Penrith centre Michael Jennings scored a hat trick and set up the match-winner four minutes from fulltime to secure a 38-34 victory over Parramatta in an NRL try-fest at CUA Stadium tonight.
Jennings had not played since tearing his calf muscle in the Blues' State of Origin I loss over a month ago but staked his claim for an Origin III recall with two first half tries, a controversial third four-pointer and then the killer blow for debutant Junior Tia-Kilifi's match-winner.
Trailing 34-32 after Eels rookie Daniel Mortimer completed his double in the 70th minute, Jennings set up the young winger in the 76th minute to secure a win for the Panthers in front of 16,845 fans.
The victory snaps Penrith's two-game losing streak and keeps them entrenched in the top eight, but the loss virtually ends the Eels finals hopes as they now sit five points outside the NRL top eight.
In a tit-for-tat battle that featured 12 lead changes, the Panthers prevailed in a seven tries to six thriller at the foot of the mountains.
Penrith led 22-18 at half time, after tries to Tim Grant, Joseph Paulo and a double for Jennings.
Eels forward Nathan Hindmarsh put forward his name for a NSW recall with a 25m individual try in the first half, while Mortimer was brilliant setting up Joel Reddy and scoring his own four-pointer.
Jarryd Hayne exploded into action seven minutes after the break to level scores at 22-all before Nathan Smith restored Penrith's lead in the 51st minute by twisting through three defenders.
Hayne was again involved as Luke Burt sprinted away in the 59th minute, his own conversion giving Parramatta a 28-26 lead with just over 20 minutes to play.
But Jennings bounced over the line after a Wade Graham break in the 63rd minute to give Penrith the 32-28 lead before the frenetic final 10 minutes.
- AAP
NRL: Panthers' last-gasp win
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