Panthers vs Eels

Nathan Cleary has put together a second half masterclass to guide the Penrith Panthers to a week off and the preliminary finals with a superb 25 points to 8 ...

[Nathan Cleary](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/nathan-cleary/) continued to be heavily involved down the stretch, this time throwing an offload to [James Fisher-Harris](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/james-fisher-harris/) to cross for another try just a couple of minutes later. [Mitchell Moses](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/mitchell-moses/) attempted a field goal three minutes out from half time with scores locked at six a piece, but it missed to the left. [Taylan May](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/taylan-may/) would be placed in the sin bin for the tackle, with replays showing he made direct, forceful contact to the head of Penisini. [Penrith Panthers](https://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/teams/penrith-panthers/) 27 (Tries: [Brian To'o](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/brian-too/) [2], [Dylan Edwards](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/dylan-edwards/), [James Fisher-Harris](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/james-fisher-harris/) Goals: [Nathan Cleary](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/nathan-cleary/) 4/4, Penalty goal: [Nathan Cleary](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/nathan-cleary/) 1/1, Field goal: [Nathan Cleary](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/nathan-cleary/) 1/1) defeat [Parramatta Eels](https://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/teams/parramatta-eels/) 8 (Try: [Oregon Kaufusi](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/oregon-kaufusi/), Goal: [Mitchell Moses](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/mitchell-moses/) 1/1, Penalty goal: [Mitchell Moses](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/mitchell-moses/) 1/1, Field goal: [Mitchell Moses](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/mitchell-moses/) 0/1) [Shaun Lane](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/shaun-lane/) and [Mitchell Moses](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/mitchell-moses/) both being taken off for HIAs within a handful of seconds of each other, before a grubber kick from [Nathan Cleary](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/nathan-cleary/) was perfectly picked up by [Dylan Edwards](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/dylan-edwards/) for what would ultimately be the try that put the result beyond doubt, the score reading 17 points to 8 with just 19 minutes to play. [Spencer Leniu](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/spencer-leniu/) high shot on [Isaiah Papali'i](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/isaiah-papalii/). [Brian To'o](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/brian-too/) crossing for a double with 27 minutes to go in the right corner. [Shaun Lane](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/shaun-lane/) and [Mitchell Moses](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/mitchell-moses/). [Stephen Crichton](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/stephen-crichton/) would be denied a try by the bunker as he found space on the right edge, only to be found held up in the goal line by [Maika Sivo](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/maika-sivo/) and a scrambling [Dylan Brown](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/dylan-brown/). [Reed Mahoney](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/reed-mahoney/) short ball out of dummy half which sent [Oregon Kaufusi](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/oregon-kaufusi/) over for the try as Penrith's defence failed to close a gap under the goal posts. [Junior Paulo](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/junior-paulo/) error, coupled with a lost challenge in just the seventh minute of the game, threatened to tip the balance of the game. [Nathan Cleary](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/nathan-cleary/) has put together a second half masterclass to guide the [Penrith Panthers](https://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/teams/penrith-panthers/) to a week off and the preliminary finals with a superb 25 points to 8 win over the [Parramatta Eels](https://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/teams/parramatta-eels/).

The minor premiers take on their bogy team at BlueBet Stadium with a place in the preliminary final up for grabs.

Stay safe, and if you can do one thing for me this weekend, turn to someone and ask them how they’re going. I’m Caden Helmers signing off for the night, keep it real. You never know what kind of difference it could make.

Superstar halfback Nathan Cleary was at his majestic best as the Panthers took a huge step towards defending their premiership with a 27-8 win over the Eels ...

At 8-7 with 30 minutes to go we gifted them field position, we were going set for set and we the first to break really because we made a couple of red-zone errors which gifted them cheap possession and they got weight of possession and Nathan [Cleary] kicked really well, he kicked us to death probably. They will be sweating on the health of playmaker Mitch Moses, who suffered a Category 1 concussion in the second half. The slick hands came from Nathan Cleary and then Stephen Crichton, who absorbed the contact from Maika Sivo zeroing in from the wing and delivered a glorious pass to his To'o, who still had plenty of work to do. I felt like he came up with the right kick at the right time most of the time. The second try of the night for a rampaging Brian To'o came via a deadly combination of precision and power. I was hoping that was going to happen and the way he was training and the way he looked, I thought he'd go alright.

Cleary stuns, exposes weak link in 'masterclass' return as Eels now face 'hard way': Big hits.

