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Corey Allan dives to score a try for the Rabbitohs against the Panthers. (AAP: Craig Golding)
The Rabbitohs continue their winning form with a 22-18 defeat of the struggling Panthers, while the Bulldogs enjoy a 24-12 victory over the Cowboys.
Rabbitohs add to Panthers' pain
Photo:
Rabbitohs full-back Alex Johnston attempts to beat the Panthers defence. (AAP: Craig Golding)
The Panthers have already lost Phil Gould and they are in danger of losing sight of the NRL top four after slumping to a 22-18 defeat to South Sydney.
Six months after turning their back on Wayne Bennett in favour of Ivan Cleary, the Panthers fought back from 10-0 down in Penrith on Friday night to get within two points.
A 57th-minute Cody Walker try briefly widened the margin, before Dallin Watene-Zelezniak replied to give the home side more hope.
A Dane Gagai four-pointer in the 73rd minute appeared to have sealed a Rabbitohs win, only for Viliame Kikau to brush aside five defenders and set up a grandstand finish.
Penrith had a couple more chances to steal the win, however the Panthers were left to rue a fifth loss from their opening seven matches of the season.
By the end of the round, they might finish as low as 14th, and have the daunting task next week of tackling high-flying Canberra.
In contrast, the two points for the Rabbitohs ensures they keep pace with ladder leaders the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne.
It was a hard-fought victory for Souths, who had to defend 55 plays inside their 20-metre zone compared to the 14 looks they had at the other end.
Both sides started at a cracking pace, but the Panthers opened up early when Kyle Turner ran over Nathan Cleary for first points.
Their lead doubled via a Dane Gagai miracle ball in the 20th minute. He poked through two defenders before popping a pass, while falling, for Corey Allan.
The Panthers thought they had their first try when James Fisher-Harris pounced on a grubber but it was taken back due to an incorrect play-the-ball.
In the end, the Panthers went into half-time tryless, however gained some spark soon after the resumption when James Maloney went over from close range.
Bulldogs outlast sluggish Cowboys
Corey Harawira-Naera has emerged as a surprise star in Canterbury's 24-12 win over North Queensland to pile the pain on the struggling Cowboys.
Harawira-Naera crossed for two second-half tries and pulled off a try saver on opposing backrower Gavin Cooper at Sydney's Olympic stadium on Friday night to help provisionally lift his side off the bottom of the table.
Outgoing Penrith supremo Phil Gould was reduced to tears at Harawira-Naera's decision to leave the foot of the mountains, and the New Zealander showed the Bulldogs had invested in a player of significant promise.
After Jayden Okunbor scored to level things up at 6-6 at half-time, Harawira-Naera gave his side the lead for the first time when he ran a beautiful line off Nick Meaney to score his first try for the club.
Skipper Josh Jackson extended his side's lead to 12 before man-of-the-match Harawira-Naera sailed into a hole off Adam Elliott to effectively seal the contest.
The Cowboys were threatening to force their way back into it when Ben Hampton crossed.
And Cooper looked set to score in the dying minutes but Harawira-Naera managed to get his hand under the ball and roll the Queensland State of Origin forward onto his back.
For the first six rounds, the Bulldogs struggled for spark and coming into the round were bottom of the league for points scored and line breaks.
But they looked to have found something in attack against the Cowboys, who now have just two wins and five losses after being pegged as premiership contenders during the preseason.
It was Paul Green's side's first appearance at the Olympic stadium since the 2017 grand final and the side has fallen dramatically in the last 18 months, despite their top 17 oozing class through the likes of Michael Morgan, Matt Scott, Jordan McLean and Josh McGuire.
The Cowboys were diabolical in the second-half, coming up with 10 errors as they handed the game to Dean Pay's team on a platter.
NRL ladder
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Topics: sport, rugby-league, nrl, homebush-2140, belmore-2192, townsville-4810, penrith-2750, redfern-2016
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