As it happened: Panthers claim minor premiership; Sloan boots Dragons to victory

Follow all the action from Round 27 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.

Panthers v Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium

Media conferences

Wests Tigers

Panthers 

Full-time: The Panthers are the 2026 minor premiers after claiming a 38-10 victory over Wests Tigers. They did the damage in the first half with a 28-0 lead, but a spirited Wests Tigers outfit made them work harder in the second. The game finished with Wests Tigers making up some ground in the stats, with Panthers producing 11 line breaks to 6 after having 7-0 at the halftime break. Penrith coach Ivan Cleary gave a number of his stars including Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards an early mark, while it was a boost for the side to see the successful return from injury of key duo Mitch Kenny and co-captain Isaah Yeo. 

79th min: This time it's a successful captain's challenge for the Panthers who lost the ball, but earlier, Moses Leota was tackled without the ball, so they get the ball back. 

70th min: An inconclusive captain's challenge from the Panthers after Nathan Cleary's kick is diffused in the in-goal for a seven-tackle set. He thought Wests Tigers had touched in flight, but not enough evidence to overturn. They keep their challenge. 

65th min: A hat-trick for Casey McLean, with the centre proving too quick and too strong to handle for the Wests Tigers defence. 

64th min: Injury update - Alex Seyfarth is told to lead the field for a HIA. 

61st min: A successful captain's challenge from the Panthers who didn't agree they had knocked on a ball first in a contest for a kick and the Bunker agrees. 

59th min: But, they didn't have to wait long to get back on the board, with Casey McLean running in for another four-pointer off an error from Wests Tigers. The Panthers defence jolts the ball free from Patrick Herbert looking to run the ball out and Casey is there to collect. Cleary's conversion is successful and the score is 32-10. 

57th min: A no-try to the Panthers on the field to Brian To'o after Liam Martin knocks on in the contest. Score remains 26-10. 

51st min: Back-to-back tries for Wests Tigers who have scored when the teams are 13 v 13. They go out to their left edge with rookie Solomone Saukuru getting another NRL try. Wests Tigers have played up-tempo football since coming out for the second half and are getting some reward. Jock Madden slots this one and it's 26-10. 

46th min: Wests Tigers have come out firing and looking to capitalise on having the one-player advantage and have decided to throw the ball around. A big flood down field, featuring a run from Junior Tupou that included a massive fend on Dylan Edwards helps set them up to shift the ball out to their right, where Jeral Skelton fends away Jenkins to score. Jock Madden can't convert so it's 26-4. 

42nd: An unsuccessful captain's challenge by Wests Tigers on a contested kick, thinking the Panthers had knocked on, but the Bunker disagreed. 

41st min: Jarome Luai has not come on for the second half, with Latu Fainu coming on for his opportunity in a pre-determined decision by coach Benji Marshall. 

Half-time: The Panthers are proving far too strong for Wests Tigers and have a big 26-0 lead at the break. Tom Jenkins has a first-half double to share the lead for the try scorers list for the season with 30. The Panthers have enjoyed 58 percent of the possession and completed at 81 percent (18/22) and have made seven line breaks to none. While trailing heavily, Wests Tigers have put up a fight, but just can't find the right last play to get through the relentless Panthers defence. In a boost for the Panthers, skipper Isaah Yeo has come on to feature in the match, making his return from a pec injury, with Mitch Kenny starting. 

38th min: The Panthers are down to 12 players with Jack Cole sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.

31st min: More points for the Panthers, with Jenkins helping in setting up Dylan Edwards for another try the emerges from their left-hand side. The Wests Tigers defence don't spread quickly enough initially and then a decision by Jeral Skelton to jam in doesn't pay off and leaves the edge exposed. Cleary converts again and it's 26-0. 

29th: A double for Tom Jenkins, who is now tied with Alex Johnston on 30 tries for the most in the season. A break mid-break from Liam Martin sets it up and then the Panthers go out to their left for their winger to finish the job. Cleary's conversion attempt from the left touchline is off the uprights, so the score remains 20-0. 

21st min: Back out to the other side of the field now and Tom Jenkins somehow keeps his body in the air and gets ball down before going in to touch, despite another valiant attempt from Bula to stop him. Nathan Cleary misses this time so the score remains 16-0. 

16th min: An easy try from dummy half for Casey McLean who darts out and runs from a metre out, but the Wests Tigers are too slow off the line and the Kiwi international can burst his way through. Nathan Cleary's conversion attempt on the far left touchline is successful for a 12-0 lead. 

13th min: Some good goal-line defence from Patrick Herbert and Bula to keep Liam Henry out when it looked like he was about to add another try for the Panthers.

7th min: Opening try to the Panthers after they go out to their right, with Liam Martin making a break before finding his winger Brian To'o who is able to get over to score, despite a valiant attempt from Jahream Bula to try and hold him out. Nathan Cleary slots the conversion for a 6-0 lead. 

1st min: Captain's challenge from the Panthers is successful after the Bunker sees a strip by Wests Tigers on Lindsay Smith. 

Kick off: Panthers have first use of the ball.

Pre-game: The Panthers are wearing special jersey today to honour the late John Farragher OAM

Match preview

Late Mail

Panthers: No late changes on game day. Skipper Isaah Yeo will come from the bench as he makes his return after three games out with a pectoral injury. Hooker Mitch Kenny will play just his seventh game of the season as he returns from a leg injury. In a special tribute to the late John Farragher OAM, was originally named in jersey No.23. The Panthers will wear a Special Event Jersey celebrating his lifelong impact on the Panthers community.