The first was through a grubber for Dylan Edwards and the second with a flick pass to James Fisher-Harris. He was watched film, has come up with a play in the biggest game of the season so far has executed that play… Moses suffered the knock in the second half while attempting to tackle Viliame Kikau. I think it’s very questionable if Parramatta can put three good games (together) after this game to win the comp.” It was a physical start to the game before the Panthers scored first points through Brian To’o. Cleary could sense that he had rattled Blake and kept going back there. It wasn’t all good news for the Panthers though with Taylan May suffering a hamstring injury late in the game. Replacement: Nathan Brown Outstanding,” Cronk said of Cleary’s grubber to Edwards. Dylan Brown 7. It was ruled a category one and so he was automatically ruled out of the rest of the match. “Five weeks on the sideline and in a big game on his home deck, he’s come out in this second half and done a trick play for the try to Edwards, a linebreak in the next set and on the fifth tackle he throws a dummy, steps inside and throws a flick pass to James Fisher-Harris.

Penrith Panthers: Mitch Kenny starts in place of Apisai Koroisau. Staines is 18th man. Parramatta Eels: Marata Niukore and Ryan Matterson do their regular ...

Nathan Brown Dylan Brown 7. 1.

'Might miss games anyway': Twist in suspension storm as injured Panthers star sin-binned, on report.

[Twist in suspension storm as injured Panthers star sin-binned, on report](https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/might-miss-finals-games-anyway-footy-fans-poke-fun-as-may-sinbinned-amid-suspension-storm/news-story/cc7758be53773e3546d7282710f8079d) [Sutton placed May on report and also sent him to the sin bin for the high shot in the 12th minute of the contest.](https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-ricky-stuart-ban-fine-weakgutted-dog-canberra-raiders-reaction-paul-kent/news-story/db93064148cee917298873e9f9be2009) [Cleary exposes weak link in ‘masterclass’ return as Eels now face ‘hard way’](https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-penrith-panthers-v-parramatta-eels-live-blog-video-stats-supercoach-scores-qualifying-final-nathan-cleary-clint-gutherson-full-strength/news-story/971b475079bae4c2ee2f34d847924ece) [Arthur says ‘health is priority’ for Moses but won’t rule out return](https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/could-be-the-game-for-parra-moses-cops-sickening-head-knock-as-eels-face-brutal-setback/news-story/772f63db9787477c05cbff280c62eff9) [Former Panther’s high ball horror show as danger man goes missing](https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-penrith-panthers-player-ratings-qualifying-final-nathan-cleary-brian-too-man-of-the-match/news-story/89979aab2fa5b6efc9c9ab16ce9cb562) [Panthers’ preliminary final against the Eels.](https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-penrith-panthers-v-parramatta-eels-live-blog-video-stats-supercoach-scores-qualifying-final-nathan-cleary-clint-gutherson-full-strength/news-story/971b475079bae4c2ee2f34d847924ece) [Cleary drops jaws with perfect return as flyer gets back to best](https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-penrith-panthers-player-ratings-qualifying-final-nathan-cleary-brian-too-man-of-the-match/news-story/1310c36946f8b81fb2a4cb9c4f570d4a)

The Penrith Panthers have confirmed their spot in the preliminary finals, and are just 80 minutes away from a third grand final on the trot.

[Ryan Matterson](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/ryan-matterson/) must start for the Eels in finals games [Mitchell Moses](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/mitchell-moses/) is undoubtedly the best and most important player for the Eels. [Mitch Kenny](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/mitch-kenny/) and [Soni Luke](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/soni-luke/) have shown during their first grade opportunities throughout the season. [Damien Cook](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/damien-cook/) out of the number nine jumper for the [Blues](/rugby-league/teams/nsw-blues/), and deserved to do so. [Nathan Cleary](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/nathan-cleary/) or [Dylan Edwards](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/dylan-edwards/) is the most important player, there are few who would dispute just how big of a role [Apisai Koroisau](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/apisai-koroisau/) plays in this set up. [Apisai Koroisau](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/apisai-koroisau/) is a Penrith key [Joseph Tapine](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/joseph-tapine/) and [Payne Haas](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/payne-haas/) take most of the credit as the best props in the competition, the fact the Kiwi prop isn't often mentioned right alongside them is almost ridiculous. [Nathan Cleary](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/nathan-cleary/), [Cameron Munster](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/cameron-munster/), [James Tedesco](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/james-tedesco/), [Latrell Mitchell](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/latrell-mitchell/) and [Nicho Hynes](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/nicho-hynes/) - are all backed up by consistent performers who take the heat off those players. [Clint Gutherson](/rugby-league/players/clinton-gutherson/), [Dylan Brown](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/dylan-brown/) and [Reed Mahoney](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/reed-mahoney/) simply failed to come out of the halftime break, this is a club who need more than Moses. [James Fisher-Harris](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/james-fisher-harris/) should be in the conversation as the [NRL](/)'s most important forward [James Fisher-Harris](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/james-fisher-harris/) has had some 'quieter' moments this year, but his form towards the back end of the year has rebounded to exactly where it needs to be if the Panthers are to make it two premierships on the hop. [Mitchell Moses](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/mitchell-moses/)? [Dylan Brown](https://www.zerotackle.com/players/dylan-brown/).