NRL news 2023: Penrith Panthers v North Queensland Cowboys, match report, updates, blog, SuperCoach scores, finals, minor premiership, latest

The Panthers have won their third minor premiership in four years after thrashing the Cowboys 44-12 on Saturday night.

North Queensland needed to win to play finals but were nowhere near good enough against the two-time reigning premiers.

Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary played despite chatter he would be rested.

It was Stephen Crichton who crossed out wide for the opener in the fifth minute. Crichton then turned provider when he leapt for a chip and batted it back for Sunia Turuva to score in the 23rd minute.

Next it was Liam Martin who barged his way over thanks to a nice short ball from Jack Cogger in the 27th minute.

“They’re in a mood tonight, they’re in a real attacking mood,” Shane Flanagan said on Fox League.

It essentially became a training run for Penrith when Brian To’o crossed for another soft try in the 33rd minute.

“Penrith are putting on a clinic,” Dan Ginnane said.

In his second game of NRL, Luke Sommerton scored his first try when he ran hard and crashed over on the stroke of halftime.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten had some stern words with his men at halftime and they came out the better side in the second half.

Griffin Neame got the visitors on the board in the 44th minute before Zac Laybutt closed the gap further in the 49th minute.

But the two-time reigning premiers took back control of the contest with tries to Turuva and Cleary and To’o sealed the win the 73rd minute.

“We didn’t start the year very well but we got into a bit of form and found our rhythm and very happy with it,” Cleary said on Fox League.

Here are three of the biggest talking points out of the match.

THREE IN FOUR YEARS

In front of another sold out crowd which included the club’s old boys, the Panthers secured their third minor premiership in four seasons and sent the Cowboys home to pick at the entrails of a disappointing performance - and season.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said it was “a great night for the club”.

“Four years in a row we’ve been first or equal first,” Cleary said. “Consistency’s such a big part of being successful. Really proud of that.”

After speculation the Panthers may rest their stars, Cleary trotted out a near full-strength XVII.

“There’s so many things that go into (the decision),” Cleary said. “It wasn’t about the minor premiership. We’re happy to win it. But essentially, once we had a top-two sealed, it wasn’t about that.”

COWS SHELL-SHOCKED

Unlike Manly’s caution-to-the-wind approach at 4 Pines Park in Round 24, the Cowboys threw little but stock plays at a Panthers machine which quickly settled into a rhythm and muscled their opponents out of it.

The Cowboys had recorded one offload after 50 minutes of football. Cowboys coach Todd Payten said his team’s defence was poor, also.

“To go out in that first half, with everything to play for, getting put on the back foot, not showing any real resolve is really, really disappointing. It’s hard to cop,” Payten said.

“They had 17 plays in our 20 for five tries – that’s not good enough at NRL level.

“We’re going to sit here after 27 weeks and we’re going to watch the finals, probably for that reason – we didn’t stop enough tries.”

The injection of Jason Taumalolo after 20 minutes failed to spark any penetration in a Cowboys’ attack that even without star backs Val Holmes and Jeremiah Nanai, trotted out eight Origin players and six internationals.

Payten said his team showed “weakness” in the face of the defensively strong Panthers.

“When you’re playing a good, physical side and you show any sign of weakness, they get real hungry,” Payten said.

“That first period of 20 minutes, the only bloke I really saw standing up physically was ‘Luce’ (Luciano Leilua).

“We were shell-shocked. The boys were looking at each other and waiting for someone else to do something when we had to come together as a team and fight together.”

RUTHLESS RIOT

First half tries to Stephen Crichton, Sunia Turuvua, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and second-gamer Luke Sommerton, 23, saw the home team go to the break leading 26-0.

It was the sixth time Penrith have kept an opponent scoreless at the break this season.

The Cowboys threw the ball about early in the second-half and after eight minutes posted converted tries to Griffin Neame and Zac Laybutt.

But when Crichton flick-passed for Turuva’s double, the engraving on the JJ Giltinan Shield could commence.

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MATCH PREVIEW

The Penrith Panthers will have the chance to wrap up the minor premiership as they taken on the North Queensland Cowboys at BlueBet Stadium.

With the Brisbane Broncos losing to the Melbourne Storm on Thursday, the Panthers’ point differential will mean a win over the Cowboys will see them leapfrog the Broncos and take out top spot.

Although there is the risk of losing players to injury or the judiciary in pursuit of the minor premiership, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has named a strong side for his team’s final game of the season.

Izack Tago also makes his return from a lengthy lay-off with a leg injury, bumping Tyrone Peachey to the bench and Soni Luke out of the 17.

As for the Cowboys, a win over the Panthers would secure finals football for another season.

Todd Payten’s side are in 10th place on 30 points but have a points differential of +36.

If the Cowboys can secure the two points, they would go ahead of the Sydney Roosters who are in 7th on 32 points but have a points differential of -24.

TEAMS

Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 19. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cogger 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. James Fisher-Harris 17. Zac Hosking 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 3. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 21. Luke Garner 18. Jaeman Salmon 22. Matt Eisenhuth

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Heilum Luki 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Coen Hess 16. Griffin Neame 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 19. Robert Derby