CASEY McLean – the New Zealand Test centre who can now play Origin – got one over some of his future opponents as Brisbane’s World Club Challenge form continued on their own patch.
McLean, who under new qualification rules can play for NSW, scored the first of Penrith’s three first half tries as the Panthers stunned the Broncos 26-0 in round one.
In headline fixture in front of a full house, Ivan Cleary’s side ground Michael Maguire’s premiers down as the fragility they displayed in a 30-24 loss to Hull KR a fortnight ago followed them home.
Thomas Jenkins, the 24-year-old Panthers centre, finished with a try brace.
Fullback Dylan Edwards stepped his way through the Broncos’ goal-line defence in the 19th minute after McLean’s opener 14 minutes earlier.
Then, in the shadows of halftime, youngster Thomas Jenkins crashed over. Nathan Cleary’s goal brought up the 18-0 halftime ledger and the captain later added a penalty goal.
Jenkins intercepted Reece Walsh’s pass in the shadows of fulltime to put a cherry on the win.
PENRITH 26 (Jenkins 2 McGuire Edwards tries Cleary 5 goals) bt BRISBANE 0Â at Suncorp Stadium. Crowd: 45,566
Teams:
BRISBANE: Reece Walsh; Josiah Karapani, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamet Shibasaki, Deine Mariner; Ben Hunt, Adam Reynolds (c); Corey Jensen, Cory Paix; Payne Haas, Jack Gosiewski, Jordan Riki, Pat Carrigan. Res: Ezra Mam, Xavier Willison, Ben Talty, Ablix Tawa, Grant Anderson, Jaiyden Hunt.
PENRITH: Dylan Edwards; Paul Alamoti, Casey McLean, Thomas Jenkins, Brian To’o; Blaize Talagi, Nathan Cleary (c); Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, Lindsay Smith, Luke Garner, Isaiah Papali’i, Isaah Yeo. Res: Isaak Tago, Scott Sorensen, Jack Cogger, Kalani Going, Freddie Lussick, Billy Phillips.
Referee: Adam Gee.