A Nathan Cleary hat-trick has helped propel Penrith to a thrilling 29-28 victory over the Sydney Roosters and a spot in the NRL preliminary finals.
Cleary produced his three-try effort inside a 15-minute period in the first half in Penrith after the Panthers rebounded from an early 10-0 deficit on the scoreboard.
The Panthers playmaker also slotted a late field goal, which proved enough to clinch the win despite a converted Roosters try in the shadows of full-time.
The minor premiers scored five tries in total, as they earned next weekend off to prepare for a preliminary final in a fortnight.
The Panthers are chasing their first grand final berth since 2003, which was the last time the club won the NRL premiership.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our NRL finals ScoreCentre.
Team stats
Play-by-play
Interactive chalkboard
Finals fixtures