Wests Tigers: The Tigers are 1-19 with no late changes on game day. Latu Fainu joins the interchange for his first game since Round 20 after recovering from a hamstring injury while prop Vaka Aho will make his NRL debut off the bench. Sione Fainu comes into the team for Tony Sukkar (delayed concussion symptoms). Prop Terrell May lines up for his 100th NRL game. 

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Dragons v Eels at WIN Stadium

Media conferences

Eels

Dragons

Full-time: The Dragons come from behind with a massive 40-metre, two-point field goal from Tyrell Sloan getting the job done for a 24-22 win. 

78th min: Blake Lawrie is back on the field from the sin bin and into the action - effecting a one-one-one steal to keep the Dragons on the front foot. 

75th min: Next minute - Tyrell Sloan boots a huge two-point field, super nonchalant, for a 24-22 lead. 

74th min: A good set up, but a field goal attempt from Mitch Moses is rendered off target by some rushing Dragons defence. 

71st min - injury alert: Play stopped while medical staff tend to Jordan Samrani after a nasty head clash. He comes from the field.

68th min: A massive collision and Blake Lawrie is sent to the sin bin for a shoulder charge on Dylan Walker. While not high, the match officials held concern for the level of force and he's off for 10. 

67th min: Back-to-back-to-back errors from the Eels are punished by the Dragons with youngster Connor Muhleisen over for a try in his second NRL game back from a long-term injury. Flanagan kicks the conversion - and once again this afternoon - scores are locked up. Teams are 22-22 with just over 12 minutes to play. 

57th min: A popular try scorer with the home fans, with Blake Lawrie charging over under the posts in his last game for the Red V. Flanagan converts to narrow the scores to 22-16. 

50th min: The Eels are on the board first in the second half and centre Jordan Samrani is over for his second. Parramatta had been building pressure and were able to make break down their left, before going back inside for Samrani through the middle who runs through to score. Moses converts and it's 22-10.  

Another injury alert - More issues for the Dragons, with Hamish Stewart off for a HIA. The forward had blood coming from his mouth, with concern shown by Eels opponents. Update - Stewart's afternoon is over after failing his HIA. 

Injury alert - Valentine Holmes comes from the field, replaced by Setu Tu. Holmes had been hampered by and awkward tackle early in the first half, but played on - but appears to have succumbed to an ankle injury.

Half-time: After a try in the final seconds of the half, the Eels take a 16-10 lead into the sheds. A fairly even first half with both sides chancing their arms, Parramatta have been able to capitalise on more of their chances. Some big efforts already across both teams with Dragons forward Toby Couchman finishing the half just shy of 100 metres (97), while Eels skipper Mitchell Moses has three try assists. 

40th min: Instead, it is the Eels who will go to the break with the lead after Dylan Walker gets his arm over the score after a crash play at the line, coming on to a ball from Moses. Moses converts this one from just to the right of the posts for a 16-10 lead.

39th min: Almost a first half double for Dylan Egan who was in the right spot to mop up the scraps of a Moses Suli tap-back on their line off a King-Tongia kick - however, the tap was forward and a knock on, so scores remain 10-10. 

27th min: Another involvement from Lykan King-Tongia to set up the next try, putting on a short-ball to a steaming Dylan Egan to run into a hole and charge away to the tryline to score. Flanagan can't convert, so it's again locked up, this time 10-10. 

20th min: Harrison Edwards is denied a try for the Eels after Moses is deemed offside from the kick and then gets involved in the action down field. 

18th min: The Eels then capitalise on their possession, with a scrum play out to their right finding Josh Addo-Carr who is able to get his upper body through two defenders to slam the ball down. Moses can't convert this one so the lead is 10-6 lead. 

18th min: A captain's challenge from the Dragons after Daniel Atkinson loses the ball and knocks it on - arguing there was high contact in a tackle. However, the Bunker disagrees and they lose their challenge. 

15th min: The home side don't have to wait long however to get their first try, with Tyrell Sloan showing his pace to bring in a bouncing kick by Lyhkan King-Togia kick to run in and score. Kyle Flanagan converts and scores are locked at 6-6. 

12th min: The Dragons are denied a try in response, with Moses Suli putting his foot out when try in get the ball down after a break down their right side.

2nd min: A perfect start with the first points of the day to the visiting Eels, with Jordan Samrani coming down with a Mitchell Moses kick. He was able to fight his way over the try line, despite the best efforts for the Dragons defenders. The Bunker takes a proper look with a hit that he may have grounded it short, but given the all clear for a try. Mitchell Moses slots the conversion for a 6-0 lead. 

Kick off: The Eels kick off for the last time this year, with both teams closing their seasons at full-time of this game. 

Note - the trial of the alternate kick-off rule is in play for this game. 

Match preview

Late Mail

Dragons: No late game-day changes. In earlier news, just the one change to the starting side with Blake Lawrie coming in at prop with Loko Pasifiki Tonga moving to lock and Ryan Couchman to the bench. 

Eels: One change on game day with Sean Russell moving to fullback and Apa Twidle shifting to the bench. In earlier news, Jordan Samrani (adductor) returns in the centres so Sean Russell originally went to the interchange in the only change to Jason Ryles' starting side. Veteran Jack de Belin returns on the bench after three games in NSW Cup while edge forward Tyrese Lokeni is in line for his NRL debut after 35 games in Cup across the past two seasons.