Penrith Panthers clinched their fourth victory of the Jersey Flegg Cup season with a dominant performance, securing a 52-14 win over the Kaivitia Silktails at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji.
Despite the fervent support for the Silktails from the locals, the Panthers showcased their skills with six first-half tries, leading 28-4 at halftime. While the Silktails managed to score two tries in the second half, the Panthers’ early lead proved insurmountable.
Doubles from Casey McLean, Nick Murphy, and Aston Warwick, along with tries from Jaxon Edgar, Angelis Hotere-Papalii, Blake Moore, and Francis Manuleleua, contributed to the Panthers’ comprehensive victory. Billy Scott kicked six goals for the Panthers.
Despite showing resilience in the second half, Silktails coach Wes Naiqama acknowledged that his team struggled with handling errors and injuries, emphasizing the need to focus on defensive discipline and the learning process moving forward.
“We just need to keep putting in the hard work. We know we need to improve – we’re conceding too many points.”
Despite their challenges, the Silktails showed moments of brilliance, such as winning contested kicks and executing well-worked tries, like Mitchell Poulter’s score after five sets of passes. Additionally, Melikiseteki Nacaginimasei’s precise cut-out pass led to Jone Navunidreudreu’s second try.
Looking ahead, the Silktails will face South Sydney at Redfern Oval in Round Seven as they aim for their first win, while the Panthers will host the Wests Tigers at BlueBet Stadium.
