Penrith Panthers have claimed the minor premiership after prevailing 26-22 in a classic encounter against South Sydney.
In an absorbing contest which lurched from one extreme to the other from the very first whistle, it was an undermanned Panthers outfit who eventually finished on top with Liam Martin scoring late to wrap up the minor premiership.
Penrith started the better of the two teams with their line speed in defence controlling the Bunnies and penning them into their own half.
This pressure soon told as Stephen Crichton picked up a stray ball, after a mix-up in the ruck, to race 60m and notch a try in his sixth-straight match against the Rabbitohs.
Yet Jason Demetriou's troops didn't let their opponent's fast start get to them, as they continued to try and spread the ball and challenge the line.
They made two linebreaks in quick succession but were unable to make them count. Alex Johnston’s chip over the top was snuffed out, before Viliame Kikau made a vital tackle to stop Jaxson Paulo.
Johnston did eventually get his name on the scoresheet though, with the prolific winger touching down in the corner. A delayed pass from Cody Walker allowing him to stroll over and score for the seventh match in a row.
Despite the Rabbitohs wrestling momentum back in the grand final rematch, the Panthers were doing a good job of curbing Cameron Murray's influence.
He was often pressured from the inside and forced to play as the link man without offering much incision. His running game was non-existent with the No.13 registering just 33 metres for the match.
After winning the physical battle and getting on top, a Mitchell error gifted the Panthers good field position.
And they hit back through Dylan Edwards, who ghosted through off the back of a scrum to score. After a lengthy review from the bunker the try was awarded, despite calls for obstruction in the lead-up.
Although the Bunnies answered again, with Mitchell making up for his earlier mistake with a brilliant offload around the corner. Walker was lurking on his shoulder somehow anticipating the pass and scored the last try in a breathless first half.
After the interval, Ivan Cleary’s men regained the lead through a penalty goal. Spencer Leniu then planted the ball down from a grubber to establish an eight-point advantage once again.
However, the pattern of the game had well and truly been established by now. Just as soon as one team gained the ascendancy, the other one would rise up off the canvas.
Campbell Graham scored on his return from injury to cap an impressive comeback- the centre finished with over 100 running metres and two linebreaks.
South Sydney then finally hit the front for the first time in the game, when Johnston burrowed in for his second of the night. Mitchell slotting one from the sidelines for a 22-20 lead.
But in the final minutes, Penrith staged their own fightback. They levelled the scores from a penalty goal, before Api Koroisau isolated Isaiah Tass to send Martin over to claim the minor premiership.
