Live: Panthers lead as Broncos premiership defence hangs by a thread

A great 40 minutes of footy comes to an end.

Both teams have scored two tries, but Nathan Cleary has kicked 2/3, while Adam Reynolds have missed both attempts.

Amid the pushing and shoving, Nathan Cleary has a shot at goal.

And he nails the kick.

Panthers 12

Broncos 8

Penrith are awarded a penalty.

Brisbane’s Payne Haas put his hand around the head of Liam Henry.

Henry gets up, pushes Haas, and we have another mass push and shove.

Panthers 10

Broncos 8

There is a push and a shove between the players.

Brisbane’s Ezra Mam did not appreciate a hit from Penrith’s Liam Martin.

Mam gives up a fair bit in weight in this fight.

Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards then comes in to take up the push and shove.

This brings in more players. Now there is a bit of feeling in this game. 

Panthers 10

Broncos 8

The Panthers are back in front.

Right winger Brian To’o has a double.

Brisbane were unable to catch a bomb, giving the Panthers a full set at the Brisbane goal-line.

Just like the first Panthers try, a shift to the right led to Nathan Cleary passing to Dylan Edwards.

Edwards then threw a lovely cutout pass to To’o, who touched down in the corner.

Cleary has missed the conversion attempt.

Panthers 10

Broncos 8

Penrith interchange Scott Sorensen made a terrific line break and stepped past two Broncos.

He was brought down short of the goal-line, but in wet conditions, he slid over the line.

But the Broncos defenders, all four of them, were able to keep the ball up above the ground.

Panthers 6

Broncos 8

Brisbane has retaken the lead with a try from Kotoni Staggs.

Brisbane had a full set at the line after Panthers winger Brian To’o dropped a bomb.

Brisbane shifted to the right. Fullback Reece Walsh collects a bounce pass, and then passes to Kotoni Staggs.

Staggs palms off Casey McLean, and then scores in the corner.

Adam Reynolds misses the conversion attempt from the right touchline.

Panthers 6

Broncos 8

There were a few hearts in mouths for the Panthers.

A deep bomb from Reece Walsh bounces, and then bounces off the crossbar and towards the Brisbane chasers.

Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards gets the footy in the nick of time, because Ezra Mam was charging to that ball and would have scored if he got it.

Panthers 6

Broncos 4

That was clinical from the Panthers.

They shift to the right, from the centre of the field.

Nathan Cleary passes out the back to Dylan Edwards, and then Edwards produces a perfect draw-and-pass to put Brian To’o in the corner.

This comes off the back of a great challenge from Nathan Cleary.

Cleary nails the conversion from the right touchline.

Panthers 6

Broncos 4

Brendan Piakura is off for a HIA.

He was laid out on the ground after coming off second best in a tackle.

Penrith’s Nathan Cleary puts in a grubber kick to the corner, and it goes out into touch.

But Cleary challenges correctly. The ball was played at by Adam Reynolds, came off his boot, and went into touch.

The Panthers are on the attack.

Very nice from the Brisbane Broncos.

With a full set at the Penrith goal-line, they have scored the first try of the night.

On the final play of the set, Reece Walsh put in a perfectly weighted grubber to the in-goal, and Jordan Riki won the race and grounded the ball.

Adam Reynolds missed the conversion attempt.

Panthers 0

Broncos 4

The Brisbane Broncos will have the first big chance of the night.

Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards did well to catch a bomb in poor conditions, but then dropped the footy while being tackled.

Referee Todd Smith blows his whistle, and round 20 of the NRL begins.

The Broncos kick off, and the Panthers will have the first use of the footy.

Lindsay Smith takes the first run of the night, and the Broncos welcome him in a three-player tackle.

The Panthers have an incident-free set, and Nathan Cleary kicks clear.

There is plenty of rain around Western Sydney Stadium tonight.

Expect a slippery affair.