Panthers 24
Bulldogs 18
Penrith have booked a first home NRL final since 2004 with a thrilling come-from-behind performance to beat Canterbury 24-18 in a controversial encounter at ANZ Stadium.
It was a dramatic victory for the Panthers, who ended the game with 12 men after captain Petero Civoniceva became the first player to
be sent off this season for a high shot on Gary Warburton with 10 minutes remaining.
Michael Jennings sealed a remarkable comeback for the Panthers, who had trailed 16-0 at one stage, scoring a 70-metre try with six seconds remaining.
The result could have been reversed had the retiring Brett Kimmorley's field goal attempt, 30 metres in front of the posts, not been charged down by Travis Burns.
Luke Lewis then gathered the loose ball and found Jennings who raced to the line and seal the win.
On top of losing Civoniceva the Panthers also played most of the second half without key playmaker Luke Walsh, with the halfback limping off with a knee injury.
The Bulldogs, who were determined to send departing veterans Luke Patten and Kimmorley out on a high in their final home games for the club, came racing out of the blocks with three tries in the opening 15 minutes.
Kevin Moore resisted the temptation to leave under-fire prop Ryan Tandy out of the side after he was embroiled in a betting controversy and his side produced one their best opening 40 minutes of a disappointing season.
Turner broke the deadlock from the Bulldogs' opening set when he barged over in the right corner after being teed up by Patten's pass.
Jamal Idris increased the lead in the ninth minute, before Ben Roberts weaved his way into good field position and found skipper Andrew Ryan, who made no mistake.
Sandor Earl kick-started the fightback late in the opening stanza, hauling in a magnificent one-handed flick pass from the in-form Michael Gordon.
The difficulties Kevin Moore's side have had all season in creating chances came back to haunt them as the under-par Panthers got themselves back into the game after the interval.
Burns, who took on the kicking responsibilities with Walsh sidelined, delivered two towering bombs that put the Panthers in front, with the metronomic Gordon kicking the conversions.
The first was scored by Brad Tighe and Trent Waterhouse grabbed the second, but a Bryson Goodwin penalty levelled the scores to set up a tense finish.
After two unsuccessful field goal efforts from Tighe and Burns, Kimmorley looked set to win the game, only for the 12 men to snatch the win in dramatic circumstances.
- AAP
