After the Panthers’ loss to the North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday afternoon, coach Ivan Cleary made a striking and somewhat peculiar analogy during the post-match press conference. He likened his team’s defeat to baking a cake without icing, an unusual metaphor that drew attention.
Cleary’s mood was notably better compared to after Penrith’s Round 11 loss to the New Zealand Warriors. However, his analogy about the game was still striking. He explained that his team didn’t start well, giving up a long-range intercept that resulted in the Cowboys’ first score. Despite feeling that his team was building towards something throughout the match, they never quite completed their efforts, much like a cake without icing.
Currently, the Panthers are sitting in second place on the table at the end of Round 17, trailing the Melbourne Storm by four points but still securely within the top four. Cleary acknowledged that resting his State of Origin players impacted the club’s attack. He mentioned that the connection was off, particularly in how they finished their sets. He credited the Cowboys for hanging in there, especially when the game was at 12-6, a point where the Panthers felt they could capitalize.
The victory for Todd Payten’s Cowboys places them just inside the top eight, with a tightly packed field vying for finals spots. Teams like the Canterbury Bulldogs, the Dolphins, St George Illawarra Dragons, Manly Sea Eagles, Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights, and Canberra Raiders are all within two competition points of each other, making the race for the finals highly competitive.
The Panthers were significantly affected by the absence of several senior players due to Origin commitments, with both teams missing a combined ten players. For the Panthers, Brian To’o, Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai, and Liam Martin were rested, while the Cowboys were without Reece Robson, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Valentine Holmes, Jeremiah Nanai, and Murray Taulagi.
Cleary pointed out that the lack of cohesion was partly due to the missing Origin players. He noted that the team struggled to take opportunities at the right time and didn’t pose enough of a threat to the Cowboys’ defense. Despite two first-half sin-binnings for the Cowboys, the Panthers only managed to score six points, as the Cowboys’ goal-line defense proved too strong for the disjointed Panthers’ attack.
Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater was sent to the bin in the 13th minute for a professional foul, but despite being down a man, the Cowboys managed to score. Kyle Feldt’s 60-meter intercept run led to Braidon Burns scoring a try. The Cowboys’ defense held strong even with a man down, keeping the Panthers scoreless during that period. The Panthers finally broke through when Jaxon Purdue was binned for a trip on Daine Laurie, with Brad Schneider scoring the Panthers’ only points.
Cleary reiterated that the team felt like they were building towards something throughout the night but never quite achieved it, comparing the effort to baking a cake without icing. Isaah Yeo was the only Origin player to back up, and his introduction after 20 minutes gave the Panthers some rhythm, but the Cowboys rose to the challenge. Schneider’s kicking game was inconsistent, leaving fans and players longing for the premiership-winning combination of Luai and Nathan Cleary. The Panthers hope to have Nathan Cleary back for their Round 20 clash against the Dolphins.
For North Queensland, the win moved them into the top eight for the first time since Round 7. Coach Todd Payten praised his team’s performance, calling it one of their most mature displays. He highlighted their resilience in defending with 12 players for 20 minutes and their effective scramble defense on the try line. The Cowboys’ error-free second half and solid field position play were key factors in their victory.
The Panthers missed their experienced players and struggled with cohesion and finishing sets, which Cleary acknowledged. Meanwhile, the Cowboys showcased a strong defensive effort and took advantage of their opportunities, securing a crucial win in a tightly contested race for the finals.
