The Panthers have stopped the runaway North Queensland hype train, at least for now, with a dominant 22-0 win in Penrith.
That’s now wins by a combined 56 points to six against the second-placed Storm and third-placed Cowboys in recent weeks, putting them in a clear bracket on their own at the top of the NRL hierarchy.
Co-captain Isaah Yeo split the line after just a couple of minutes, and were it not for some brave defence on their own line by North Queensland and an incredible bombed try from Izack Tago, it could have been a cricket score before the interval.
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“We probably left a few out there, but all in all it was a solid first half,” coach Ivan Cleary said afterwards.
“Second half we just couldn’t capitalise on field position.”
Taylan May scored the only try after the interval as the premiers kept the upstart Cowboys at arm’s length throughout.
“We’re probably a bit more aware of it this year,” Cleary said.
“You don’t realise how different training is for six weeks when these guys are gone, then they come back for a little bit, then they’re gone again.
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“We’re definitely more experienced. It’s not easy, it’s not going to be easy – but it’s exciting, too. It’s exciting for guys to get opportunities to be able to play NRL and it’s exciting for our Origin players to go into that arena.”
But one player who may not feature for the depleted Panthers is backrower Viliame Kikau – who was put on report twice; for a dangerous throw and late contact to the head, respectively.
Cleary believed a penalty was sufficient for the former.
“It was a little bit dangerous, I don’t think it was anything too crazy about it,” he said, while adding he didn’t see the second incident.
Five-eighth Jarome Luai also raised eyebrows after a shoulder charge on Scott Drinkwater, and could be in danger of missing the Blues’ opener against Queensland should he be heftily charged.