By ABC
Penrith Panthers celebrate a try against the Canterbury Bulldogs. Photo: Photosport
Penrith are the kings of September, crushing Canterbury-Bankstown 46-26 to keep their hopes of a fifth-consecutive NRL premiership alive.
The only concern for the Panthers will be a late shoulder or rib injury to Liam Martin, who left the field late on and disappeared down the tunnel in pain.
The backrower returned to the bench before the full time siren though, telling ABC Sport after the match that he was "alright" and it was "just a bit of carry on".
Isaah Yeo was also placed on report, but should have no trouble with the judiciary for what looked like an innocuous tackle.
The Panthers will head to Brisbane for a blockbuster preliminary final on Sunday week, taking on the Broncos at Lang Park in a repeat of the 2023 grand final.
The Panthers were absolutely perfect through the first 40 minutes, completing a perfect 20 sets and scoring six tries to one to obliterate any hopes the Bulldogs had of rescuing their season.
Nathan Cleary, as ever, pulled all the strings, playing a hand in everything the Panthers did well.
"That first half was our best of the year," Cleary told Fox Sports after the match.
Paul Alamoti scored a hat-trick, Brian To'o a first-half double, with Liam Henry, Isaiah Papali'i and Cleary also crossing.
Liam Martin makes a break for the Penrith Panthers. Photo: Photosport
Both wingers were sublime, Alamoti running for 242 metres and To'o for 260 as they ran the brittle Bulldogs defence ragged.
Lachlan Galvin had a mixed game, scoring a try in the first half but making far too many errors as the Bulldogs completed just 30 of their 40 sets.
Jacob Preston added some respectability to the score late on, with Bronson Xerri and Jacob Kiraz also scoring.
But it was far too little, far too late as the Bulldogs ended a promising season with a whimper, winning just two of their last eight games.
- ABC
