NRL round 18 as it happened: Penrith Panthers put Brisbane Broncos’ finals hopes in doubt

They were minutes away from a premiership last year, but the Broncos are on the brink of missing the finals altogether this season after nemesis Penrith condemned Kevin Walters’ side to a fifth straight loss on Friday night.

Potentially needing to win six of their last eight games just to make the play-offs, an improved effort will be little consolation to Brisbane supporters after the Panthers clawed their way to a 14-6 win at Suncorp Stadium.

A moment of Reece Walsh magic lit up the venue for the State of Origin decider, but Ivan Cleary’s side continued their stranglehold over their title rivals, overcoming a half-time deficit to down Brisbane in wet conditions.

Walters will be forced to look outside his top 30 to field a team next week against the Dragons given a host of players will be on State of Origin duty and back-up halfback Jock Madden limped from the field with a serious hamstring injury. Adam Reynolds is not due back for weeks from a biceps problem.

It would seem unthinkable at the start of the year, but will the Broncos be top eight casualties? They remain two points outside a logjam of teams from fifth through to eight, all of whom are yet to play this round.

“We’re nowhere near the [chocolates] at the moment,” Walters said.

“[But] if anyone would want to come down to training one day and have a look at training, it’s a high standard. Eventually, in my experience in rugby league, if you keep training well, turning up each week and putting in the effort we did tonight, it will turn.

“I’ve been at clubs as a player and as an assistant coach, where we’ve lost five games in a row. It’s sticking together, working hard and training. Once we get the crew back together, we’ll set sail for a strong finish to the season.”

Walsh scored a stunning solo try in the opening half – his first since the sickening State of Origin knockout in game one – but Brisbane looked impotent at times as the Panthers’ near flawless defence swallowed up attack after attack.

Walsh’s effort gifted the Broncos a 6-4 half-time lead after Jack Cole opened the scoring for Panthers seconds after running onto the field to replace the injured Daine Laurie (hamstring).

But the Panthers ground their way to the win with a miraculous try in the second half, Liam Martin catching Jarome Luai’s midfield bomb uncontested, then dumping the ball to prop Lindsay Smith, who kicked expertly for Brian To’o to score.

Mitch Kenny’s dummy-half effort 12 minutes from time secured the victory, which lifted the Panthers into second, two points behind the table-topping Storm. Melbourne clash with the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.

Two-time Clive Churchill Medal winner Nathan Cleary is expected to return after the Panthers’ bye when they take on the Dolphins.

“I felt like the boys really wanted to win tonight,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said. “However it was going to work out, we were going to find a way to do it. That gives a lot of heart for the future. [But] there’s so much footy still to play.”

That was such a professional performance from the Panthers, who won it on the back of their near impenetrable defence.

It was only one Reece Walsh moment of magic in the first half which opened them up, and apart from that, they looked relatively comfortable.

And guess who’s coming back? Nathan Cleary is due back after the club’s bye meaning he should be good to go against the Dolphins in a fortnight. That’s a pretty scary proposition for the rest of the competition.

But I must tip my hat to Jarome Luai, who is running this team and doing it so well without Penrith’s main man. I think he can be a success in the No.7 for the Tigers next year.

That was an improvement from the Broncos, but they still haven’t won since Magic Round. Seven wins, nine losses. That’s not a season their fans thought they’d be watching after coming so close to grand final glory last year.

Is it panic stations for Kevin Walters? They might have to win six of their remaining eight games just to make the finals. They’re capable, but boy is the pressure on now.

The numbers were all in Penrith’s favour…

I honestly don’t know how to describe that minute. Madness.

It started with Ezra Mam running it for Brisbane on the last, they get a kick in down the short side, Dylan Edwards has to escape from his own in-goal, which he does expertly, then throws a pass to Paul Alamoti, who is hammered by Selwyn Cobbo, and immediately Payne Haas picks up the loose ball and spreads it wide where it ends up with Corey Oates, who looks destined to score until Liam Martin pulls off a miraculous ankle tap to stop him and then he’s driven into touch.

Got it? I don’t think even I’ve got it.

That’s about the last significant play of the match and the Panthers have won a fantastic game of footy, albeit a low scoring one.

Brisbane has lost five on the bounce. Forget the top four, are they a guarantee to even make the top eight?

Panthers 14 Broncos 6 at FT

Jesse Arthars might have been a bit lucky to escape the sin-bin there.

He’s clocked Brad Schneider high with what might have even been a shoulder after the Penrith five-eighth threw a pass into the grandstand.

So, instead of the Broncos getting the ball, the Panthers have a penalty and are deep on the attack.

Almost all she wrote for Brisbane now.

Panthers 14 Broncos 6 after 76 minutes

Six minutes left for the Broncos. Time is running out.

I can’t see anything happening for them if it doesn’t come from Reece Walsh.

Panthers 14 Broncos 6 after 74 minutes

Didn’t the coaching box love that? Every member was on their feet clapping and shouting, all bar Ivan Cleary, of course.

The tireless hooker Mitch Kenny, who also scored the first try in last year’s grand final, has come up with just the fourth try of his NRL career – and it’s a huge one. Remarkably, it’s also his third career try against Brisbane.

He throws a little dummy close to the Brisbane line, the defenders around him mostly fall for it, and he uses the wet conditions to slide over next to the posts. No hint of a double movement there. Such smart play.

Dylan Edwards kicks the easy conversion and the Panthers have their biggest lead of the night.

Is it a winning one?

Panthers 14 Broncos 6 after 70 minutes

The Broncos are really closing in now.

Reece Walsh sets Selwyn Cobbo and Corey Oates away down the left, only for Oates to be dragged down in a desperate tackle. Cobbo is held up over the try-line on the next play. Payne Haas can’t scoop down and pick up a loose ball when he could have just powered past Dylan Edwards.

This Penrith defence just won’t yield.

Walsh looks the only one capable of really opening them up. We’re down to the last 12 minutes.

Panthers 8 Broncos 6 after 68 minutes

Brisbane back-rower Brendan Piakura is running around with a bunch of strapping tape meant for his knee trailing him for at least five metres.

I’m half expecting someone to start following him and holding it off the ground like they’re carrying a bride’s dress on her wedding day. He’s had enough of it, and pulled the entire strapping off his knee now. Mustn’t be too bad.

This game is in a real arm wrestle phase at the moment. No errors, set for set, waiting for one team to buckle.

Who will blink first?

Panthers 8 Broncos 6 after 64 minutes

The Panthers interchange forward has been put on report for a tackle on Selwyn Cobbo. The NRL match review committee will have a look at it in the morning.

Now, have the Broncos got something in them that doesn’t involve Reece Walsh? The answer is no. The attacking set ends with a meek run by Selwyn Cobbo on the last. A kick, anyone?