The Penrith Panthers have rewritten the NRL record books in a 50-10 thrashing of the Storm that has left fans questioning if any team can stop them in 2026. History was made at CommBank Stadium on Friday night as Panthers flyer Tom Jenkins became the first player in the NRL era to start a season with at least two tries in five straight games.
The winger’s double took his season tally to 12 tries – which is also the most in history after the first five games. Penrith centre Casey McLean was also outstanding for Ivan Cleary’s side, with one try, a try assist and five tackle busts seeing calls grow for the 19-year-old to earn selection in NSW coach Laurie Daley’s Blues squad. Stephen Crichton’s injury for the Bulldogs could open the door for the young gun.
Ivan Cleary’s (L) Panthers looked unstoppable against the Storm as winger Tom Jenkins (R) sealed an incredible slice of NRL history in the big win. Pic: Getty
But Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy had few answers after his side crashed to a third-straight defeat for the first time in four years. More alarmingly, it’s the first time since 2003 that the Storm have conceded 50 points against an opposition side.
Fans have been quick to point out that no team has ever won an NRL premiership in the same year they’ve had 50 points put on them in a regular season game. They now join the Eels and Titans (Round 1), along with the Dolphins (also Round 5) as the teams whose seasons could already be over if history is anything to go by.
“Some of our contact tonight was poor at best,” Bellamy said after the game. “That was the disappointing thing for me.” The veteran coach is without a host of key players after Tui Kamikamica became the latest sidelined after suffering a stroke last week. And Bellamy warned there could be changes if the players don’t show him an adequate response to their worrying form slump.
“We’ve just go a little bit harder,” the Storm coach added. “If they don’t want to go harder, well, they can go and play in reserve grade and we’ll bring some young blokes up. That’s how we always handle these situations.”
Tom Jenkins made history with his 12th try in the first five games of the NRL season as the Panthers thrashed the Storm. Pic: Getty
(Darrian Traynor via Getty Images)Panthers send ominous statement to NRL rivals in huge win
Perhaps the scariest part of Penrith’s demolition job was the fact the Storm didn’t play badly, especially in the first half. Melbourne completed 94 per cent of their sets in the first 40 minutes and still found themselves 20-points down at the break as Penrith ran riot with tries for Liam Martin, Freddy Lussick, Jenkins, Nathan Cleary and McLean.
The Panthers were absolutely purring in attack, and their lethal left edge looked particularly dangerous, with Jenkins once again at the heart of it. His extraordinary try-scoring form has also seen the winger touted as a potential Origin replacement for Zac Lomax for the Blues.
But Penrith showed they have threats all over the park and the moment of the match came on their less heralded right edge. A sweeping backline move saw Scott Sorensen throw an outrageous flick pass to Luke Garner that put his fellow interchange forward over for their seventh try.
Dylan Edwards and Jenkins completed the historic rout in the final 10 minutes to give Penrith a 5-0 start to the season. That includes two huge wins over both of last year’s grand finalists after they thumped premiers Brisbane 26-0 in Round 1.
with AAP