NRL Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks: Nathan Cleary in charge as Panthers win 28-22 in Las Vegas blockbuster

Life without Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris is off to a great start for defending premiers Penrith, who wrapped up the NRL’s second Las Vegas visit with a thrilling 28-22 win over Cronulla.

The Panthers had their wobbles at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday (AEDT) as they took their first steps without Luai and Fisher-Harris - undoubtedly the two most important players they have lost in five years as NRL heavyweights.

But against a Sharks side tipped as genuine title contenders, early signs were that Penrith will be competitive as long as Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo are on deck.

Down by six points in the final two minutes of a game that featured several momentum shifts, the Sharks had one last chance to level the scores in the final two minutes.

But on the fifth tackle, centre Jesse Ramien opted not to pass right to an unmarked Sam Stonestreet and found himself stopped short by a horde of Panthers.

The Sharks had dominated a clunky Penrith in the opening stages and had the first try thanks to a double-pump from Nicho Hynes, before Yeo came up with a big play.

On the last tackle and with Cleary out of play in the ruck, Yeo sized up wrecking ball recruit Addin Fonua-Blake and ran around him to the tryline at close range.

Only minutes later, Cleary threaded a pinpoint kick past the defence for a flying Izack Tago and the Panthers looked on top at 12-4.

Later in his Sharks debut, veteran Fonua-Blake would find his own try by burrowing through Dylan Edwards, Scott Sorensen and Yeo.

Braydon Trindall took on the bulk of kicking duties for the Sharks after off-season speculation as to how he and Hynes would share playmaking duties.

He put the Sharks back into the game with a kick for Briton Nikora to score, and then sent a beautiful flat ball to Kayal Iro in the second half.

Cronulla looked their best attacking a makeshift left edge featuring Jack Cole, Luke Garner and Daine Laurie, who came on when teenage winger Casey McLean suffered a head knock in the opening minutes.

But the Panthers constantly found a way to strike back, with tries to wingers Laurie and Paul Alamoti a product of their well-oiled system when shifting wide.

Cleary had his hands on the ball again in the second half as the Panthers shifted wide for another Laurie try that ultimately proved the difference.

Cleary would have sent a scare through the Panthers’ camp when he keeled over in backplay following a tackle, but a trainer attended him and he played on, appearing only to be winded.

After the match an elated Cleary said he was focused on having a big 2025 season after having “too many years with to many injuries”.

The Panthers’ win was the perfect gift for coach Ivan Cleary who was celebrating his 53rd birthday.

Earlier Canberra thrashed the Warriors 30-8.