Panthers’ minor premiership celebrations are marred by injury to star hooker Api Koroisau
Penrith’s celebrations for a historic NRL season were marred by an ankle injury to influential hooker Api Koroisau.
The Panthers secured a second minor premiership in a row and became the first team in history to win 20 games in three NRL seasons as they thrashed the Warriors 46-12 at BlueBet Stadium on Friday.
The win, however, may have come at a cost as Koroisau appeared to roll his ankle midway through the first half. The New South Wales hooker he tried to play on, before leaving the field early in the second half and did not return.
The Panthers celebrated a second consecutive minor premiership on Friday night
Mitch Kenny is a solid back-up option for the Panthers but the experienced Koroisau, in career-best form, would be a significant loss heading into the last week of the regular season.
The win over the Warriors is set to have been the last regular season game for at least a handful of star Panthers, with the club telling AAP this week that coach Ivan Cleary was likely to rest players for the round 25 clash against North Queensland.
Cleary previously refused to confirm whether Jarome Luai would make the trip to Townsville but in his first game back from a four-week injury lay-off, the five-eighth proved he won’t need another week to be ready for NRL action.
When the game was in the balance, the Panthers were most active down Sean O’Sullivan’s right side but Luai nevertheless found opportunities to flaunt his famous running game.
Api Koroisau picked up an ankle injury in the first half of the game against the Warriors
A line break early in the second half dispelled any lingering doubt about his fitness.
The Warriors gave Penrith an early scare when Dunamis Lui cut through a feeble tackle from Chris Smith, who was called in late to replace Liam Martin (rested).
Lui’s break led to a Reece Walsh try and the Panthers showed their nerves in some poor fifth-tackle options and sloppy handling.
But the Warriors didn’t have the defensive muscle to restrain the Panthers once they found their rhythm.
Jarome Luai was at his best as the Panthers thrashed the Warriors at BlueBet Stadium
Taylan May grabbed a double as the Panthers ran in eight tries to two on Friday night
Villiame Kikau was also on the scoreboard for the reigning premiers against the Warriors
By half-time, the Warriors had made 25 missed tackles to Penrith’s one.
The Panthers were especially destructive on the edges, wingers Taylan May and Brian To’o breaking their dry spells with two tries each.
Penrith prop Spencer Leniu left the field with a shoulder complaint in the second half but the Panthers didn’t want for intensity through the middle.
Leading the way, James Fisher-Harris played the first 61 minutes of his first game back from suspension for 181-run metres.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo (left) praised the Panthers’ second minor premiership in three years as a ‘massive achievement’ for the club
The Panthers secured the minor premiership with last week’s win over South Sydney and at fulltime, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo presented the side with the JJ Giltinan Shield.
‘The Penrith Panthers’ second minor premiership in three years is a massive achievement and testament to the professionalism of everyone at the club,’ Abdo said.
The Panthers are putting part of their $100,000 minor premiership bonus towards a chartered flight to Townsville next week.
It remains to be seen how many of their star players will be given boarding passes.
