Full Time
80:00
7:30pm Sat August 12, 2017
Round 23 - BlueBet Stadium, Penrith / Dharug - Crowd: 12357
80

FULL TIME. Panthers win 24-16, Credit to both sides in what looked to be a difficult battle.

Penrith Panthers 24-16

80

Entering the final minute, the Panthers look to have won this game in front of a 12,357 booing crowd.

Penrith Panthers 24-16

78

PENALTY Cowboys for a shepherd, and Cecchin marches the players by another 10m after someone has a word to him from the Panthers side.

Penrith Panthers 24-16

77

Asiata tackled within a metre of the try line.

Penrith Panthers 24-16

76

The Cowboys opt for a tactic out of Des Hasler's book, and go for the short kickoff with no success.

Penrith Panthers 24-16

75

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS: Conversion attempt by Nathan Cleary successful.

And he's got it from right in front. The game is now to the Panthers being 8 points in front.

Penrith Panthers 24-16

75

TRY PENRITH PANTHERS: Scored by Nathan Cleary. Kick to come.

A second try! The Panthers are up by 6 with a try by Cleary, right under the posts.

Penrith Panthers 22-16

73

Regan Campbell-Gillard kicks the ball too hard and it goes over the dead ball line. Cowboys get a 7 tackle set.

Penrith Panthers 18-16

71

Waqa Blake with a line break, and evades a few tackles, but eventually brought to within metres from the line.

Penrith Panthers 18-16

70

Goal Line Dropout Cowboys. Panthers get another set to get another 6 pointer.

Penrith Panthers 18-16

69

Regan Campbell-Gillard with no support after an awesome run downfield.

Penrith Panthers 18-16

68

SCRUM Panthers. They're 10m from their own line. Lot of field to cover.

Penrith Panthers 18-16

65

PENALTY Panthers. Corey Jensen holding too long in the tackle.

Penrith Panthers 18-16

63

Corey Harawira with a line break, comes within 5m from the line!

Penrith Panthers 18-16

62

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS: Conversion attempt by Nathan Cleary successful.

Nails the conversion, and the Panthers are in front by 2!

Penrith Panthers 18-16

60

TRY PENRITH PANTHERS: Scored by James Tamou. Kick to come.

He's got the try! No checking the bunker, just crashes over.

16 all

60

Dylan Edwards an outstanding run from the fullback, making a linebreak that gets the Panthers back to the 30m line from the Cowboys kick on the final tackle.

North Queensland Cowboys 16-12

59

The crowd boos Lachlan Coote being injured, as play restarts.

North Queensland Cowboys 16-12

59

Cowboys struggle to bring down the Panthers left side defence, but then Lachlan Coote gets tackled and his knee bends backward at an awkward angle. Time off here.

North Queensland Cowboys 16-12

57

SCRUM Panthers. Panthers have great field position, with the scrum coming from the 10m line.

North Queensland Cowboys 16-12

56

Tyrone Peachey and Josh Mansour with a tremendous run down the left sideline, the Panthers are 10m away, on the 5th.

North Queensland Cowboys 16-12

55

Insufficient evidence to determine if the ball is 100% grounded. Cowboys still have the ball.

North Queensland Cowboys 16-12

55

Dallin Watene Zelezniak loses the ball that may have cost the panthers. A no try call from the ref here to the cowboys, but sends it to the bunker.

North Queensland Cowboys 16-12

54

PENALTY Cowboys. The Panthers give away a penalty on the last tackle.

North Queensland Cowboys 16-12

51

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS: Conversion attempt by Nathan Cleary successful.

He converts his own try! The game returns to a 4 point gap!

North Queensland Cowboys 16-12

50

TRY PENRITH PANTHERS: Scored by Nathan Cleary. Kick to come.

Cleary has the try and the green light from the bunker!

North Queensland Cowboys 16-10

50

We are heading to the bunker, checking the possible try here for Nathan Cleary. Ref on field says TRY.

North Queensland Cowboys 16-6

49

PENALTY Panthers. They get a set of six in dangerous territory for the Cowboys

North Queensland Cowboys 16-6

47

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Conversion attempt by Ethan Lowe successful.

