The Canterbury Bulldogs have defeated the Penrith Panthers 18 points to 12 at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night. They will play South Sydney in the 2014 NRL Grand Final next weekend in a clash of the Sydney clubs.
The Bulldogs were far more efficient and made the most of their opportunities. They may be without key hooker Michael Ennis, who is in-doubt for the grand final with a foot/ankle injury.
The opening minutes signalled that this would be a tight contest. Both sides playing direct football and throwing everything at the opposition defense.
A comical Penrith error handed possession to the Bulldogs 10 metres from the try line and they capatalised through prop-forward James Graham. The colourful Pom crashed over the line after linking up with Michael Ennis close to the line. 6-0 after 16 minutes to Canterbury.
The Penrith Panthers looked nervous early and struggled to complete their sets, making 5 handling errors in 25 minutes.
The Dogs made them pay when Watene-Zelezniak lost control of the ball 15 metres from his own line. Second-Rower Josh Jackson ran a good angle hitting a cut-out pass thrown by Josh Reynolds to put Canterbury up by two converted tries.
Ironically it was a Canterbury Bulldogs handling error that gave Penrith the opportunity to post first points, but the Bulldogs defense held strong enduring several waves of attack.
Matt Moylan is the poster-boy for the Western Sydney club and has had a season to remember. He crossed in the final minute of the half, dummying and taking on the line. It took a piece of individual excellence to crack the stoic Bulldogs defense. 12-6 to the Canterbury Bulldogs at half-time.
Michael Ennis picked up a foot injury and was prevented from taking any further part in the game. The hooker a pivotal player for the Bulldogs in the centre of the park with his running and passing game.
A poor pass from dummy-half and consequential handling error ignited an emotional exchange between Graham and James Segeyaro as Canterbury struggled to deal with the loss of their facilitator.
With 25 minutes to go the next side to score was becoming more pivotal with each attacking play.
Greg Eastwood was able to get an offload away 5 metres from the line to Dale Finucane and Canterbury re-established their 12-point lead with 20 minutes remaining in the match.
The Panthers attack was ineffective for the majority of the match, with no real energy or variation. Jamie Soward was quiet, rarely attacking the line.
With only 9 minutes remaining, just as he did against the Roosters two weeks ago, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak brought the Panthers back into the frame with a great catch from a Soward bomb and try under the posts. Penrith 6-points down with 8 minutes to go.
Comfortable under pressure it seems, the Penrith Panthers attack switchd on. It was too little too late, as the Canterbury defense again held strong to deny extra-time and remove Penrith from the 2014 NRL Premiership.
The Canterbury Bulldogs win booking them a date with the South Sydney Rabbitohs next Sunday in the grand final. It will be the first time the two have met in a grand final. The Bulldogs last winning a premiership in 2004 when ironically the Rabbitohs were awarded the wooden spoon.
“We will just have to wait and see,” was all Michael Ennis could offer when asked about his injury at the end of the match. No doubt his progress will be closely scrutinised through the week.
