Penrith secured a nail-biting 23-22 golden point win against the Dolphins in Darwin, but the triumph was overshadowed by a serious leg injury to hooker Mitch Kenny. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but early reports suggest a fractured leg, potentially sidelining him for an extended period.
The critical moment of the match saw Nathan Cleary kick a field goal in extra time to seal the win. However, earlier in the game, Kodi Nikorima was sent to the sin bin for a tackle that resulted in Kenny's injury. The conditions in Darwin were reportedly brutal, with high humidity contributing to extreme fatigue during the second half, during which the Dolphins mounted a significant comeback after trailing 18-0 at halftime.
Suspected Fractured Leg Clouds Victory
Reports indicate that Mitch Kenny was in significant pain on the sidelines, requiring pain relief while awaiting further treatment. His injury adds to a list of concerns for the Panthers, with Luke Garner also going down during the game, though he was seen consuming pickle juice.
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A History of Incidents and Scrutiny
This incident follows a pattern for Kenny. Just three weeks ago, he received a one-game ban for a hip-drop tackle on Isaiah Iongi of the Parramatta Eels. That tackle drew confusion from coach Ivan Cleary, who reportedly struggled to understand how the act fit the definition of a hip-drop. This earlier incident was compared to a similar tackle by Ryan Couchman that resulted in a four-game ban for an ACL rupture suffered by J'maine Hopgood.
In September of the previous year (2025), Kenny was reported to have suffered a mild hamstring strain, which was expected to keep him out for only one week, just ahead of the finals campaign. At that time, his absence was considered a significant blow to the Panthers' leadership during the challenging Origin period.
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