And the margin is by 10

North Queensland Cowboys 16-6

46

TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Scored by Jason Taumalolo. Kick to come.

A fantastic short pass by John Asiata sees Taumalolo crash over and the Cowboys are in front by 8

North Queensland Cowboys 14-6

43

The Panthers send the ball out to the left, but there's not much happening. On the last Cleary kicks high and there's a bat back, but it's a penalty to the Cowboys for an offside player.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

40

We're back in the second half.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

40

Confirmation, Michael Morgan will not return.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

40

And that's half time. The Cowboys go to the break leading 10-6, but it's their injury concerns that were the talking point of the first half - with Michael Morgan unlikely to return this evening.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

39

The Panthers are throwing the ball around on the last, desperate for a try, but the ball finds itself in the hands of Javid Bowen. He brings it back, and the Cowboys are just working now to run down the clock.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

39

Morgan is in trouble here. Dallin Watene Zelezniak brings the ball back after a kick, and Morgan gets run straight over the top of, before hitting his head on the ground as he falls. He'll be assessed at half time, but its not looking good for him to return in the second half.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

38

The Panthers are blowing up here, claiming the Cowboys have knocked the ball on. The referee hasn't seen it if it did happen...

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

37

Kane Linnett is back to the bench, having passed his HIA.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

36

Granville looks a bit dusty. It was actually a head knock, and he's off for an HIA.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

34

The Panthers yet again are tackled on the last, and are forced into a changeover. Granville is the one to have made that last tackle, and he has winded himself in the process.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

33

Coen Hess drops the ball on the first, after a poor piece of communication between he and Ben Hampton.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

32

The Cowboys get a penalty for a high tackle - Peachey has come up with a number of great tackles, but the referee has deemed this one slightly too high.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

31

Morgan kicks high on the last. The Panthers get a hand to it, and it's a fresh set of six for the Cowboys.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

30

The Cowboys kick down field, and Dylan Edwards is picked up and very nearly driven back into his in goal. He does brilliantly to keep the ball in the field of play.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

29

Ben Hampton almost makes a line break down the left side now, but he's grabbed by an ankle.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

28

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Conversion attempt by Ethan Lowe successful.

This time Ethan Lowe slots the kick.

North Queensland Cowboys 10-6

27

TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Scored by Michael Morgan. Kick to come.

Granville kicks for the upright on the last, and it bounces mercifully for Michael Morgan. He grabs it and dots down for a try.

North Queensland Cowboys 8-6

27

Granville passes wide out to Ben Hampton, who hits Corey Jensen back on the inside. He's dragged down just metres short.

Penrith Panthers 6-4

26

The Cowboys get a penalty now, and kick for touch. They'll tap the ball only 30 metres out from the Panthers' line.

Penrith Panthers 6-4

25

Jason Taumalolo makes a great read in defence on the last, and drags down an inside runner to save his team from having to chase a line break. It's a handover.

Penrith Panthers 6-4

24

Kane Linnett is off the field for an HIA after that earlier hit.

Penrith Panthers 6-4

22

SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS: Conversion attempt by Nathan Cleary successful.

And, as is to be expected, Cleary has no problem with the conversion from straight in front.

Penrith Panthers 6-4

22

TRY PENRITH PANTHERS: Scored by Josh Mansour. Kick to come.

And it's a try! Mansour puts on a bit of magic and scores under the posts to even up the scores.

