Viliame Kikau has pulled off the defensive play of the year to help the Panthers claim a 12-10 win in the grand final rematch over the Melbourne Storm at Penrith Stadium last night.
With the Storm on the attack after the siren and the ball going from side-to-side, the reigning premiers looked certain to score when Justin Olam went over the line.
But Kikau, who had been taken out earlier in the play and was left sprawled on the ground, sprinted across the field to hold Olam up and save the try.
It ended a thrilling clash that swung back and forth in the final 12 minutes after scores had been locked at 6-6 for the majority of the second half.
Josh Addo-Carr looked as if he had scored the match-winner for the Storm when he went over from a scrum play, putting the Storm up 10-6.
The Panthers then took the lead with two minutes to play when Paul Momirovksi flicked a ball to Charlie Staines, who stepped and found Kurt Capewell back inside him.
Stephen Crichton converted to give the Panthers the lead with a minute on the clock, but the Storm regathered the ball after a Penrith error from the kick off.
But Kikau's heroics after the siren saved the day for the Panthers, who lost 26-20 to the Storm five months to the day in last October's grand final.
[Source: abc.au]
Hand of God!
— NRL (@NRL) March 25, 2021
The @PenrithPanthers #DefyImpossible at the death 😳 pic.twitter.com/1WEtG87Kll
