Penrith played the best game I’ve ever seen. And they’re getting better every week

April 9, 2026 — 3:30am

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Penrith’s demolition of Melbourne on Friday night is undoubtedly the single best performance I have ever seen.

Frankly, I couldn’t believe what I was watching. And then you consider who the Panthers were actually playing. The Storm completed 34 of 36 sets (completion rate 94 per cent) and still had 50 points put on them.

Penrith are now the first team in history to win their first five games of the season by 20 points or more, and again, consider who they’ve not just beaten, but thrashed.

Brisbane, Cronulla, the Roosters, Eels and Melbourne – most people would have four of these teams contending for the top four or preliminary finals, but none of them have got close to the Panthers.

Still, premierships aren’t won in April. Penrith still have to get through 19 more games, an Origin series and at least a couple of finals. The team that always stands out to me in this regard is Manly in 1995.

The Sea Eagles just looked unbeatable all season and only lost two games that year … until grand final day.

The Bulldogs completely ambushed them in the game that matters most, beat them 17-4, and Terry Lamb retired with a title.

So, why are Penrith so dominant, and so far ahead of the competition right now?

How Penrith have changed the game again

The most significant change I’ve seen from the Panthers is in attack, and it’s been timed perfectly to take advantage of a quicker ruck speed right across the NRL and the new rules around set restarts.

This time last season, Penrith were struggling and had thrown 13 offloads in five........

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