The Penrith Panthers and Thomas Jenkins have shattered NRL records in a 50-10 flogging of Melbourne at CommBank Stadium.
Melbourne came into the match in unfamiliar territory having lost two in a row and that turned to three in an emphatic result.
Penrith’s victory means they’re the first team in premiership history to win their first five matches by 20 or more points. It was also the first time the Panthers have scored 50 against Melbourne and it was their biggest win against the side.
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“Physically, they’re fit and healthy and hungry. Mentally they just understand their game, they understand their game like no one else,” Billy Slater said on Nine.
Jenkins also scored two tries and has now scored 12 tries in five matches, the most tries ever across the first five rounds.
Thomas Jenkins celebrates a try. Getty
The winger’s final try came late in the match when Melbourne attempted a short drop-out.
The kick was a perfect 10 metres but Jenkins jumped high, caught it and ran past Melbourne’s defence to score.
“He’ll have a shoe named after him soon,” Andrew Johns said.
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Jenkins’ double continues his stunning rise after he debuted at Penrith then struggled with the Knights.
The winger moved back to Sydney and signed with St Mary’s in the Ron Massey Cup before Penrith brought him back early last year. From there he’s gone from NSW Cup to now being part of the State of Origin discussion.
“He was on the scrap heap,” Johns said.
The Storm were out of the fight within 10 minutes of the match when Liam Martin and Freddy Lussick scored.
Manaia Waitere hit back for the Storm in the 14th minute but from there it was an onslaught.
Jenkins, Nathan Cleary, Casey McLean, Brian To’o and Luke Garner all scored next for the Panthers to put the result beyond doubt.
Melbourne fullback Sualauvi Faalogo stopped the rout but the final two tries went to Dylan Edwards and Jenkins.
“I’m speechless,” Johnathan Thurston said of Penrith’s performance.
Melbourne had two concerns come out of the match. One was Harry Grant who pulled out of a tackle later in the clash after knee-on-knee contact.
The hooker went off the field but post-match said he was “alright”.
Trent Loiero will also look at the judiciary sheet after he was put on report for dangerous contact.