Wests Tigers started the year in promising fashion with a 32-8 thrashing of a below-strength Penrith on Saturday.

But the NRL trial win could come at a heavy cost with utility Dene Halatau injuring his left ankle after falling awkwardly in a tackle in the 58th minute.

In his first game back at the club after leaving five seasons ago, the 2005 premiership player looked sharp in filling in at hooker for captain Robbie Farah.

But there are fears he could have suffered a serious injury and has been taken for scans, the results of which will be known on Sunday.

The injury soured a good start to 2014 for the Tigers, with coach Mick Potter and his side eager to bounce back from a poor 2013.

At Kirkham Oval in Camden before a ground record of 5042 fans, in the first match of the year for both sides, the Tigers scored three tries in the first 20 minutes to Chris Lawrence, Curtis Sironen and David Nofoaluma, after a slick backline move from a scrum, and with a successful conversion from Pat Richards led 14-0 and were never headed.

Against a Panthers side missing key recruits Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace, Brent Kite and Jamal Idris, the Tigers then added tries to James Gavet and Keith Lulia to lead 26-0 after 54 minutes.

The Panthers finally managed to get on the board in the 60th minute through Isaac John before Etonia Nabuli crossed in the 72nd minute for a 32-8 scoreline.

Tim Grant, Sam McKendry and Matt Moylan all had solid hitouts for Penrith as did recruit Tyrone Peachey in the back-row.

Veteran Braith Anasta led the Tigers well around the park and young gun Nofoaluma showed he was set to pick up where he left off last year with his blistering pace on display frequently in attack and defence, eyecatchingly when he ran down Josh Mansour from behind to stop a certain try.