LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The Penrith Panthers have once again secured a spot in the preliminary finals after a decisive victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday at Homebush.
Here are some key discussion points from the match.
What is a professional foul?
The definition of a professional foul appears to have shifted significantly in the latter stages of the season.
Recently, incidents that would traditionally not qualify for penalty tries are now often overlooked as professional fouls. The distinction that once clearly separated these two concepts seems to have become increasingly blurred.
During the early moments of Sunday's game, Viliame Kikau successfully charged down a kick from Nathan Cleary and was in pursuit of the ball when he was obstructed by Dylan Edwards.
Penrith should have been reduced to 12 men for that infringement. It's quite straightforward: if it qualifies as a penalty in that context, it can only be because it constitutes a professional foul.