Defending champions Penrith have withstood a stiff Wests Tigers challenge before storming to a 22-6 victory in their NRL clash in Bathurst.
Last season, the lowly Tigers sprang a huge upset at the same Carrington Park venue, ending a 12-game losing streak with a 12-8 victory.
They threatened a repeat until Penrith's third try in the 63rd minute sent the title-holders clear before Warriors-bound prop James Fisher-Harris iced the win with a rampaging individual effort.
Coming off the bye, the Panthers had suffered a 32-18 loss to Manly in their last outing so were looking to make a point as they returned to action.
While they were steady, the scoreline flattered them.Â
A late try from James Fisher-Harris (left) gave the scoreline a flattering look for the Panthers. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
The Tigers created plenty of scoring opportunities in front of the 12,000-strong sell-out crowd, but too often the last pass missed the mark.
The three-time champions were rattled early, and the Tigers took a 6-0 lead when they found some room on the left hand side and John Bateman fired a cut-out pass to Junior Tupou, with the winger swan-diving across the line.
They were unlucky not to be in again soon after, when Penrith halfback Brad Schneider ankle-tapped Justin Olam, who was running in support of Tupou.
The Tigers lost Tupou just before the break with an apparent leg injury.
Panthers winger Sunia Turuva grabbed a first-half double to push his season tally to eight and move clear on the competition try-scoring tally.
He crossed in the 15th and 26th minutes, with the Panthers showing their class as they moved the ball quickly across the back-line to lead 10-6 at halftime.
The second half continued to be an arm-wrestle before a try from debutant centre Paul Alamoti gave the Penrith a little breathing space.
Alamoti was a late replacement for Taylan May, who skipped the match for personal reasons.
The conversion by Dylan Edwards pushed the lead out to 10 points, before Fisher-Harris barged over in 71st minute to seal the result.