Pritchard draws Sonny Bill comparisons

AAP & rugbyleaguelive.com | 19/07/08 | 0

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Forward Frank Pritchard drew comparisons with Bulldogs star Sonny Bill Williams after spearheading Penrith to a 36-22 win over the Gold Coast to edge them closer to an NRL finals appearance.

Pritchard carried a painful shoulder injury into a clash which was vital to both club's chances of making the top eight and came up with two tries.

"There's a lot of talk about how damaging Sonny Bill is but I know when Frank gets the ball in the his hands there's a lot of opposite second-rowers and centres who have nightmares after they've played him," said Penrith captain Petero Civoniceva.

Pritchard, likely to have more scans on his left shoulder next week after hurting it off-loading and again when scoring his second try, was almost too embarrassed to discuss dominant display after the win.

"I don't know what to say I was just playing off our forward pack," said the powerhouse Kiwi international.

"The shoulder was a bit sore but I didn't want to come off, I think I'll have some scans on Monday.

"I'll have to have an easy week, stay off McDonalds and KFC and get on the Tony Ferguson (diet) and weight watchers."

Penrith led 18-10 at halftime and the Titans struck straight after the break when forward Anthony Leffranchi grabbed his ninth try in 13 games to close the gap to 18-16.

Penrith winger Michael Gordon justified his return to the wing with a 20 point haul from two tries and six goals, most of them from near the sideline.

Civoniceva gave his teammates a huge lift with an amazing effort to trap Titans winger Jordan Rapana in goal in the 71st minute before Pritchard scored his second try to ice the win.

"It was pretty outstanding wasn't it?," said coach Matt Elliott.

"When your front-rower tackles somebody like that in the 70-odd minute, it's pretty impressive."

Elliott revealed he'd shown his players a copy of the NRL ladder during the week to make them aware of how vital the two premiership points on offer were to the Panther's finals cause.

Penrith went into the game on 19 points in eighth place.

"I think we had five teams behind us on 18 points," said Elliott."

Pritchard admitted he and his teammates were "shocked because they felt they were a better team and deserved to be in the top four.

Penrith forward Trent Waterhouse, who made a hurried trip to the Gold Coast, jumped on a plane straight after the game to rush back to be with his pregnant wife.

"Trent's just raced off to get on a plane and go home to be with Sasha," said Elliott.

"That sort of stuff is always more important than footy but for him to want to make the trip today to play for us was a tough trip for him to make but it was clear indication of his commitment to his teammates.

"I'm grateful for it and I know his teammates are."

Young Penrith winger Lachlan Coote said he didn't think there was anything in a reflex tackle that landed Titans five-eighth Mat Rogers on report in the first half.

"It didn't hurt too much," said Coote.

"It was just a lazy shot, there was nothing in it, he was just trying to stop a try."

There's a lot of talk about how damaging Sonny Bill is but I know when Frank gets the ball in the his hands there's a lot of opposite second-rowers and centres who have nightmares Petero Civoniceva, Panthers skipper