Penrith coach Ivan Cleary hailed his side’s young guns after the Panthers held off a fast-finishing Canterbury to win 24-18 at Pepper Stadium on Sunday.

Leading 24-0 after 69 minutes the hosts switched off in the latter stages to let the Bulldogs back in the game and although Cleary was disappointed with the finish he saw plenty of positives from his youthful side.

Local juniors Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and George Jennings scored three tries between them and Bryce Cartwright set up James Segeyaro for four points with a fantastic one-handed offload early in the second half.

Hooker Segeyaro also underlined his qualities with a brilliant performance and Cleary said there was plenty to be encouraged about.

“I always had a bit of a question mark about whether we could match up on a hot day for 80 minutes,” Cleary said.

“We had a few players back from off-season surgery and in terms of a continuity it was really good.

“But I think we were happy to take the points after 65 minutes but the Dogs weren’t into that and they never are.

“But at this time of the year the two points mean a lot.”

Jennings, who is the younger brother of NSW star Michael, hauled in his first try on debut and was one of four players in the side who won the Holden Cup competition two years ago.

“It’s our mandate at the club to bring our own players through,” Cleary said.

“We are still a developing side and a lot of young players have that one or two years of experience in first grade.

“But that’s how we are.

“Chicko (Segeyaro) was terrific, 80 minutes in that heat with that big Bulldogs pack was a great effort from him.”

Bulldogs coach Des Haler was furious with his side’s first-half performance and said there too many errors in their play.

“I thought the first half we probably tended to shoot ourselves in the foot a lot,” Hasler said.

“Penrith didn’t have to do much to get down the field. At one stage the possession was round about 35 per cent and our attitude with the ball was poor.

“We weren’t responsible enough with the ball which is probably a trend we have had a lot within the side.”