NRL finals LIVE: Penrith Panthers v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

4 hours ago

The Sydney Morning Herald

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9.09pm

Pengilly’s view: Penrith far from their best

9.02pm

Panthers challenge controversial call

We have our first captain’s challenge.

Panthers vs Sharks - Figure 1 — Photo The Sydney Morning Herald

Referee Ashley Klein rules a turnover, but the Panthers believe that Sunia Turuva is taken out in the air.

A replay shows Sione Katoa tackles Turuva in the air, and the Panthers get the ball back on the Sharks 20-metre line.

Panthers 10, Sharks 2 with 32 minutes to go

8.54pm

Second half under way

We are down to the final 40 minutes.

Blayke Brailey takes the kick-off for Cronulla and Liam Henry takes the first carry for Penrith.

Panthers 10, Sharks 2 with 40 minutes to go

8.47pm

What the stats show

8.41pm

Panthers ahead at half-time

That’s half-time at Accor Stadium, where the Panthers hold a narrow lead over the Sharks.

Probably not as dominant a half as some people expected from Penrith – Cronulla are still well and truly in this fight, but they need to get rid of all those errors.

Nicho Hynes is tackled during the preliminary final.Credit: Getty Images

I know the slippery conditions doesn’t help, but the Sharks have had seven errors so far, and a couple of them were when they were within inches of points.

Half-time: Panthers 10, Sharks 2

Panthers vs Sharks - Figure 2 — Photo The Sydney Morning Herald

8.35pm

Pengilly’s view: Penrith looking a little vulnerable

8.32pm

Panthers take extra points after late hit on Luai

Jarome Luai is hit late by Siosifa Talakai and he is on the turf.

Talakai looks certain to go to the bin, but he’s just put on report.

Nathan Cleary decides to take the extra points with a penalty kick, and they make the difference eight.

Panthers 10, Sharks 2 after 35 minutes

8.24pm

Slippery conditions proving tough

The wet weather is starting to play havoc.

First a knock-on from Liam Martin, then a dropped ball from Kayal Iro when the Sharks were metres away from the Panthers try line, and now Luke Garner fumbles the ball in the play-the-ball.

This is an important set for Cronulla, they have good field position, but they need to find points....just FYI they haven’t scored points the past two times they’ve played the Panthers.

Panthers 8, Sharks 0 after 28 minutes

8.20pm

Alamoti scores first from the hands of Nathan Cleary

We have our first points of the night, and they come from Paul Alamoti.

The try comes from the hands of Nathan Cleary, just moments after he kicked that 40/20, and now he’s the one to pass out to Alamoti who slips between Nicho Hynes and Siosifa Talakai to score.

Cleary finishes it off with the conversion...was that the moment Penrith needed to get into the game?

Panthers 8, Sharks 0 after 24 minutes

8.18pm

No try for Hynes, Cleary kicks 40/20

Nicho Hynes soars over the try line, but referee Ashley Klein has ruled a knock-on from the Sharks.

The bunker agrees with Klein and the Panthers get the ball.

Nathan Cleary decides the Sharks have had a bit too much field position, and he kicks a 40/20 march the Penrith up field.

Nicho Hynes was denied a try for a knock-on earlier in the play. Credit: Getty Images

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