Penrith five-eighth sensation Blaize Talagi has scored a golden-point try for the ages to down a brave Gold Coast 30-26 in a drama-charged classic at Robina.
Panthers halves Talagi and Nathan Cleary orchestrated a 24-0 lead by halftime before the Titans hit back in stunning fashion in front of 18,174 fans.
Gold Coast fullback AJ Brimson and half Jayden Campbell turned it on with sheer individual brilliance as the hosts scored five tries in 25 minutes to take a 26-24 lead in the 74th minute.
Cleary, as only he can, landed a 41m two-point field goal in the 79th to take the match to golden point.
He then missed his first field goal shot from 30m out before 20-year-old Talagi started and finished a 60m attacking raid in the 83rd minute..
The Panthers secured an eighth consecutive victory to leave the four-time defending premiers on 29 competition points, just one behind the fourth-positioned Warriors.
In an ominous omen, Penrith have made the grand final on all five occasions (2003 and 2020-2024) they have previously won eight in a row.
The Panthers are capable of challenging for a fifth straight title but will need to heed lessons from their great escape. They were cruising at halftime but the Titans had other ideas.
Brimson sent centre Brian Kelly in before Campbell intercepted a Cleary pass to race 90m and get the 16th-placed Titans on the board.
Blaize Talagi celebrates the winning try. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Campbell was at it again to step and weave his way through and hooker Sam Verrills dived over from dummy-half. Minutes later Phil Sami finished off a Brimson bust and the lead had been cut to two.
Sami was in again after Penrith muffed a Kieran Foran bomb and Gold Coast led 26-24 with six minutes to play.
The high drama continued when a Panthers trainer ran in front of Campbell as he was preparing to line up the conversion. He missed after re-setting.
The Titans scored three tries when centre Izack Tago was in the sin bin for a professional foul on Brian Kelly.
It was Cleary and Talagi brilliance that then saved Penrith.
Talagi has been a revelation in 2025 after filling the big shoes of club legend Jarome Luai.
His confidence and decision making have grown each week, and the 20-year-old’s skillset and speed are top notch.
Panthers winger Thomas Jenkins has enjoyed a breakout year and he leapt high above opposite number Jaylan De Groot to snaffle a pinpoint Talagi bomb to open the scoring in the 19th minute.
Cleary genius with the ball in hand deceived the Titans defence to lay a pass on for fullback Dylan Edwards to score.
Cleary, again, bombed away and Talagi leapt high above Brimson before streaking away under the sticks.
Centre Casey McLean then rocketed 55m to score on the cusp of halftime.
The fireworks then exploded after the break in what was a sensational confrontation.
with AAP
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