Cleary magic saves Panthers again; ‘butchered’ late act cops great’s wrath — What we learned

An NRL legend has delivered a scathing assessment of a Knights playmaker for failing in crucial moments in Newcastle’s close 22-14 loss to the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium on Sunday.

Fox League’s Cooper Cronk was critical of some the choices Newcastle five-eighth Tyson Gamble made at pivotal moments in a nail-biting affair.

Daniel Saifiti opened proceedings in the 6th minute when he dived over from close range following some great lead-up play

Casey McLean hit back for the Panthers three minutes later after a lovely Jarome Luai draw and pass sent the centre over in the left corner.

Izack Tago edged the Panthers in front after Brian To’o shot up the right flank before delivering an inside pass to his centre for his first try in eight games.

Penrith made the most of poor Kalyn Ponga dropout which failed to go 10 metres via Tago who looked to have notched his second while pouncing on a pinpoint Nathan Cleary grubber only for the Bunker to deny him for separation with the ball while scoring.

“I think it (the ball) stayed in contact,” Fox League’s Cooper Cronk said.

“There’s been a slight shift in the adjudication of those tries from the start of the year to now.

“Newcastle get away with one there.”

The home side took a 14-6 lead into the break via a gift Cleary penalty goal after Knights interchange forward Jack Hetherington caught Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny high from 10 metres out.

After 18 minutes of back-and-forth Tyson Frizell finally opened the second half scoring off a questionable Gamble pass got his team back in the fight to trail by two points.

“At first look I thought it was forward,” Cronk said.

To’o looked to have scored after scooping up a Kalyn Ponga no look pass to run 50m untouched before replays showed the Knights fullback was caught high by Tago who was put on report.

Newcastle levelled it at 14-14 in the very next set after Isah Yeo made high contact with Phoenix Crossland gifting Ponga a gift two-points from 10m out.

Cleary wrangled back the lead with a try reminiscent of his 2023 grand final heroics after beating a retreating defence to put his team six points clear.

“With the game on the line you want better defence than that,” Cronk said of Newcastle.

Ponga was penalised for a high shot on Tago two minutes later and may have been hard done according to Cronk.

“I don’t even think it’s worth a penalty to be honest,” he said.

“That’s not a penalty.”

The Knights created an opportunity moment later as winger Fletcher Sharpe shot up the left flank to get within 10 metres of the line on the final tackle, before Gamble drilled an absolute shocker dead to deny his team of scoring with five minutes remaining.

“With the game on the line that is a horrible kick from Tyson Gamble,” Cronk said.

“All he had to do was kick that ball in play – no one’s at the back – there’s no fullback in play.

“Newcastle Knights just butcher an opportunity there.”

Gamble then lost the ball moments later 10 metres out from the Panthers line after pushing a pass.

Cleary slotted a 79th minute penalty conversion after being caught high in the final minute.

“Tyson’s Gamble’s ability to execute a play with the game on the line has fallen short today,” Cronk said.

10 minutes before kick off, the Knights suffered an injury blow with prop Jacob Saifiti ruled out after going down in the warm ups.

Saifiti fell to the ground without contact and hobbled back to the dressing rooms with a calf injury.