At this point, it is hard to put into words how good this Penrith Panthers team looks in 2026.

So, let’s leave it to one of the best in the business, Fox League play-by-play commentator Dan Ginnane, after a slick flick pass from Scott Sorensen helped put Luke Garner over.

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“This is outrageous,” Ginnane said at the time.

“This is Harlem Globetrotters stuff. This is undefendable. We are watching serious greatness.”

The history books tell the same story.

On Friday night, the Penrith Panthers became the first team in premiership history to win their first five games by 20 or more points after demolishing the Melbourne Storm 50-10.

For the Storm, meanwhile, it was the first time they had 50 put on them since 2003 while 2022 was the last time they lost three games on the trot.

It leaves coach Craig Bellamy with a lot to think about, but even if he may admit there was not a lot his side could have done to stop this champion team.

The Storm completed 94 per cent of their sets in the opening half, but it meant little as the Panthers ran riot to lead 26-6 at the break.

Casey McLean capped off a stellar first half from Penrith with a sensational solo try as he pressed his claims for a State of Origin debut, having earlier this season pledged his allegiance to the Blues after eligibility laws were changed.

‘RESERVE GRADE’: Bellamy’s threat after Storm lose third straight

Storm concede 50 in 23-year first | 03:11

With Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton suddenly looking at a stint on the sidelines, McLean is well and truly in the Origin picture along with breakout teammate Tom Jenkins, who could take Zac Lomax’s vacant spot on the wing.

Speaking of Jenkins, he joined illustrious company after scoring another double.

Entering this round, only five players in premiership history had crossed for multiple tries in five straight games – Alex Johnston (2021), Semi Radradra (2015), Ray Preston (1954), Jack Lindwall (1940), and Dave Brown (1935). Add Jenkins to that list.

His 12 tries to open the 2026 season, meanwhile, are the most in history through five rounds.

With the Bulldogs, Dolphins, Knights, Sea Eagles, Raiders and Dragons to come, there is a very real chance Penrith starts to the season 11-0 before its first bye.

Putting a dampener on an already tough night for the Storm, Harry Grant limped off injured in the second half but Melbourne said in a later update it hopes it is only bone bruising for the superstar hooker.

Red Bull High Flyer Player Ratings Rankings.Source: FOX SPORTS

BIG HITS

STORM WARNING

Melbourne’s hot start to the season seems like a lifetime ago after Craig Bellamy’s men slumped to their third loss on the trot, and things could get a whole lot worse with skipper Harry Grant coming off with a leg injury in the second half.

Grant is comfortably the best player in his position and the Storm simply can’t afford to lose him for any period of time, with the club hopeful it’s only bone bruising.

No team would have beaten Penrith on Friday night, and the Storm weren’t exactly awful as they got through most of their sets and looked threatening when they had good ball.

But after blowing second-half leads in recent weeks, they were blown off the park before the break with the hosts scoring five tries as they punished the Storm on the edges.

Losing streaks around the Origin period are inevitable for a team with so many rep stars, but they can’t afford that this year with just two wins from the opening five rounds.

Injuries haven’t helped with several key forwards missing, but they don’t look anything like the juggernaut they’ve been for two decades, with tough games against the Warriors, Raiders and Rabbitohs on the horizon.

‘Who can actually beat Penrith?’ | 01:23

FREDDY, SET, GO

The loss of Mitch Kenny to suspension for a hip-drop tackle was meant to weaken Penrith’s attack, but the inclusion of Freddy Lussick only seemed to make them more potent.

Coach Ivan Cleary has spoken up his off-season recruit for the past few months and the praise was justified after Lussick slotted in and starred at dummy-half.

The former Warrior looked like he’d played 100 games in the spine as he drilled two long kicks to pin the Storm back, while he also burrowed over from close range for a first-half try.

NSW Bound? McLean slices through Storm | 00:42

FOX SPORTS LAB STATS

– Melbourne’s biggest loss since the 2008 Grand Final (40-0 v Manly).

– First time since 2003 Melbourne has conceded 50 points (Bulldogs 50-4 at the Showground).

– Panthers biggest win and highest ever score v Storm (Was 38-4 in 2023 Prelim Final).

– Panthers first team in Premiership history to win first five games of the season by 20 points or more.

– Penrith (+150) have the third best points differential of any team in history after five games. (Easts +160 in 1935, Broncos +154 in 1996).

– Penrith have trailed for just 11 minutes in total this season.

– Just the sixth time under Craig Bellamy Storm has lost three straight matches. First since 2022.

– Panthers have led at half time by at least 18 points in every match this season. Only the seventh time under Craig Bellamy Storm have trailed by 20+ at half time.

– Liam Martin scored a try to celebrate game 150 – He also scored in game 100 (v Eels in 2023)

– Trent Loiero was placed on report for a hip drop type tackle on Dylan Edwards. He had a dangerous contact charge and a high tackle in last year’s finals.

– Harry Grant left the field with just under 20 minutes remaining – seemingly with a left knee injury.

– Tom Jenkins became the first player in history to score 12 tries through five rounds of the competition. Just the sixth player all time to score multiple tries in five straight games. Alex Johnston was the most recent in 2021. His 237 run metres (live numbers) is just short of his career high 241.

Fox Lab POTM – Nathan Cleary with another sublime performance. Scored a try, had a hand in three others. 10 runs for 102 metres.

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