Not even four tries to representative centre Justin Hodges could secure the Brisbane Broncos first win of the season, with an extra time field goal to Penrith’s Peter Wallace allowing the Panthers to escape with a nail biting 29-28 victory at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
While Wallace may have been the hero for the Panthers, centre Justin Hodges easily took the man of the match honours, scoring four bullocking tries to vindicate coach Wayne Bennett’s decision to delay naming him for tonight’s clash.
In what was a see-sawing, gripping match, the lead changed hands constantly throughout the game, much to the pleasure of a strong Suncorp Stadium crowd.
Brisbane skipper Darren Lockyer posted the first points of the match through two consecutive penalty goals, but both teams early momentum was thwarted by poor handling and crunching defence.
A beautiful cut out pass by Panthers fullback Rhys Wesser allowed the visitors to strike back in the 20th minute, with flashy winger Michael Gordon crossing in the corner. Gordon was able to convert his own try from wide out, to establish a 6-4 lead.
Hodges scored the first of his four tries just three minutes later, when he was able to step, barge and scoot 25 metres from the scrum base to cross in the corner. Lockyer missed the tough conversion attempt from the sideline, but the Broncos had the ascendancy at 8-6.
In what was a carbon copy of Gordon’s first try, another perfectly weighted cut out pass allowed him to cross for his second try just three minutes later. Gordon pushed his conversion attempt wide, and the Panthers snatched back a 10-8 advantage.
In a night of replays, Justin Hodges scored his second try in the 31st minute through a replica scrum base manoeuvre, holding off two Penrith defenders to dot down in the corner. A magnificent sideline conversion by Darren Lockyer put the Broncos back in front at 14-10.
Young Panthers centre Michael Jennings made up for two earlier defensive errors, intercepting a Darren Lockyer cut out pass to race 75 metres to score under the posts. Gordon was able to nail his easiest conversion of the night, and the Panthers looked set to go to the sheds with a 16-14 advantage.
However, a Brisbane mistake just before half time handed Penrith terrific field position, and a magnificent one handed offload by Trent Waterhouse saw former Origin centre Luke Lewis cross next to the posts. After displaying some accurate goal kicking over the opening rounds of the premiership, Michael Gordon pushed an easy conversion attempt wide, leaving the Panthers 20-14 up at the main break.
Under an injury cloud all week, Justin Hodges repaid coach Bennett’s faith in naming him in tonight’s match, by sprinting 80 metres to chalk up his third try of the night. Lockyer’s conversion ensured the game was all tied up at 20 all, and it was obvious to all and sundry that this match would be a cliff-hanger.
After Hodges fourth barge over try of the night, and a Darren Lockyer penalty goal with eight minutes left on the clock, the home side looked set to chalk up their first win of the season in front of their adoring home crowd.
However quick tries to Jennings and Panthers fullback Rhys Wesser handed Penrith a chance to steal victory right on full time, but Michael Gordon’s conversion attempt sailed wide, pushing the game into extra time.
Usually reliable Panthers skipper Craig Gower had two chances to snatch victory in the first period of golden point, but both field goal attempts fell agonisingly wide.
But with three minutes left on the clock, and realising that Gower would be heavily marked, new Panthers five-eight Peter Wallace ensured the Panthers would complete back to back victories, nailing a 44-metre drop goal to hand his team victory, 29-28.
Penrith Panthers 29 (Michael Gordon 2, Michael Jennings 2, Luke Lewis, Rhys Wesser tries; Michael Gordon 2 goals, Peter Wallace field goal)
Defeated
Brisbane Broncos 28 (Justin Hodges 4 tries; Darren Lockyer 6 goals)
In extra time
At Suncorp Stadium
StephenP
Arnold
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