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Panthers have last laugh over Jarome Luai
Panthers have last laugh over Jarome Luai

Perth Now

time2 days ago

  • Sport
  • Perth Now

Panthers have last laugh over Jarome Luai

Penrith have had the last laugh over Jarome Luai, edging Wests Tigers for an 18-14 win in the four-time premiership hero's first game against his old side. Luai had a mixed reunion with the Panthers, playing a hand in all of the Tigers' three tries but gifting Penrith penalties ahead of two game-defining scores in Sunday's second half at CommBank Stadium. The Tigers' co-captain almost helped his team to victory in the final 10 minutes when Jack Bird regathered his bomb close to the line and offloaded to Jahream Bula. But a miraculous cover tackle from Scott Sorensen and Nathan Cleary stopped the fullback inches short of the line and the Panthers held on. THE TRY SAVER! 🤯#NRLTigersPanthers NRL (@NRL) June 8, 2025 Marking the Tigers' other ex-Panther in Sunia Turuva, left winger Tom Jenkins scored his first hat-trick in a win that keeps Penrith's mid-season resurgence humming. An away clash against the Warriors is set to prove a litmus test in a fortnight, with Penrith only able to lose four more games this season to finish with a 50 per cent winning record. Three-time reigning wooden spooners the Tigers head into their bye on a four-game losing streak that threatens to undo their improved start to the season. After the teams were locked at 10-10 at halftime, Cleary kicked for goal to put Penrith ahead after Luai tackled Penrith's new five-eighth Blaize Talagi. Jenkins completed his hat-trick, crossing just after Luai was cited for collecting Liam Martin on a kick chase. But Luai had been involved in everything the Tigers did well in a better first half for Benji Marshall's side. He first put boot to ball from his non-preferred right foot ahead of Starford To'a's try before again swinging to the right side as the Tigers shifted for Turuva to score. The 28-year-old was at the centre of another memorable moment early in the second half, flooring opposite man and long-term teammate Cleary in a bone-crunching one-on-one tackle. In his first game back from a hamstring injury, Jeral Skelton gave the Tigers a sniff with 10 minutes to play as Luai and Adam Doueihi found him on the left wing. But for a second consecutive week, the Panthers rediscovered their gritty best to hit their second bye in form.

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