Penrith have clinched just the third NRL minor premiership in their history and extended their historic winning streak to 14, with a comfortable 32-12 triumph over North Queensland.
Despite resting two players – captain James Tamou and injured star Apisai Koroisau – the in-form Panthers were never threatened by a cumbersome Cowboys side at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The visitors did all the damage with a 20-0 first half on Friday to become the first team other than perennial title hopes the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne to claim the JJ Giltinan Shield in eight years.
The only serious blemish is the possible suspension for strike second-rower Viliame Kikau, who was put on report for a high tackle on North Queensland fullback Valentine Holmes in the first half.
Kikau, who has already been suspended for a game this season for dangerous contact, has 50 carryover points and could be looking at another ban should he be hit with a grade-two charge.
He was arguably the Panthers’ best, carrying the ball for a team-high 180 metres and scoring a try and setting up another.
It was one-way traffic from the kick-off, with winger Brian To’o on the end of a Dylan Edwards grubber in just the fourth minute and then Kikau rampaged through three defenders for Stephen Crichton to score soon after.
The sizzling start forced the Cowboys to resort to foul play to stop the bleeding, with winger Kyle Feldt denying Crichton a chance to gather a Jarome Luai grubber in the 14th minute.
However, teammate Josh Mansour backed up to touch down.
Not even forcing a line dropout could save North Queensland from Penrith’s attacking prowess, with Crichton athletically tapping a short kick back into play for Luai to re-gather.
Minutes later, the duo combined again when Crichton tapped back a Luai bomb for the five-eighth to hand the Panthers a dominant 20-0 halftime lead.
Kikau continued the carnage soon after the break when he took a Cleary kick, before the Cowboys finally got on the scoreboard through Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the 61st minute.
Retiring veteran Gavin Cooper, playing his final home game in Townsville, played a crucial part in the build-up to the try which also ended an impressive 180 minutes straight of the Panthers’ tryline being held intact.
The four-pointer proved a consolation, with Brent Naden finishing off a 50-metre kick-return that included a Nathan Cleary line break, while Feldt added a second Cowboys try late.
