PENRITH PANTHERS 42 CANBERRA RAIDERS 18
CALLUM WALKER, Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee, Saturday

PENRITH restored their two-point lead at the top of the NRL ladder with a comprehensive defeat of Canberra.

There were 10,000 spectators packed into Mudgee to watch Nathan Cleary deliver yet another masterclass with ball in hand and on the foot.

The Raiders took the lead inside four minutes with a Matthew Timoko effort, but 36 unanswered Penrith points had the visitors clutching at straws throughout.

Liam Martin grabbed an eleven-minute double before Thomas Jenkins went better and notched his brace in the space of just five minutes.

Jaxen Edgar then made it 30-6 at half-time with a four-pointer on the hooter.

The Raiders did threaten to rally at the beginning of the second half, but Liam Henry’s effort just before the hour dampened any hopes of an unlikely comeback.

Canberra did bring some respectability to the scoreline with two late tries from Matty Nicholson and Ethan Strange, but the Panthers had the final word through Isaiah Papali’i.

Cleary enjoyed a 100 percent kicking record as the Panthers proved far too strong on the night.

The Raiders, meanwhile, still sit four points outside the top-eight spots.

PANTHERS: 1 Jaxen Edgar, 2 Thomas Jenkins, 3 Paul Alamoti, 4 Casey McLean, 5 Brian To’o, 6 Jack Cogger, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Moses Leota, 9 Freddy Lussick, 10 Lindsay Smith, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Liam Martin, 13 Isaah Yeo. Subs: 14 Billy Scott (not used), 15 Scott Sorensen, 16 Liam Henry, 17 Billy Phillips, 18 Izack Tago, 19 Jack Cole (not used)

Tries: Martin (9, 20), Jenkins (31, 36), Edgar (40), Henry (57), Papali’i (77); Goals: Cleary 7/7

RAIDERS: 1 Kaeo Weekes, 2 Jed Stuart, 4 Matthew Timoko, 18 Sebastian Kris, 5 Xavier Savage, 6 Ethan Strange, 7 Ethan Sanders, 8 Corey Horsburgh, 9 Owen Pattie, 10 Joseph Tapine, 11 Zac Hosking, 12 Ata Mariota, 13 Morgan Smithies. Subs: 14 Tom Starling, 15 Matty Nicholson, 16 Josh Papalii, 17 Daine Laurie, 19 Joe Roddy (not used), 21 Savelio Tamale (not used)

Tries: Timoko (4), Nicholson (70), Strange (74); Goals: Sanders 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 12-6, 18-6, 24-6, 30-6; 36-6, 36-12, 36-18, 42-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Panthers: Nathan Cleary; Raiders: Corey Horsburgh

Penalty count: 4-4; Half-time: 30-6; Referee: Adam Gee; Attendance: 10,000