Penrith Panthers Make NRL History with Dominant 50-10 Win Over Storm
The Penrith Panthers have made history in a stunning 50-10 victory over the Melbourne Storm, leaving fans and rivals questioning whether any team can stop them in the 2026 season. The match, held at CommBank Stadium on Friday night, saw the Panthers break several records, including a remarkable achievement by winger Tom Jenkins.
Jenkins became the first player in the NRL era to score at least two tries in five consecutive games. His double in this game brought his season tally to 12 tries, which is now the highest ever recorded after the first five games of a season. This performance has already sparked discussions about his potential inclusion in the NSW Blues squad for the upcoming Origin series.
Casey McLean, the Panthers’ centre, also played a crucial role in the victory. He contributed one try, a try assist, and five tackle busts, further solidifying his case for selection in the Blues squad. With Stephen Crichton’s injury affecting the Bulldogs, McLean’s performance could open the door for him to make an impact at the state level.
Melbourne Storm Face Harsh Realities After Another Defeat
The loss marks the third straight defeat for the Storm, a situation that hasn’t occurred in four years. More concerning is the fact that this is the first time since 2003 that the Storm have conceded 50 points in a single game. Fans are quick to point out that no team has ever won an NRL premiership in the same year they’ve allowed 50 points in a regular season game.
The Storm have joined the Eels, Titans, and Dolphins as teams whose seasons could be in jeopardy if past trends are anything to go by. After the game, coach Craig Bellamy expressed disappointment with the team’s performance, particularly highlighting poor contact play.
“We’ve got to do a little bit harder,” Bellamy said. “If they don’t want to go harder, well, they can go and play in reserve grade and we’ll bring some young blokes up. That’s how we always handle these situations.”
A Statement of Strength from the Panthers
The most alarming aspect of the Panthers’ win was that the Storm didn’t play poorly, especially in the first half. Melbourne completed 94% of their sets in the opening 40 minutes but still found themselves 20 points behind at halftime. The Panthers took full advantage of their opportunities, scoring tries through Liam Martin, Freddy Lussick, Jenkins, Nathan Cleary, and McLean.
The Panthers’ attacking prowess was on full display, with their left edge proving particularly dangerous. Jenkins continued to dominate, and his form has even seen him mentioned as a potential replacement for Zac Lomax in the Blues squad.
However, the moment of the match came from the less heralded right edge. A sweeping backline move saw Scott Sorensen deliver an outrageous flick pass to Luke Garner, who crossed for the seventh try of the game. Dylan Edwards and Jenkins then sealed the historic victory in the final 10 minutes, giving the Panthers a perfect 5-0 start to the season.
This includes two significant wins over last year’s grand finalists, starting with a 26-0 victory over the Brisbane Broncos in Round 1.
