Nathan Cleary completes Panthers' comeback victory with monster golden point goal against Dolphins
Nathan Cleary is well and truly back.
With the Panthers and Dolphins locked in golden point at Penrith Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Cleary — in his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury — booted a 43-metre field goal on the angle to seal the match.
The kick broke the hearts of the Dolphins after they controlled the majority of the match.
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Nathan Cleary celebrates kicking the match-winning field goal in golden point during the round 20 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Dolphins. Jason McCawley via Getty Images
The full-time siren sounded with the scores locked at 26-all after the Dolphins led by a game-high 14 points.
Late sin bin drama opened the door for the Panthers after Dolphins second-rower Connelly Lemuelu dropped the ball just metres inside the home side's line.
Panthers five-eighth Trent Toelau leapt on the ball up and powered down the line but was tackled 30 metres out by Josh Kerr who lingered in the tackle.
Kerr was penalised for a professional foul and marched to the bin for 10 minutes.
With the penalty set 30 metres out and directly in front, Cleary nailed the penalty goal to level the scores with five minutes left to play.
Isaiya Katoa had a chance to kick for the match-winning field goal undefended but elected from a cross-field kick which did not come off.
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The Panthers celebrate Nathan Cleary's match-winning field goal in golden point against the Dolphins. Jason McCawley via Getty Images
In his first game since round 10, Cleary had an immediate impact — throwing a loopy pass to set up Sunia Suruva in the corner just three minutes into the match.
Cleary resumed goal-kicking duties for his club and slotted the conversion off the far upright.
The Dolphins quickly responded as centre Jack Bostock made a break on the wing before finding Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in support for his first try.
Building momentum, the Dolphins went back-to-back as halfback Isaiya Katoa threw a dummy before tip-toeing past two Panthers defenders.
Continuing to trade blows, Panthers winger Paul Alamoti scored in the corner before a show-and-go from Tabuai-Fidow gave him a second-half double.
Dolphins halfback Kodi Nikorima briefly came from the field following a nasty collision while Alamoti dashed straight down the race for treatment after suffering a game-ending broken arm.
While the opening 25 minutes were played at break-neck speed, the closing 15 minutes went scoreless as the Dolphins edged ahead to lead 18-12 at the main break.
Bostock extended the Dolphins' lead in the 51st minute after flying over the tryline in the corner.
With tension mounting on the Panthers, Mitch Kenny was penalised for putting pressure on Isaiya Kato as he kicked. The Dolphins elected to take the shot with Jamayne Isaako kicking the penalty goal.
But the Panthers clawed back the deficit with Moses Leota and Daine Laurie sidestepping and fending off their opponents to score to pave the way for the grandstand finish.
The fightback bore a resemblance to last year's grand final comeback for the Panthers but, for the Dolphins, the result sees them fall outside the league's top eight.
