Source : ABC NEWS
Nathan Cleary nailed an 85th-minute field goal to clinch Penrith a thrilling 23-22 win over the gallant Dolphins in golden point in Darwin but the Panthers lost hooker Mitch Kenny to a serious leg injury.
Cleary landed a golden-point field goal in 2024 against the Dolphins to secure a 28-26 win and he was their nemesis again.
“In a long season you win different ways but that one was pretty special,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.
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“At 22-18 (down) we had everything against us. They were playing well and we had one crack down their end and scored.It says a fair bit about the team and their character that we somehow find a way to win.”
The Dolphins came back from an 18-0 deficit at halftime to rock the competition leaders and lead 22-18.
“I am really proud,” Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said.
“I just loved the way we came out in the second half and backed ourselves.
“It is hard to take. It hurts when you walk away and don’t get what you feel you deserved.”
Panthers winger Thomas Jenkins became the first player in premiership history to score try doubles in seven straight games and took his season tally to 16 tries.
His second try, in the 76th minute, levelled it up at 22-22, but Cleary was unable to land the sideline conversion.
Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa missed a long-range 83rd-minute field-goal attempt, but Cleary did not miss his from right in front.
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Kenny, who was in contention for the NSW No.9 jersey, was taken to hospital in the 18th minute after he was injured in a hip-drop tackle by Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima, who was sin-binned.
“We are fearing it is pretty serious,” Cleary said of Kenny’s injury.
“There was no malice in (the tackle). It was just unfortunate.”
The Panthers dominated the first half, with big-name stars Cleary, Dylan Edwards and Isaah Yeo in the ascendancy and they appeared to be cruising.
The Dolphins, inspired by centre Herbie Farnworth, rocketed back into it with four tries in 15 minutes to take the lead.
It was a back and forth battle in the top end. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
The England international conjured up two one-on-one ball steals, the second on Panther winger Brian To’o after the break, which turned the game.
Farnworth weaved his way over for an athletic try.
Dazzling fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow notched a trademark long-range four-pointer, and winger Selwyn Cobbo, who had a wretched first half, bullocked over out wide.
When centre Jake Averillo sliced over, the Dolphins had turned the game on its head.
The defence of the Dolphins was much improved on their 52-18 loss to Manly before they had a bye. The Panthers applied the blowtorch early in the match.
Cleary sliced through and his reliable partner in havoc Edwards, who threw Cleary the initial pass, backed up to score.
The Panthers made the most of the extra man, with Cleary sending halves partner Blaize Talagi over.
The Dolphins had their chances but errors let them down, despite the best efforts of Farnworth.
Talagi set up try-scoring whiz Jenkins with a pinpoint bomb that the winger leapt high to snaffle and score on the cusp of halftime.
Sasagi was in outstanding touch for the Raiders in their second-straight win. (Getty Images: Mark Nolan)
Earlier, Craig Bellamy has been left scratching his head after Melbourne’s worst start to an NRL season under his leadership continued with a 26-22 loss to Canberra at Bruce Stadium.
After experiencing their equal-worst start to a campaign through six games since 2001, Friday night’s result only compounded the woes for the Storm (2-5), who suffered a fifth consecutive loss for the first time since 2012.
Bellamy labelled his team inconsistent, as they mixed moments of brilliance with poor defensive and attacking efforts.
But the mentor couldn’t understand why it was happening.
“That inconsistency is really the frustrating thing for me at the moment,” Bellamy said.
“We’ve led at halftime for at least three games, and we just can’t get the result at the end. Let’s say we’re all scratching our heads at the moment.”
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
NRL Friday — live scoreboard
15h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 1:24pm
Signing off
And that will do me. Thanks so much for stopping by tonight, be sure to tune in again tomorrow and for every match until the end of the season – the ABC Sport team will be blogging them all.
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Panthers press conference: Mitch Kenny update
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary praises his teams effort in getting the win.
“At 22-18 we had everything against us. They were playing well and had the momentum,” Cleary said.
“We had one crack down their end and scored. That says a lot about the team and their character.”
He has an update on Mitch Kenny, who is in hospital.
“We’re fearing it’s pretty serious,” Cleary said.
“It just happens. Mitch did a similar thing a few weeks ago to Izzy Iongi. There’s no nastiness, it’s just unfortunate.
“All I’ve heard is they want to get him home. He’s a hard man to replace but Freddy (Lussick) did a good job in the Storm game and came on and did a good job tonight.”
15h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 12:49pm
Dolphins press conference: Woolf speaks on GP loss
Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf is speaking now.
“I’m really proud of our effort. We did it tough tonight, we had to defend a lot at the start of the match, that really takes it out of you – a lot of it was our fault, by the way,” Woolf said.
