Penrith Panthers

For a third week in a row, the Panthers have posted a lop-sided victory over a premiership contender, underlining the fact they are the team to beat again ...

And why they have rested up to half a dozen players from Sunday’s NSW Cup game, with the NRL clash against Canterbury to fall five days later. Cowboys coach Todd Payten said: “We walk away knowing we can beat them if we get our fair share of possession. Liam Martin and Api Koroisau are also at short odds to make the final 22-man squad. Yeo stormed over for the first try courtesy of a well-weighted pass from Koroisau. And Luai’s floating pass sent Taylan May on his way for as try in the second half. The right-edge combination of To’o and Crichton partnered beautifully to deny Tom Dearden a try late in the first half. “I think our boys have handled it so well.

Penrith have given themselves the best pre-Origin platform of any defending premiers in more than a decade after blowing away North Queensland 22-0.

They completed at just 60 per cent but were barely given a chance to get on the attack as the Panthers controlled almost all the ball on the Cowboys' line. But outside of that, the Panthers have now beaten second-placed Melbourne, seventh-placed Sydney Roosters and third-placed North Queensland in the three weeks since their only loss of the year to Parramatta. Penrith's first try on Friday night came through Yeo when Apisai Koroisau darted out of dummy-half and put the lock through to score. The club's 11-1 record is the best of any team entering the Origin period since St George Illawarra back in 2011, as is their gap at the top. It also ensured the Panthers would enter the State of Origin period four points clear at the top, ahead of a series in which they could lose as many as seven players to NSW. In another clinical night for the Panthers, the hosts dominated ball, territory and the scoreboard to swat away another genuine contender for the third time in three weeks.