Nathan Cleary has reigned supreme to become the youngest player to score 1,300 points in premiership history in Penrith's 15-4 win over a resilient Brisbane outfit in the opening match of the NRL's Indigenous Round.
The victory took the Panthers to the top of the ladder as they continue their pursuit of three consecutive premierships.
Panthers halfback Cleary controlled the match and scored a crucial second-half try when he dummied and went himself at Lang Park in front of 33,343 spectators.
That try took him to 1,300 points.
Manly great Graham Eadie reached the mark at the age of 25 years and 246 days in 1979, while Cleary is 25 years and 185 days.
Cleary finished the match with an 11-point haul, having also kicked two conversions, a penalty goal and a field goal.
The Broncos were playing without injured captain Adam Reynolds and it was their last-tackle plays that let them down at times despite replacement halfback Jock Madden having a solid match.
The Panthers are now on 16 points and equal with the Broncos and South Sydney, but with a superior for and against. The Rabbitohs have the chance to take the outright lead on the ladder when they host Parramatta on Friday night.
The Broncos now hold an 8-4 win-loss record, with the result against the Panthers being their second straight defeat.
A bizarre moment occurred in the 63rd minute with the Broncos trailing 14-4.
Bunker official Ashley Klein cleared contact by Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh on Penrith centre Tyrone Peachey before what appeared to be a try to Kotoni Staggs from a bomb.
But on-field referee Adam Gee, who had ruled no try on-field, then said: "It doesn't look right to me Ash."
Klein looked at it again and ruled Walsh had illegally contacted Peachey.
The Broncos' scrambling defence was on song in the first half with Madden, Herbie Farnworth and Selwyn Cobbo making try-saving tackles.
The Panthers had three tries disallowed in the opening half. One was the result of a desperate tackle by Broncos second rower Kurt Capewell on Moses Leota when he jolted the ball free while the Panthers prop was over the line.
The visitors led 8-0 at half-time, with Panthers winger Sunia Turuva scoring the only try of the first term.
Cobbo provided the Broncos with their only points of the match via a try in the 58th minute.
Panthers centre Stephen Crichton did his chances of being retained by NSW for the State of Origin series no harm, while fullback Dylan Edwards must be close to a Blues debut after another stunning performance.
Walsh was brilliant at times for the Broncos to keep himself in the frame for a Queensland debut.
AAP
