CANTERBURY’S LOSS TO COWBOYS COULD COST NRL $1 MILLION, PANTHERS SECURE TOP-TWO FINISH

Accor Stadium: Canterbury blew a golden chance to host an elimination final – and may have cost the NRL about $1 million in the process.

The Bulldogs rarely looked like scoring as North Queensland Cowboys blew them off the park to win 44-6.

Plenty of fans headed for the exit at Accor Stadium before the hour as Canterbury crashed to a second straight defeat to end the regular season

Matt Burton was missing because of concussion, but the Dogs still should have done better in attack without their five-eighth. Drew Hutchison started at five-eighth, but was replaced at half-time.

A Canterbury win would have sealed an elimination final at the Sydney Olympic Park venue next Saturday where a crowd of more than 50,000 was expected. That can only happen now if Manly lose at home to Cronulla on Sunday afternoon.

The NRL collects the gate takings during all finals games – and the difference between a sixth-versus-seventh elimination final at 4 Pines Park and 17,000 fans compared to more than 50,000 supporters at Accor Stadium could be about $1 million, according to sources with knowledge of the finances, but who are not authorised to speak publicly.

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has his own issues trying to get the NRL’s feelgood story of the year back up and humming.

“There’s a lot of stuff we need to fix pretty quickly before next week, but what is done is done. It’s a new competition starts next week, and we deserve to be there,” Ciraldo said.

“If we fix a couple of really simple things out of that performance, we’ll give ourselves a much better opportunity next week.”

Burton will return next week, as will Bronson Xerri from suspension, and more than likely Josh Addo-Carr, who was a late withdrawal because of an ankle issue.

Viliame Kikau was put on report for late contact on Jake Clifford, but the tackle was not high, and the back-rower with a poor disciplinary record faces a fine at most. Kikau looked lost without Burton, and had no support when trying to offload in tackles on more than one occasion.

Jacob Kiraz appeared to be struggling with a left shoulder complaint late in the game.

Captain Stephen Crichton returned from suspension and was given an early mark, with the 38-point loss the biggest of his 120-game club career.

It was almost too easy for the Cowboys making metres through the middle, which Manly’s big men did nine days earlier.

What happened to the defensive resilience the Dogs have shown for most of the year?

The Cowboys, who will now host their own elimination final in Townsville next Sunday against the winner of Newcastle and the Dolphins, were excellent in attack.

Back-rower Heilum Luki had a field day slicing through the defence on the left edge, while evergreen winger Kyle Feldt bagged a double.

Their main issue of concern has been their defence, but the Dogs never truly tested them.

When asked why the Cowboys could defy history and win the title from outside the top four, coach Todd Payten said: “Because I think every year that goes by, someone is closer to doing it.

“The competition is pretty open, and there are probably a couple of teams with the advantage in that top four.

“But momentum and availability of players is a huge part of this next little period.“We’ve got the ability, the belief is there, and anything is possible. I’m really excited about what lies ahead for us.”

Panthers survive scare to set up one last home game against Roosters

By Adrian Proszenko at Penrith Park

The next game Penrith play will be their last at home for two games.

It will be of the play-off variety, against the Roosters, in a bid to extend their premiership streak to four. They advanced via a scrappy barrier trial against a Gold Coast outfit that had the temerity to lead proceedings at half-time. When Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira streaked away with 10 minutes to go, the upset of the season appeared possible.

However, a Penrith side at full strength, save for Nathan Cleary, overcame a sluggish start to book one last appearance at Penrith Park before the stadium gets an overhaul. The 18-12 victory handed the premiers a top-two finish and one last chance to play at their spiritual home.

Both sides appeared guilty of looking at the clock as much as the scoreboard. The Titans seemed keen for their season to end; the Panthers, for the post-season to begin.

“It’s hard not to be a little outcome focused, just the way the last couple of weeks have gone,” said Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.

“Potentially it was our last game here, maybe not. There’s a lot of things. We prepared well. Sometimes errors can be contagious and it was a bit like that tonight.”

Jayden Campbell produced a rare highlight when he beat Blues brothers Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards with the sort of left-foot steps that his father Preston would have been proud of. The Panthers came into the second stanza with more purpose and looked like they would cruise towards a comfortable, albeit dour win.

However, the mountain men were forced to endure a spirited comeback in front of their old boys. It was a fitting result for the departing James Fisher-Harris, who got to sing the team song in his 200th NRL appearance.

What the Panthers produced, even given the Roosters injury concerns, won’t be good enough when they meet on Friday. The defending champions produced almost as many errors as points, but inevitably found a way to get it done.

Now the real football starts.