‘Sick of saying it’: Joey up in arms as Panthers star binned
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Andrew Johns has called out a “poor” moment from Cameron Munster in the Storm’s loss to Penrith, before taking aim over a controversial sin bin in a night that saw four players given their marching orders by Grant Atkins.
With their slim finals hopes on the line at AAMI Park, the hosts were blown away by the Panthers in the opening half and despite a spirited comeback, fell short in a rain-affected 22-14 loss that ended Melbourne’s season once and for all.
Brian To’o celebrates a try. Getty Images
Brian To’o crossed for a first-half hat-trick for Penrith, bringing up 100 NRL tries in the process, with his second try coming thanks to an intercept from Sua Faalogo.
His third try came off the back of a brilliant cut-out pass from halfback Nathan Cleary, who summed up the situation like only he can.
“It’s like shelling peas ... he is seeing the game in slow motion,” Johns said on Nine commentary after replays of the Cleary pass.
The putdown from To’o was perhaps even better than Cleary’s set-up play.
“They are out of this world the wingers these days,” Mat Thompson said.
As replays showed the try, Johns took aim at Munster’s defensive lapse, which in turn allowed the Panthers captain the time and space to set up his winger.
“It’s poor marker play from Munster - he needed to get to Cleary,” the eighth Immortal said of the veteran Storm playmaker.
Melbourne had a chance to get back into the contest before half time when Liam Martin was given his marching orders for a professional foul.
Martin was judged by Bunker official Wyatt Raymond to have illegally closed the gap when Faalogo kicked for himself and attempted to chase the ball.
Johns was none too pleased with the decision and urged the match officials to view the incident in “real time” to get a clearer understanding.
“They can’t disappear when he kicks it,” he said.
“No, no, no -- you can’t judge that on slow motion, no way. I get sick of saying it, but show it in real time and make the decision.
“His feet are planted in a position to make a tackle, we’ve got to see it in real time.
“Defence is all about footwork. Martin has got his feet in a position to make a tackle. If he dummies and runs and he pulls out of the tackle [they would score].”
Liam Martin penalty looper Nine
Speaking to media post-game, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary echoed those sentiments and questioned the decision from the referees.
“It was pretty harsh, really harsh,” Cleary said.
“I don’t understand it, that’s not a professional foul. It’s pretty clear to me, but it’s been happening for a while -- there has been a few of those.
“It’s not my business, but the big calls can make a huge difference in the game. A professional foul is actually a deliberate act and that wasn’t.”
Harry Grant looked to have put the Storm on the scoreboard moments later, but replays showed he knocked the ball on before planting it down.
Earlier in the first half, Oryn Keeley was sin binned after repeated infringements. Penrith then suffered that same fate when Lindsay Smith was binned two minutes after the break, opening the door for Perth Bears-bound utility Tyran Wishart to score when the visitors were down to 11 men for a brief period.
Jack Howarth and Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown got the home side right back into the contest in the second half, as rain continued to bucket down in Melbourne.
Jack Cogger became the fourth player sin binned for the night when he rushed out of the line and collected Wishart with a high tackle.
Jack Cogger’s high tackle on Tyran Wishart. Nine
The five-eighth could be in hot water for the incident and the Panthers will now be sweating on the NRL match review committee’s verdict.
Cogger has come into the team over the past few weeks in place of Blaize Talagi, who was dropped due to his defensive issues on the left-edge.
Since making the change, Penrith have won two games and lost two – although one of those defeats came when Cogger was out and Jack Cole played instead.
Talagi came off the bench for a cameo against the Roosters last week, but didn’t get on the field on Thursday night against the Storm.
The victory puts the Panthers back atop the NRL ladder ahead of the Sydney Roosters, who have a game in hand on Sunday afternoon.
Penrith will face the Bulldogs and Tigers in the final two rounds.
