'It was handbags': Panthers coach fumes at sin-binning of star five-eighth
A breakout performance from rookie Liam Martin has inspired a depleted Penrith to a desperate 15-12 NRL victory over a similarly weakened Manly on Thursday.
What didn't impress Panthers coach Ivan Cleary was the sin-binning of five-eighth Jarome Luai after he slapped the back of Jack Gosiewski's head following his high shot on Brian To'o.
Gosiewski was also binned in an incident that sparked a minor melee.
"I didn't think there was anything in that. Honestly, it was handbags. Seriously. I thought there were some strange decisions tonight," Cleary said.
"I suppose one of each (went to the bin), but I thought it hurt us more than them.
"I suppose (Luai) shouldn't have done it, but I seen that happen a lot of times in a lot of games. But nothing really happens."
Playing just the sixth game of his first grade career, Martin set up the Panthers' first try and then scored the second in an eye-catching effort.
The 22-year-old was a last-minute inclusion against the Sea Eagles after second-rower Viliame Kikau was ruled out before kick-off due to an illness. And Martin didn't disappoint, spearheading Penrith to an unlikely 15-0 lead with 16 minutes to go at Panthers Stadium before the Sea Eagles roared back
Another rookie, five-eighth Cade Cust, put Manase Fainu over and then scored one himself in the space of six minutes to set up a grandstand finish.
But Penrith just held on to record back-to-back victories for the first time this season, and temporarily move to 14th spot on the ladder.
Manly drop to seventh after losing for the third time in four games. Kikau's withdrawal added to a match-up that was already missing State of Origin trio Jake Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary.
Penrith pair Dean Whare, Waqa Blake plus Manly duo Tom Trbojevic and Moses Suli were also missing through injury.
The lack of star power resulted in just 7,981 turning up on a bitterly cold night in what was Penrith's lowest attendance in four years.
However, Panthers faithful were rewarded with the two competition points and a strong performance by Temora product Martin, who entertained the faithful with a series of jolting hits from the left edge.
"He's had a couple of good games for us," Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.
"Funnily enough I see him more as middle player but the way it turned out tonight I threw him on the edge and he might stay there."
He was well supported by Brian To'o, who ran 182 metres and produced three offloads.
It was a willing contest early, but broke open when Martin surged through a hole in the 22nd minute to set up Dylan Edwards.
A James Maloney field goal on the halftime siren gave the hosts a 9-0 lead at the break.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler was impressed with the fightback but rued a lost two points.
"It could've gone either way at 15-0 down. It was pretty pleasing to see the way we hung in there and a few things started to work for us," he said.
"It was good to get back into the game. I guess there were a few opportunities there that we could've taken but we didn't."
On a sour note for the Panthers, prop Tim Grant could be facing a lengthy stint on the sidelines after suffering a suspected pectoral tear.
- AAP
