NRL: Panthers claw way up ladder

Panther Luke Walsh is well held. Photo / Getty Images

Penrith 28 Newcastle 10

The Panthers produced another largely clinical, calculated display to maintain their drive towards the playoffs and even premiership contention.

The Knights were directionless and went to the break 18-0 down despite the high profile returns of Kurt Gidley and Jarrod Mullen in the halves. Centre Adam MacDougall, hooker Isaac De Gois and wing James McManus also returned.

It wasn't until the second half the Knights showed any control. Wing Akuila Uate scored the try of the match in the 42nd minute from a Gidley chip over the top. He planted the ball firmly in the left corner just centimetres inside the touch line after juggling under pressure in a tackle.

That drove the Knights to make it 18-10 in the 62nd minute after some slick passing to McManus. If Cory Paterson had not knocked a ball forward in the air in the 65th, it would have produced a tense last 15 minutes.

Newcastle slipped away in the final 10 minutes, courtesy of a series of simple Knights' ball-handling errors.

In contrast, Penrith are second only to the Dragons in making mistakes this season and it showed. Their football, especially near the line, was largely fancy-free. They drew, passed or threaded kicks through the opposition defensive line with ease.

The Panthers also have the lowest average linebreaks per match of any team but that is countered by the most tries scored from kicks.

Second-rower Gavin Cooper's try last night came courtesy of halfback Luke Walsh's precise boot. Lock Luke Lewis also slipped a grubber through for centre Michael Jennings.

The first quarter proved crucial. The Knights could not compete against the Panthers' ability to complete seven out of eight (88 per cent) sets. Newcastle also missed nine tackles during that period compared to a perfect record by the Panthers.

The Knights struggled to get field position to dilute the Penrith dominance. When they did, they were too often impotent near the line. The Panthers had few problems with their solid defence.

Penrith move to second on the table with 18 points, a position dependent on how Manly fare against Brisbane later today.

Newcastle remain 12th on 10 points but could slip a further spot if North Queensland beat South Sydney by four points or more tomorrow.

Penrith 28 (G. Cooper, B. Tighe 2, M. Jennings, L. Coote tries, M. Gordon 4 goals) Newcastle 10 (A. Uate, J. McManus tries, K. Gidley goal). Halftime: Penrith 18-0.