State of Origin hopefuls put on a show in their final auditions to retain a spot in Michael Maguire’s NSW squad as the Panthers proved too strong for Newcastle.
In front of sold-out McDonald Jones Stadium, Penrith produced a quality first half before holding on against a fast-finishing Knights side to win 26-18 on Sunday.
Fresh of a quad injury that ended his hopes of an Origin debut, Dylan Edwards sent a clear message to Maguire that he will be fit for game two, making a crucial try-saving tackle on Dane Gagai and scoring the match-winner himself in the 64th minute.
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Speaking with Nine’s Brad Fittler after the match, Edwards denied suggestions that his calf is still a lingering issue in his game.
“I’m hoping I get a call, he said.
“[My quad] is good to go. Doesn’t hold me back at all. Trained well during the week and pulled up sweet ready to go.”
Skipper Isaah Yeo praised Edwards’s attitude after he was dropped from Origin I with a quad injury, stating he believes the fullback and Jarome Luai should be recalled into the squad.
“He was obviously extremely disappointed after he got diagnosed with the quad injury… but he did well tonight,” Isaah Yeo said of Edwards after the game.
Dylan Edwards scores a try. Getty
“Most other people in that situation want to go home and hide away in their room with their family but he stayed with the squad.”
“[Luai’s] been outstanding. This year, he’s really taken on that seven position [with Cleary out]. He is choosing a good balance between when to kick, run and pass.
“He’s been very much needed in this little period here, it’s been good. His run opens up channels for his kicks, his running game is so good and he’s so hard to tackle, it opens up lanes with tired defenders.
“He’s got his hands on the ball a little bit more, so we are noticing it a little bit more.”
The Penrith halfback, who is still filling in for the injured Cleary, tore apart his opposition making 106 metres, one try assist, and a try of his own in the first 40 minutes.
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Jarome Luai of the Panthers scores a try. Getty
A missed tackle on Fletcher Sharpe was the turning point in Luai’s performance with Sharpe dancing around the Panther before pouncing over the line.
“He’s absolutely carved them up,” Cameron Smith said of Sharpe in commentary on Nine.
“He’s got such a huge future,” Andrew Johns added.
Penrith hit back through Brad Schneider and Brain To’o, who showed no signs of error in his final Origin audition before Luai put his first points on the board.
Luai stole the show when he caught all the Knights defenders off-guard and powered through a wide hole in the line to score.
“That was too easy,” Johns quipped for Nine.
Newcastle’s defence was caught napping by Johns before Bradman Best initiated his masterclass comeback plan.
“Somebody’s got to get down there and whack someone – legally (in the next half),” Johns said on Nine.
“Ten or fifteen metres from the play the ball, the Knights’ players are shoulder-to-shoulder.
“There is no spacing at all in the way they are defending. The pass gets across four or five defenders and Luai skips … to the next gap and the spaces just get bigger and bigger and bigger the further you get out.”
Bradman Best scoring for Newcastle in the second half against the Panthers. Nine
In his first game back from injury, Best ran onto a beautiful Jackson Hasting kick in behind Penrith’s defence with fullback Edwards unable to match his pace as the Newcastle centre powered over the line.
“Bradman Best never gave up on it,” Andrew Johns said for Nine.
“He just wanted it more,” Cameron Smith added.
Tyson Fritzell, who has taken over captaincy duties in Kalyn Ponga’s absence, revealed the team has discovered a new sense of confidence, with the game the second-straight narrow defeat for Newcastle.
“It gives us some confidence,” Fritzell said in the post-match press conference.
“Obviously we want to be coming away with wins but the performances we have been putting in we can be quite happy with.
Tyson Frizell of the Knights off loads the ball. Getty
“We don’t want to be content with coming away with losses but when we are digging in right until the end (we can be happy).
“We are still having glimpses in the game where we have small off periods. There was probably 15 minutes in this game and last game that we were pretty poor and allowed teams to pile on points. But in saying that, what we wanted was a response in the second half and I think we did that.
“We tried throwing a few things at [Penrith] towards the end but they were too good.”