by Stephen Crichton, gone. Spencer Leniu, gone. Jack Cogger, gone. Zac Hosking, gone. Penrith have lost a handful of players since Lazarus’ stunning second-half comeback win over Brisbane in last year’s NRL grand final, with Crichton and Leniu the biggest hit, and perhaps the impact of that and other events. now starting to feel. Small cracks against the Panthers are finally showing.
On Saturday night, on the other side of the world and in front of more than 24,000 fans, Penrith proved they are lethal after going down 16-12 to Wigan in an epic encounter in the World Club Challenge. After 33 years, and four different attempts at the trans-hemispheric championship, they still cannot rightly call themselves the best club team in the world.
The NRL may not place as much value on the World Club Challenge as their Super League cousins, but the competition was instructive for a number of reasons. First, it was hinted that the gap between the two competitions may be closing with St Helens’ upset victory over the Australian champions at the BlueBet Stadium 12 months ago.
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After many years of stagnation, the English game is making progress to spread its wings and improve its marketing, visibility and popularity. He still has a way to go to match his formidable Australian rival, who is ahead in salary cap, TV ratings, attendances, sponsorship, profile and every other marker going, but Britain’s class will certainly rise with the an event when it counts. .
Wigan started with pomp and power at the DW Stadium, full of defensive flair and an opening try scored by Penrith-born Australian, former Manly player Abbas Miski. For the first 26 minutes the English club was clearly in command.
Frustration and rust were evident early on in the Panthers’ performance, in conditions more Baltic than Blacktown. They were often caught with the ball in hand on the last tackle, unable to get a pressure kick. Wigan’s defense gave Jack Cole the eighth spot, filling in for the injured Jarome Luai and playing in his second ever first-grade game, a terrible time in the Wigan defense with one hit that left him in need of attention from the trainer .
But then Miski bombed Nathan Cleary and the Panthers made him pay dearly, Cleary picking up the pieces and converting his own try to make it 6-4. That lead only lasted for nine minutes, however, as Wigan hit back after Miski broke clear on the right wing and found support inside for former Gold Coast cook Kruise Lemming to cross.
A minute before half-time and the NRL premiers are in front again. Dylan Edwards, sporting a freshly shaven beard, went wild as the Wigan defense stretched, and Cleary added the extras to make it 12-10 at the time.
The Warriors, buoyed by famous past World Club Challenge victories over the Sea Eagles, Broncos and Sharks, would not be fooled. Thirteen minutes into the second half and Jai Field grubbered into the goal, and Jake Wardle somehow wriggled. Wigan advantage.
As the clock wound down the intensity increased and Penrith blew two great chances to take the lead, first Cleary hitting and then Taylan May ignoring his support to tackle. Emotions were running high when Bevan French’s brilliant scrum try from halfway was ruled out by the video referee, before Bealtaine miraculously looked to have it tied up just on the full-time hooter with a try in the corner.
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But it went to the video referee and to the delight of the home fans, and for all of Super League, no try ruled and Wigan prevailed. There was no golden point for Penrith, no change from the sideline, no magical comeback to add to the Panthers collection of Hollywood finishes. There is no final flurry from the Mountain Men.
Yes, this was their first game in almost five months and they just need to find their rhythm, find their mojo. But Wigan’s win shows that they can be beaten, highlighting how great execution, discipline and defensive character can limit them when they go on offense.
“What we do from here is a lesson,” admitted Panthers coach Ivan Cleary after the game. “We review it like every game and move on. We looked fit, we looked ready.
“Our attack was a little clunky at times, which is not surprising. First game of the season, some new combinations. We had some missed opportunities.”
Penrith need a four-peat and still have a good chance of getting it. Of course they lost to St Helens in this event last year and still won the NRL title. But there is no divine right to success, no certainty of immortality.
The NRL’s focus may be on Las Vegas for now, but they should also have one eye on events in Greater Manchester and the Panthers’ dramatic win could have ramifications for the next eight months.
