League icon Billy Slater expressed that Penrith’s comeback against the Storm was “rather unusual” following Nathan Cleary’s early exit from the match.
The star halfback suffered a knock within the first 10 minutes, and by the midway point of the first half, Melbourne had established a 14-0 advantage in their grand final rematch.
However, showcasing their championship pedigree, the Panthers fought back to claim a 16-14 lead.
Both sides traded tries, but ultimately, the Storm secured a 30-24 victory.
Nathan Cleary heads off the field following a heavy hit. Nine
Slater was highly impressed by the Panthers’ ability to adapt and rebound despite losing one of the league’s top talents.
“What a brave effort by the Panthers; it speaks volumes about their achievements over the past five years. They’ve continually bounced back after losing key players in the off-season, revitalising young talent from the western Sydney area who emerge as key figures,” he remarked on Nine’s The Billy Slater podcast.
“They had to adjust on the fly when Nathan, who seldom leaves the field, went off early.
“Blaize Talagi came off the bench and partnered with promising newcomer Jack Cole in the halves, and I thought they both really rose to the occasion.
Jack Cole communicates with his Panthers teammates. Getty
“Interestingly, they appeared to play their best football with Nathan off the field, which is quite unusual. I’m not certain if the Storm eased off a bit or if the Panthers shifted their approach to apply more pressure.
“Regardless, it was an outstanding display … it seemed that the team who lost left the field prouder of their performance than the victorious side.”
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Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy appeared notably disappointed in his post-match interview with Nine’s Cameron Smith.
His press conference was equally gloomy, even with the Storm maintaining their unbeaten run.
“I’m not pleased at all,” Bellamy conveyed to Nine after the match.
“We had a strong start, but then a sense of complacency crept in, which I find concerning in our team.
“Perhaps we could have sustained our momentum after Nathan’s departure, leading to thoughts of, ‘Their key player is out, this should be straightforward now.’
“You might not articulate that to yourself, but it lingers in the back of your mind.
“Nevertheless, I was quite satisfied with the choice to secure the two points.
“Overall, I’m really disappointed to be frank.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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