Penrith 32 Souths 16

PENRITH last night inflicted a major wound to South Sydney's dream of playing finals football for the time in 18 years.

The Rabbitohs looked nervous all night in a match they were expected to win, with coach Jason Taylor far from happy with his team for throwing it away.

"We had a good start to the game, but like last week after we got out to that lead we just dropped our intensity,'' Taylor said.

On a night captain Craig Gower slammed critics for suggesting he was already looking to rugby union after appearing at Wallabies training during the week, Penrith showed they have a bright future.

Debutant fullback Jarrod Sammut and centres Michael Jennings and Maurice Blair all had nice touches.

Jennings scored two tries, while Blair tormented his opposite Shannon Hegarty as he worked in tandem with powerhouse second-rower Frank Pritchard.

But the win - the club's second in nine matches - did little to take the edge off Gower's mood.

"I can't believe how narrow-minded people are,'' Gower fumed.

"I've been at the club for 12 years and I've got more respect for these guys than anyone.

"So it's very satisfying to come out and win.

"I'm sure anyone would take advice from some of the best people who have knowledge of rugby union.''

Leading 10-0 after tries to winger Fetuli Talanoa and five-eighth Ben Rogers, the Rabbitohs looked set to cement their position in the top eight.

But, according to strike forward Dean Widders, the Rabbitohs were never in the match.

"At times in the game we probably thought we were going to go on and win it,'' Widders said.

"But you could see in the Panthers' players' eyes that they were never gone.

"Tonight they were here to play for 80 minutes and we weren't. That's what the good sides do, they get a sniff of a win and they block the other side out. That's something we've got to learn at this club. If we want to be in the eight we've got to win these games.''