It should have been a result to celebrate for Penrith Panthers coach Anthony Griffin as his young team ripped through South Sydney but a late defensive capitulation left him scratching his head after their narrow win.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two tries conceded in the final ten minutes almost saw the Panthers lose a game they were firmly in control of and despite the starring roles of 18-year-old Nathan Cleary and 21-year-old Bryce Cartwright in the halves, the defensive woes continue to plague the club.
Penrith bounced back into the top eight with the 28-26 win but Griffin says that grasp on a finals place will remain tenuous so long as their defence stays frail.