The Panthers suffered a 26-12 loss to Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup season-opener at Parker Street Reserve on Saturday.
There were signs of promise for the Panthers, highlighted by Tom Jenkins' two tries in his first game back with Penrith, but errors and penalties proved costly as the Jets came away with victory.
NSW Cup Highlights: Round 1
Match Summary
By Stewart Moses for NSWRL
The Newtown Jets have overcome the early loss of boom fullback Liam Ison to record an impressive 26-12 win over a Penrith Panthers side at a wet and slippery Parker St Reserve this afternoon.
The defending premiers made plenty of errors early on and one stage trailed 12-10 early in the second half when centre Thomas Jenkins scored the second of his two tries on his return to the Panthers.
Niwhai Puru, Brad Fearnley, Billy Burns and Riley Pollard played key roles in the Jets' comeback victory, each scoring a try except for the latter who nonetheless impressed with a couple of try assists.
After a nervous start from the both sides it would be the Jets who would score first, when from 40m out from the Penrith line, a quick shift left put winger Eli Clark down the eastern flank before finding halfback Niwahi Puru backing inside to score in the south eastern corner. Puru missed the sideline conversion attempt but the Jets lead 4-0 after 23 minutes of play.
Penrith hit back almost immediately when centre Tom Jenkins swooped on an attacking kick from Brad Schneider to score next to the posts and with Schneider’s successful conversion, the home side took a slender 6-4 lead after 25 minutes.
Interchange forward Brad Fearnley put the Jets back in front when he barged his way over from close range to score underneath the posts and with Puru’s easy conversion, the visitors led 10-6 with six minutes remaining to the break.
A penalty to the Jets right on halftime could have seen the visitors extend their lead but Puru's attempt to convert the penalty hit the post, leaving the Jets leading 10-6 at the main break.
An Asu Kepaoa long-range line-break off a Jets error resulted in a second try a few plays later to Jenkins who scored from close range with off a short pass from Schneider, to put the Panthers ahead 12-10.
It proved to the turning point of the game as an ensuring penalty and six again deep in Panthers territory resulted in a try to winger Kristian Dixon who finished off a slick backline movement from the Jets, putting the visitors back in front 14-12 despite Puru again missing a sideline conversion attempt.
The Jets scored again from the next set back when Rajab broke through the line and linked up with his halves partner to score his second try of the afternoon underneath the posts to give the visitors the biggest lead of the game 20-12.
The Jets capitalised moments later on attack when skipper Billy Burns crashed over out wide from close range and with Puru’s conversion, Newtown were finally in firm control of the game leading 26-12.
Penrith continued to throw plenty at the Jets' defence over the closing stages but were unable to reduce the gap, with the Jets running out convincing winners in the end 26-12.