“I love how we came out and backed ourselves. It’s hard to take. We did enough to win the game.
“I don’t think it was a lack of experience or not playing the footy we wanted to, we gave them the opportunity and they took it.”
Isaiya Katoa is talking about his missed field goal shot in golden point.
“When I hit it I liked how I made contact. I thought I started it in the right position but once it got in the air I saw it drift,” Katoa said.
“It’s an opportunity I’m going to take every single time. I have to execute.”
15h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 12:46pm
Press conference updates will come tonight
Don’t go anywhere just yet – we’ll have live updates from the press conferences as soon as they get underway in Darwin.
Fulltime: Panthers 23 def Dolphins 22 in golden point
Katoa tries to bang one over from 40 and it just goes wide. Went dead though, so a seven tackle set for Penrith.
Cleary from 35…..charged down by Gilbert! Tago cleans it up and surges over the 30, he’s still going, dragged down 12 out.
Thirty seconds left till the break, Cleary from point blank range, Plath chases, dives, Cleary steps him and NAILS IT!
Penrith win 23-22.
16h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 12:07pm
83′ No field goal shots yet
Gilbert contests a bomb and is ruled to have knocked it on. The Phins will challenge – they won’t get it. Penrith feed on their own 30.
But they don’t even get over halfway. Cobbo takes Cleary’s bomb and the Dolphins work it away.
16h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 12:04pm
And golden point is underway!
Edwards kicks us off and we’re into sudden death! The Dolphins receive and have the breeze.
16h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 12:01pm
We’re off to golden point
Farnworth goes for a prayer from halfway but it’s well short. We’re off to golden point!
16h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 12:00pm
79′ Panthers blow a chance to ice it
A penalty on Gilbert for a hip drop on Jenkins and he’s on report. In the more immediate sense, the Panthers will get into field goal range.
But on the fourth Cleary throws a cut out that hits the ground and Jenkins knocks it on! What a lifesaver for the Dolphins.
76′ Panthers level the scores
The Panthers start moving the ball, Jenkins finds some space down the left and they’re on the attack for the first time in ages.
Cleary goes wide, Talagi throws a nice pass to Papali’i and he has Jenkins who goes over in the corner! Jenkins has broken the record for most consecutive doubles – that’s his 16th of the year – and now Cleary has a kick to put Penrith in front.
Right from the sideline……and he puts it way, way wide! It’s 22-all with not long left.
16h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 11:43am
65′ Phins deny Panthers
A penalty and a set restart puts Penrith on the attack but the Dolphins manage to hold the line and Cobbo intercepts Alamoti’s desperate pass on the last.
62′ Dolphins take a shock lead
And again, the Dolphins waste no time! Averillo busts through Tago and Jenkins cold to score the Phins fourth try in 15 minutes.
They’re in front – Katoa can’t convert but it’s 22-18 to the Queenslanders.
17h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 11:33am
60′ Phins nearly go in again
Edwards drops another bomb and the Phins are hunting the lead. A set restart helps them build pressure. Katoa is really starting to wheel and deal, he tries to find Lemuelu short in half a gap but the ball squeezes free.
Penrith hold on…but then Sorensen goes for a round the corner offload and it’s over the sideline! What is doing out there?
Time for a drinks break. This game is on a knife’s edge.
55′ Dolphins get their third in quick time
Edwards puts down a bomb and the Dolphins have a golden chance to level the scores.
And they do, in a matter of moments! Off the scrum they spread it left, Katoa goes right into the line and it gets all the way out to Cobbo to score in the corner.
Can Isaako level from touch? You bet! We’re square at 18-all!
52′ Dolphins back in the fight
Now we’ve got a ballgame! Averillo steps inside Tago, he’s got Tabuai-Fidow in support, he pushes away from the cover and glides around Edwards for a try under the posts!
Isaako converts and it’s 18-12 in quick time.
46′ Farnworth makes his mark
To’o loses an aeiral contest and the Dolphins are on the attack. Schneider tries to sneak over from dummy half. They spread it left, Farnworth gets some space and he beats two defenders to score!
Nice stuff from the Englishman – he’s been the Phins best by some way. Isaako converts and it’s back to 18-6.
17h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 11:10am
Second half is underway
And we’re halfway home in Darwin.
39′ Jenkins gets one for Penrith
Jenkins flies high and makes a fantastic catch over Isaako to score Penrith’s third try of the night!
A beauty of a catch from the competition’s leading tryscorer. Cleary converts and it’s 18-0 Panthers.
17h agoFri 17 Apr 2026 at 10:43am
35′ Dolphins can’t make Penrith pay
To’o drops a bomb and the Dolphins get their third full set in a row on Penrith’s line. But then Cobbo drops a sitter to release the pressure.
