NRL LIVE: Rabbitohs cut Penrith’s lead to two at half-time after Walker sin-bin

Incredible stuff from Tom Jenkins, who has transformed himself from a journeyman winger to a genuine star in the past few seasons. He runs infield and chases down a Jack Cogger kick, jumps for it, catches it, then does superbly to hold off Jack Wighton with his right arm and dive over and plant the ball down with his left in the corner.

Panthers 16, Rabbitohs 10 with 30 minutes left

The final 40 minutes begins as Souths kick things off, and Penrith are quickly on the attack via an Edward Kosi error. Rabbitohs bench forward Liam Le Blanc produces a crunching ball-and-all tackle on Lindsay Smith, picking up the Penrith lock and dumping him on his back. But the Panthers continue their attack anyway, Dylan Edwards forcing a dropout with a smart grubber into the in-goal.

The next set ends with Jack Cogger bombing towards Tom Jenkins’ wing, but Souths rookie Dayne Jennings soars high to bring it down. He’s having a great game.

But another Souths error, this time from Jack Wighton, turns possession over to Penrith again. They bomb towards Jenkins and Jennings once more, the referee rules Jennings has knocked on – but Souths successfully use a captain’s challenge as the bunker spots Jennings caught the ball in his in-goal. The Rabbitohs get a 20-metre tap instead.

Panthers 12, Rabbitohs 10 with 34 minutes left

Well that was a wild and entertaining first half. Feels like we had as many disallowed tries as tries, and the most notable even was Cody Walker’s bizarre brain snap – kicking out needlessly at Jack Cogger after a tackle. That cost Souths one try and Penrith immediately went down the other end and scored one themselves with Walker in the bin.

But the Rabbitohs hung in there and it’s two tries apiece at the break. Dylan Edwards was excellent for Penrith, apart from a costly late error, Keaon Koloamatangi already has 130 run metres for Souths, and rookie Rabbitohs winger Dayne Jennings looks like a star in the making.

We’re almost at half-time but Souths aren’t done yet, Jamie Humphreys putting up a towering bomb which Dylan Edwards jumps for – and he drops it. Scrum Rabbitohs.

Souths feed the scrum on the right, spread it left on play one. 20 seconds left in the half. They spread it right on tackle two, and this time Jye Gray wraps around and creates a bit of space on the right, draws Tom Jenkins and puts Dayne Jennings over out wide. They won’t disallow this one.

Latrell Siegwalt nails the sideline conversion and Souths are remarkably just two points down at half-time.

Panthers 12, Rabbitohs 10 at half-time

We’ve had a few disallowed tries already tonight and here’s another one – and it’s a shame because it would’ve been a beauty. Jack Cogger puts up a crossfield bomb, Tom Jenkins jumps and really soars to grab it, then twists and passes on the way down to Blaize Talagi, who scoots to the corner and dives over. But replays show his boot grazed the sideline before he touched down so it’s a no-try.

Penrith feel well on top in this game, so Souths won’t mind the eight-point deficit too much at this point.

Panthers 12, Rabbitohs 4 after 32 minutes

A rare highlight from Souths, albeit in their own half, as rookie winger Dayne Jennings defuses a kick, bumps off one defender, then palms away two more as he shoots upfield on the right flank. The Australian schoolboys star looks a great talent already.

Cody Walker is back on now and the Rabbitohs get their first genuine scoring chance since he was sin-binned. They get a six-again, then – almost at the end of the following set – get another one. The makeshift Penrith defensive line is holding up pretty well under extreme pressure, but finally it cracks – Souths putting the ball through the hands on the last tackle for Edward Kosi to cross in the left corner.

Latrell Siegwalt’s conversion attempt goes wide.

Panthers 12, Rabbitohs 4 after 26 minutes

Smart play by Penrith now with prop Liam Henry spotting Souths fullback Jye Gray defending in the line, so Henry rolls a grubber kick into the empty in-goal. Jack Cogger almost gets to it for a third Panthers try but Rabbitohs prop Tevita Tatola manages to just get there before him and bat the ball dead.

Souths try a short dropout and get a result when Brian To’o leaps high to take it but puts the ball down. The Rabbitohs will be happy to get through this 10-minute period with Cody Walker in the sin bin without conceding any more points.

Panthers 12, Rabbitohs 0 after 19 minutes