Nathan Cleary’s Brilliance Leads Panthers to Dramatic Third Consecutive Victory

A moment of brilliance from Nathan Cleary proved decisive as the Panthers triumphed over the Bulldogs in a thrilling encounter at CommBank Stadium.

Despite the Bulldogs enjoying a strong advantage for much of the match, solid defence from the Panthers and a critical error from the Bulldogs in the final moments saw the Panthers secure the win.

The 8-6 scoreline marks the narrowest victory margin of the season, granting the Panthers their third consecutive win and solidifying their position in the top eight.

The Bulldogs led 6-2 at halftime, but Cleary became the match-winner midway through the second half by charging down a kick from Matt Burton.

The bounce was fortunate, enabling the Panthers’ half-back to scoop up the ball and score under the posts. The successful conversion sealed the final score at 8-6.

But the excitement didn’t end there. In the closing minutes, Brian To’o was put on report for a high tackle on Bronson Xerri, resulting in a penalty for the Bulldogs within the Panthers’ 30-metre zone with just two minutes remaining.

However, instead of opting for a shot at goal, the Bulldogs chose to mount an offensive effort – a decision that ultimately backfired as the Panthers regained possession on the very first play when Blaize Talagi intercepted a pass.

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The Bulldogs had one last opportunity with under a minute remaining. They managed to get into their attacking 20 and had a chance to secure victory at the last moment when Stephen Crichton, with Marcelo Montoya open, threw a pass that went out of play.

The home crowd erupted, while Crichton’s head sank into his hands.

“A game we will never forget,” remarked Nine commentator Mat Thompson.

“They’re not giving up the trophy without a fight … arguably one of the most riveting matches of the year.”

In a post-match interview with Jonathan Thurston on Nine, Isaah Yeo said the clash felt like a semi-final.

“We’ve been building towards a performance like that over the last month,” he stated.

“They’ve set the benchmark in the competition, and we match up really well. We both desire to play a similar style, and we anticipated a tough contest. It was an extraordinary game.

“We displayed a level of resilience that we haven’t shown consistently this season. I’m genuinely proud.”

The Panthers secured a penalty goal just before the half-hour mark, but Jacob Preston quickly responded to put the Bulldogs in front a few minutes later.

Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey showcased his Origin credentials with two remarkable try-saving tackles against Blaize Talagi.

Cameron Smith commented during Nine’s broadcast that it was the best 40 minutes of football this season.

The second half followed a similar pattern. The Bulldogs enjoyed the early field position and possession before Cleary’s try shifted the momentum dramatically.

This victory positions the Panthers sixth on the ladder, while the Bulldogs remain at the top, pending the result of the Raiders’ game.