Two penalties conceded by co-captain Jarome Luai proved costly for the Wests Tigers in their 18-14 loss to his former club Penrith at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
With scores locked at 10-all in the 54th minute, Luai – playing against the Panthers for the first time since he left them at the end of last season – hit Blaize Talagi in a line-ball tackle just as the Penrith five-eighth was about to launch a high kick.
Referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski had no hesitation in penalising Luai for dangerous contact, allowing Penrith co-captain Nathan Cleary to kick a straightforward penalty goal for a 12-10 lead.
Ten minutes later, Luai was again penalised in the Tigers’ red zone for obstructing Liam Martin as he chased a high ball.
Instead of adding another penalty goal, the Panthers took a tap and finished the set with a try in the left-hand corner by winger Thomas Jenkins, his third of the game.
Cleary converted, and the Panthers dug deep to defend their eight-point lead and post their fifth win of the season, improving from 15th on the ladder to 13th.
In the process, they leapfrogged the Tigers, who have now lost their past four games.
Scores were locked at 10-all at the end of a hard-fought first half.
The Panthers drew first blood in the 14th minute when they spun the ball to the left edge after a scrum win and Jenkins dived over in the corner. Cleary then nailed the sideline conversion.
Six minutes later, Luai dribbled a grubber kick in behind Penrith’s defensive line and centre Starford To’a won the race to ground it in-goal.
Tigers playmaker Jarome Luai on the attack against Penrith.Credit: Getty Images
Centre Adam Doueihi converted to make it 6-all.
The Tigers grabbed the lead in the 26th minute when they created an overlap on the right edge and winger Sunia Turuva scored against his former club.
Just when it appeared the Tigers would head to the half-time break with a 10-6 lead, Penrith equalised when Jenkins made it a double by crashing over out wide.
Cleary’s conversion attempt rebounded off the upright, leaving the scoreboard reading 10-all.
Thomas Jenkins scored two first-half tries for Penrith.Credit: Getty Images
Luai earned two huge cheers early in the second half for one-one-on tackles on Cleary, before the contentious hit on Talagi that cost the Tigers two points.
When Jenkins scored in the 64th minute, the Panthers appeared to be in control with all the momentum, but the Tigers responded five minutes later when Luai shifted the ball to their left flank, and winger Jeral Skelton flashed over.
That set up a thrilling final 10 minutes, with Penrith clinging to a four-point advantage.
The Tigers came within inches of scoring in the 75th minute, when utility Jack Bird caught a Luai bomb and offloaded to fullback Jahream Bula, who appeared certain to score before he was dragged down.
Penrith, the reigning four-time champions, have now posted back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.
