Wests Tigers "got what they deserved" in 68-0 loss to perfect Panthers

The Wests Tigers “got what they deserved” in their 68-0 thumping at the hands of the Panthers, believes premiership winner Chad Townsend.

The Tigers were on the wrong end of a 12-try romp by the Panthers, who produced one of the best performances since their era of dominance began in 2020.

The Panthers controlled 64 per cent of possession at full-time, completing an incredible 41/47 sets, and running 2.5 times more metres than the Tigers, recording an enormous 15 line breaks to the Tigers’ one.

But while the Panthers’ dominance must be factored, the Tigers were their own worst enemy at times, missing 55 tackles in the contest.

“This is a one-off with what you do when you don't control the ball and you can't defend your try line,” Townsend said on SEN League.

“The Tigers got what they deserved this afternoon.”

“If you start the game the way that the Tigers did, where you don't complete your first couple of sets coming out of your own end, you give a Panthers side good field position and play the balls inside your own 20, you're gonna concede tries.

“If I'm Benji Marshall, I am ropable this afternoon.

“The Tigers didn't turn up.”

On the flip side, prop Moses Leota believes that performance was “as close to perfect” in Penrith’s era of dominance.

Leota was huge in his own right for the Panthers, running for 118 metres, but it was the larger effort of the Panthers’ senior players that had Leota most pleased.

13 of the Panthers’ 17 players ran over 100m, compared to two of the Wests Tigers players.

“To be honest, I think it was (close to perfect),” Leota told SEN League.

“I don't think I've seen a score like that in a while, but credit to the boys, we did what we wanted to do, and we came away with the win.

“A lot of our leaders go into Origin, and it's on us boys that are a bit older and have been around for a while.

“(The preparation is) the same as every week. Prepare well, do your job, and hope for the best.”

Centre Casey McLean was the only injury concern for the Panthers, leaving the field after 44 minutes, however, the Origin hopeful indicated to SEN League he should be fit for Origin II on Wednesday week.