The Cronulla Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs are only one win away from a NRL Grand Final appearance.
The Sharks beat the Penrith Panthers 21-20 with the help of a Chad Townsend field goal to earn themselves a date with the Melbourne Storm in next weeks preliminary final.
In the first half, the Sharks dominated and were set to beat the Panthers convincingly. Valentine Holmes bagged a double while with Wade Graham missing in action, the experience of Luke Lewis and Paul Gallen really proved the difference in the forwards battle. Discipline in the first forty was a problem for the Panthers as errors costed them their opportunities.
It was 18-2 at half-time and the Panthers needed to turn things around desperately. I am not to sure what coach Cameron Ciraldo said in the sheds, but the passion, the will to win and the belief was back. The Panthers scratched and clawed to lock it up at 20-all but fell short as Townsend broke the hearts of the Penrith faithful in the closing minutes. The Sharks now head to Melbourne to play off for a spot in the Grand Final.
In the final game of the Semi-Finals, the Rabbitohs outlasted the St George Illawarra Dragons 13-12 allowing them to face the Sydney Roosters.
Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds kicked three field goals to end the Dragon’s hopes of making it to the Grand Final.
The game was gritty and fiery. The Dragons were the better team in the first half with the Rabbitohs not making the most of their possession with the football.
The first 10 minutes saw two penalty goals between the two sides but before the half-time hooter sounded, Ben Hunt scored neared the uprights showing some individual brilliance dazzling through the defence.
In the second forty, the start couldn’t have been any better for the Red V as a penalty goal from young Zac Lomax made the score 10-2. Reynolds then scored for the Rabbitohs making the score 10-8. Souths were then gifted two points as with time running out, discipline and fatigue proved to be costly for the Dragons.
All locked up at 10-all, Reynolds knocked over a field goal in the 70th minute. As the game went on the Dragons were given an opportunity to secure a penalty goal with four minutes remaining of the match. In the final minute, Adam Reynolds kicked the winning field goal to make them one win away from another Grand Final appearance.
