Luai stands tall and delivers on Origin eve as Penrith withstand late ...

The Penrith Panthers have withstood a sugring Newcastle Knights to win 26-18 at McDonald Jones Stadium, consolidating their place in the NRL’s top four at the season’s halfway point.

Newcastle began the game incredibly, matching Penrith physically through the middle and opening the game’s scoring when rookie fullback Fletcher Sharpe slipped past Jarome Luai and Dylan Edwards to score his second NRL try in as many games.

Throughout much of the game’s early arm wrestle, Sharpe was the brightest spark, threatening to break the rigid Penrith defensive line every time he touched the football.

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Round 15

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To their credit, the Knights too were solid in the game’s opening 20 minutes, with their scramble defence and desperation to protect their goal line on show throughout.

Scott Sorensen’s opening try was as much a by-product of effort and luck for the Penrith back rower as anything. Contesting a chipped kick a few metres from Newcastle’s try line, Sorensen was able to collect a bobbling ball and crash over for his side’s first of the night.

Brian To’o’s try in the 19th minute was Penrith at their best. With the reigning Premiers opting to run on last, Brad Schneider’s pass found the NSW Origin winger, who strolled over for his side’s second of the night.

From there, the momentum was all Penrith. Luai began to insert himself into the match more and more as the minutes wore on, with the Penrith halfback forcing three drop outs in the opening 40 to help his side build pressure.

Just after half an hour, it was the ballplaying and deception that’s become a hallmark of Luai’s game that saw him stroll over.

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Faking to drop two teammates underneath him. Luai burst into a gaping hole in the Newcastle goal line defence to all but certainly cement himself as Mitch Moses’ halves partner for the Blues in Game II.

Right on half-time it was Luai again influencing the scoreboard, this time slipping Lindsay Smith over for a try.

An arm wrestle ensued for the opening 10 minutes of the second half, only for a runaway Dylan Lucas to break the deadlock, score the Knights’ second try of the night and kick the home side into life.

A Dylan Edwards trysaver on Dane Gagai threatened to deflate a surging Knights side in the 60th minute only for Bradman Best to score on the very next tackle to spark the home crowd into delirium.

Newcastle’s momentum continued off the ensuing kick off, when Best was sent streaking down the sideline by Greg Marzhew, only to be brought down 30 metres from Penrith’s line. Nothing came off the Knights’ next set.

This just felt like a brilliant Newcastle comeback. They had all the field position and were aiming up in defence, restricting the Panther’s metres.

Only for Moses Leota to do what he’s done so often, including the 2023 Grand Final, and turn the tide in his side’s favour.

MATCH CENTRE: Knights vs Panthers live score, stats

Noticing a relaxed Newcastle defensive line, Leota charged in behind the Knights’ ruck, beat a few tackles and found his fullback Dylan Edwards to give Penrith an eight point lead.

Newcastle threatened often in the game’s closing stages, notably when another Hastings chip found an onrushing Best on his own 30 metre line, only for Dylan Edwards brought the centre down and Newcastle wasted the next set, as was the case for much of the Knights’ second half.

However, for every Newcastle half-chance there was a wave of Penrith shirts in coverage, preventing any late Knights rally from stealing the two points from the reigning Premiers.

In the end, Penrith proved too good, as they always do, but Newcastle only have themselves to blame for letting this game slip away, with their wastefulness costing them in the game’s critical moments.

WHAT WE LEARNED

SHARPE BY NAME, SHARPE BY NATURE

There was not a moment Fletcher Sharpe got the ball against the Panthers where the crowd did not get out of their seat.

In for David Armstrong, who appears heavily on the out at Newcastle, Sharpe slipped out a Jarome Luai tackle and left Dylan Edwards for dead to score the games opening try, with his brilliance catching the praise of Fox League commentator Andrew Voss.

“A star is born!” Voss said.

Sharpe’s try was the first of many strong involvements throughout the game, both in an attack and defence, with the rookie fullback playing like “he’s been there for 100 games” in Voss’ eyes.

In what was a tight match during the opening exchanges, with neither Newcastle or Penrith giving the other too much, Sharpe was the brightest spark for the home side, threatening to break the line or create something with every touch.

“That’s the difference in this game at the moment, the flashes of brilliance from Fletcher Sharpe,” Fox League’s Cooper Cronk said at the time.

Speaking on the half-time show, Fox League’s Greg Alexander said Sharpe looks “very, very good, doesn’t he?”

“I can understand now why David Armstrong is looking to go overseas,” Alexander added.

Sharpe’s involvement faded in the second half, but that was largely as his senior players - particularly Jackson Hastings and Bradman Best - stepped up and threatened in attack.

In an otherwise bitter afternoon for Newcastle, Fletcher Sharpe was a bright glimmer of hope.

IT REALLY WAS LUAI’S NIGHT

It was fitting that on the eve of Michael Maguire selecting his side for Origin Game II Jarome Luai had arguably one of his best performances of the season.

In recent weeks fans have grown accustomed to Luai stepping up in Nathan Cleary’s absence. Against Newcastle this was no difference.

After Penrith withstood early waves of Newcastle pressure, Luai’s influence over the game increased, culminating in his wonderfully taken 33rd minute try and his beautiful pass to set up Lindsay Smith’s try right on half time.

Luai’s performance was so outstanding, particularly in the first half, that it led to Fox League’s Braith Anasta to sing his praises on the halftime show.

“Jarome Luai who got better and better as that half went on. It really is a Luai masterclass,” Anasta said..

“Without doubt Jarome Luai was a superstar in the first half and the best player on the field.”

Roosters five-eighth agreed with Anasta, stating Luai’s “been the best player on the field by a mile.”

According to the FoxLab, Luai finished the game with a try, 98 run metres, six tackle breaks, one try assist, three line break assists and four forced dropouts. Michal Maguire may never make an easier phone call than the one he’ll make to inform Jarome of his Game II selection.

BRADMAN BEST, A LATE ORIGIN CALL UP?

Newcastle’s Bradman Best produced an electrifying second half performance to potentially give Michael Maguire a late Origin call up.

Best’s name has been spoken in Origin circles for the last 12 months, with his strong performance in 2023’s Game III cementing him as a star in the arena.

However, injury robbed the Newcastle star of a chance to be selected for Game I. With Joseph Sua’ali’i suspended for the series’ second game in Melbourne a place in the Blues centres opened up.

While it appears Latrell Mitchell is the frontrunner for New South Wales’ left centre role, Best did himself plenty of favours with his second half erupting against the Panthers.

Best scored once, ran for 182 metres and broke the line twice in the second half of his side’s 26-18 loss, proving once again that he is one of the game’s premier young centres.

But was it enough to influence Madge’s selection thinking? Only time will tell.

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