The Panthers have made it three wins on the trot with a 42-12 victory over an injury riddled Rabbitohs side.
Losing his starting halfback and fullback in the first half and two forwards to the sin bin, it was a tough night out for South Sydney interim coach Ben Hornby in his first night in the hot seat.
The Rabbitohs showed some early positive signs, leading 12-0 17 minutes into the match however the struggling South Sydney side face another tough week in the spotlight after allowing the premiers to run in four tries in the second half.
It wasn’t the start the Panthers were hoping for with centre Izack Tago sin binned six minutes in for a hip drop tackle on Jye Gray and the Rabbitohs opened the scoring in the next set through Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson.
The Rabbitohs capitalised on the advantage again four minutes later when Cody Walker bent a crafty kick inside for Dean Hawkins to pounce on between the uprights and the Bunnies had a 12-0 lead.
Just seconds after Tago returned to play, Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow traded spots in the sheds after being sent to the bin for a ball strip.
The Panthers were quick to give the 12-man Rabbitohs a taste of their own medicine with Sunia Turuva darting over on the right edge before Brad Schneider cruised over untouched four minutes later to level the scoreboard 12-12.
Eight minutes before the break Penrith had a third with a Jarome Luai short ball opening the door for Luke Garner to extend the lead 18-12 at the break.
The Rabbitohs continued to hang tough in the second half denying the Panthers several opportunities early into the second term but the Premiers kicked on in the 59th minute with Lindsay Smith benefiting off a Brad Schneider kick.
The Rabbitohs defence started to show gaps late in the match and a quick tap from Dylan Edwards put the Panthers on the front foot and Taylan May took the ball downfield to extend the lead 30-12.
Heads down and hands on hips, South Sydney’s defence broke down in the final ten minutes and Garner made it a double thanks to a crafty Turuva flick pass before Tago laid the final try of the match.
Source: NRL.com