4 all

21

The Panthers get one of their first real attacking opportunities now, a new set only ten metres out from the Cowboys' line.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

19

A scrum feed to the Panthers, and on the first tackle the Cowboys are all called off side. The Panthers are getting a few penalties out of their own end, and they are much needed.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

19

And now Kane Linnett is hurt, with Dallin Watene Zelezniak coming over the top of him on the ground and giving him a bit of a tap around the chops.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

18

Another great tackle from Tyrone Peachey - that's the fourth massive hit he's made already tonight.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

17

The Panthers kick to the right corner on the last, and there's a the for the ball, but the Cowboys come out on top.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

16

Regan Campbell-Gillard makes a good, strong run down the middle of the field, but his side is looking tired at the moment.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

16

On the last the Cowboys again kick behind the line, but Moylan is there for the third time to clean it up. And then there's a much needed penalty to the Panthers, helping them out of their own end.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

14

Play back on, and the Cowboys again kick into the in goal to trouble the Panthers. Moylan is there again to clean up, and it's another line dropout.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

13

With O'Neill off the field, Ethan Lowe pushes out to the centres, as the Cowboys are carrying a four-forward interchange bench.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

13

Play is stopped now as Justin O'Neill falls awkwardly in the tackle and injures his left wrist/arm. I'm not sure if it's elbow, wrist or arm, but it's not pretty and he will not be back tonight.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

13

Javid Bowen fields a kick deep in his own half, and the chase is horrible. Two steps and he's through the broken defensive line and sprinting down field.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

12

Ouch! The Cowboys flick the ball around searching for another try, before the ball winds up above Lachlan Coote's head. He reaches up to catch it, and gets monstered to the ground by Isaah Yeo. Absolutely no rib protection on that one.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

11

The Panthers aim towards Fensom on the kickoff, and he's visibly uncomfortable bringing the ball back.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

10

UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Conversion attempt by Ethan Lowe unsuccessful.

Ethan Lowe puts a bit too much hook on the conversion attempt, and the ball drifts wide.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

8

TRY NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: Scored by Kane Linnett. Kick to come.

Yet another set of the Cowboys attacking the Panthers' line, and they've scored in the left corner. It's Linnett reaping the rewards from some quick passing from his inside (and outside) men - darting to the line to give his side the early lead.

North Queensland Cowboys 4-0

7

A good kick from Cleary to help his side make metres, but the Panthers are penalised early in the next set for being offside.

0 all

5

Granville grubbers for himself, but is held back off the kick. No penalty though, and the Panthers will truck it out of deep in their own half.

0 all

5

A shallow dropout from the Panthers, and the Cowboys are tackled on the first only 30 metres out. Fensom is still receiving attention in backplay.

0 all

4

North Queensland heavily on attack now, going left. Hess almost makes it to the line but the defense is too good. On the last the kick bounces awkwardly for Moylan, but he jumps high under his posts to tidy it up for his side.

0 all

3

At the same time Shaun Fensom is getting some attention for an injury to his left leg. Play has not been stopped, and that's a minute of the game we won't get back.

0 all

2

Lachlan Coote is in trouble in back play. He's hit late around the jaw by Tyrone Peachey, but he's back to his feet.

0 all

1

On the last the Panthers kick high, and Mansour is shielded off the ball. It would amazing if the referees would penalise for that - it really ruins the contest.

0 all

1

Michael Morgan kicks high to complete his side's first set.

0 all

Wallace kicks on the third, and finds Lachlan Coote, who runs it back towards Matt Moylan.

The Cowboys kick off, and the Panthers get first hitup, through James Tamou.

The teams take the field - the Cowboys first, followed by the Panthers.

We're waiting for the smoke to clear and we'll be underway.

Penrith welcome back Matt Moylan ahead of tonight's contest, with Tyrone May benched. Reagan Campbell Gillard drops to the bench as well, with Tim Browne starting in the front row.

For the Cowboys Te Maire Martin is out, replaced by Ben Hampton at five-eighth. John Asiata is benched with Shaun Fensom starting up front, while Patrick Mago takes the vacant bench spot.

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Matt Cecchin, Alan Shortall

Touch Judges: Brett Suttor, Kasey Badger

Video Referee: Luke Patten, Henry Perenara

PENRITH PANTHERS (24)
Tries: Josh Mansour, Nathan Cleary (2), James Tamou
Field Goals:
Conversions: Nathan Cleary (4/4)
Penalty Goals:

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (16)
Tries: Kane Linnett, Michael Morgan, Jason Taumalolo
Field Goals:
Conversions: Ethan Lowe (2/3)
Penalty Goals: