Penrith Panthers have welcomed back playmaker Nathan Cleary in time to dispatch Parramatta Eels 27-8, as the defending NRL champions and regular season winners advanced further into the playoffs.
The result has earned them a week off in the preliminary final, but may cost them winger Taylan May, who was sin-binned for a high tackle on Eels centre Will Penisini and faces a one-week suspension with a guilty plea.
May, 21, was already under scrutiny by the NRL, after he was found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm. He has been issued with a breach notice that carries a two-match suspension, $7500 fine and a requirement to attend counseling, but the ban will apply to the 2023 season.
Panthers winger Brian To'o grabbed two tries - one in each half - as his team led 7-6 at halftime and poured on the afterburners after the restart. All four of their tries were converted by Cleary, who also kicked a penalty and a field goal for good measure.
The star half was returning from a four-week suspension for a dangerous throw against Parramatta last month.
The Eels' only try came from Auckland-born Oregon Kaufusi. After finishing fourth in the regular season, they will survive into next week, when they face the winners of Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders.
Penrith Panthers 27 (To'o 2, Edwards & Fisther-Harris tries; Cleary 4 conversions, penalty & field goal) Parramatta Eels 8 (Kaufusi try; Moses conversion & penalty)
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