PENRITH PANTHERS 50 MELBOURNE STORM 10 
WILL KERRIGAN, CommBank Stadium, Parramatta, Friday 

NATHAN CLEARY led Penrith to a thumping win over Melbourne, as the Panthers continued their unbeaten start to 2026 in intimidating style. 

The NRL’s premier halfback enjoyed another imperious night to condemn the Storm to a historic defeat.

This is just the fifth time the Storm have conceded 50 points in their history, and the first time since 2003 – Craig Bellamy’s debut season as coach.

Melbourne’s horror night was compounded by losing captain Harry Grant to a knee injury in the second half.

While Cleary pulled the strings, Dylan Edwards assisted two tries and Casey McLean ran riot down the left edge.

Prolific winger Thomas Jenkins scored a brace – bringing his season tally to 12 after just five games – while heart-and-soul second-rower Liam Martin celebrated his 150th NRL appearance with the opening try.

The result underlines Penrith’s status as the clear Premiership favourites.

This clash is one of modern Rugby League’s great rivalries, featuring in four of the last six finals series including the 2020 and 2024 Grand Finals.

And the Storm are one of the few clubs with a decent recent record against the Panthers, having claimed four of their last five meetings before this one.

But this match was barely a contest, as the men in black condemned the Victorians to a third straight loss for the first time since 2022.

Penrith remain the only unbeaten side in the competition, having now swatted aside the Broncos, Sharks, Roosters, Eels and Storm by 20-plus margins.

At the selection table, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary called up journeyman hooker Freddy Lussick for regular dummy-half Mitch Kenny, who served a one-game suspension.

For the Storm, Bellamy named a new-look centre pairing, with Manaia Waitere and Nick Meaney coming in for Moses Leo (concussion) and Jack Howarth (hip).

Milestone man Martin notched the first points before Lussick darted over from dummy-half.

Grant and Cameron Munster combined to send Waitere over and keep the visitors in touch.

But it wasn’t long until the Panthers really flexed their muscle.

McLean’s searing pace and lightning footwork sent Jenkins streaking down the left touchline for his first four-pointer.

Then Cleary unleashed a flurry of sidesteps to carve a path through Melbourne’s goal-line defence.

The result was virtually settled once McLean fended off a string of four Storm defenders on the stroke of half-time.

And the change of ends did nothing to reverse the momentum.

Three minutes after the restart – with the Panthers back-pedalling on the last tackle – Edwards launched a high kick that Brian To’o snatched from Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown’s grasp to score.

Then Cleary, Scott Sorensen and Edwards linked up to invite Luke Garner to the party.

Sualauvi Faalogo raced into the right corner to give the Storm something to celebrate.

But the procession quickly resumed when Edwards finished a To’o bust.

And there was still time for Jenkins to provide a late highlight, soaring to collect a short goal-line drop-out and add to his dizzying 2026 try tally.

GAMESTAR: Nathan Cleary’s game has gone to another level in 2026, and the Panthers skipper orchestrated this terrifying dismantling of a supposed premiership rival.

GAMEBREAKER: Thomas Jenkins’ second try – his 12th in just five games to open 2026 – helped Penrith bring up the half-century.

MATCHFACTS

PANTHERS
1 Dylan Edwards
2 Thomas Jenkins
3 Paul Alamoti
4 Casey McLean
5 Brian To’o
6 Blaize Talagi
7 Nathan Cleary
8 Moses Leota
9 Freddy Lussick
10 Lindsay Smith
11 Isaiah Papali’i
12 Liam Martin
13 Isaah Yeo
Subs
14 Jack Cogger
15 Billy Phillips
16 Scott Sorensen
17 Luke Garner
18 Izack Tago (not used)
21 Billy Scott (not used)

Tries: Martin (5), Lussick (11), Jenkins (22, 77), Cleary (25), McLean (40), To’o (43), Garner (59), Edwards (72)
Goals: Cleary 6/8, Alamoti 1/1

STORM
1 Sualauvi Faalogo
2 Will Warbrick
4 Nick Meaney
19 Manaia Waitere
5 Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown
6 Cameron Munster
7 Jahrome Hughes
8 Stefano Utoikamanu
9 Harry Grant
10 Josh King
11 Joe Chan
17 Cooper Clarke
13 Trent Loiero
Subs
12 Alec MacDonald
14 Tyran Wishart
15 Davvy Moale
16 Jack Hetherington
18 Lazarus Vaalepu (not used)
22 Preston Conn (not used)

Tries: Waitere (15), Faalogo (67)
Goals: Meaney 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 10-6, 14-6, 20-6, 26-6; 32-6, 38-6, 38-10, 44-10, 50-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Panthers: Nathan Cleary; Storm: Joe Chan

Penalty count: 4-5
Half-time: 26-6
Referee: Ashley Klein
Attendance: 20,204