Bulldogs players into touch, while their hammering of the middle eventually paid off with Casey McLean slicing through late to seal it.<\/p>\n
DEAL OR NO DEAL<\/p>\n
Liam Martin\u2019s asking price just went up considerably after the ferocious forward scored a crucial double and tormented the Bulldogs with his defence.<\/p>\n
The veteran Panther has been in the news all week after his management met with club officials to discuss his future, with contract negotiations put on hold with the rep star set to go to market on November 1.<\/p>\n
The Panthers would love to keep him but they might not be able to afford him after he opened the scoring on Friday night and then gave Penrith some breathing space when he chased after a Nathan Cleary bomb that was put down by Connor Tracey.<\/p>\n
While his two tries were telling, his defence was just as impactful with the back-rower going from the right to the left to drive Jacob Kiraz into touch before he roared in the winger\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
Ennis: “Frustration from all of us!” | 00:33<\/p>\n
JUDICIARY WATCH<\/p>\n
Isaiah Papali\u2019i was place on report for a grapple tackle in the first half. Two unrelated charges in the past 12 months. <\/p>\n
Viliame Kikau was placed on report for a forearm on Lindsay Smith when making a tackle at around the 30 minute mark. He has one unrelated charge this year<\/p>\n
Scott Sorensen was placed on report for a crusher tackle 10 minutes into the second half. Has no charges in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n
Red Bull High Flyer Rankings.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
FOX LAB STATS<\/p>\n
Fox Lab Expected Set Points: Panthers 19.4, Bulldogs 17.8 – Penrith controlled the match with a 90 percent completion rate. Not a huge number of attacking opportunities for either side, with just 33 tackles in total in the attacking 20 (Bulldogs 19-14). <\/p>\n
Panthers move back to the top of the table with just their fifth win from past 10 games – won all 16 games this season scoring 20 points or more. <\/p>\n
Bulldogs awful record at Commbank Stadium continues – have now won just three of their last 22 games there. Lost three of their past four games to all but crash out of finals contention.<\/p>\n
Penrith scored just three tries to two, but kicked three penalty goals. The Bulldogs made five linebreaks to four. <\/p>\n
Izack Tago limped from the field with about 10 minutes to go and did not return<\/p>\n
Liam Martin scored just the second double of his career, both since round 22. <\/p>\n
Fox Lab POTM – Dylan Edwards was an everywhere man for the Panthers, running 25 times for 227 metres, busting 7 tackles, making 3 offloads and setting up a try for good measure.<\/p>\n
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