PENRITH winger Brian To’o broke the 100-try barrier and quickly moved to 102 as the Panthers were too good for Melbourne despite being reduced to 11 men at one stage.
Samoa star To’o has been stranded on 99 touchdowns for several weeks but crossed after only two minutes at an AAMI Park that would soon become rainswept as the Panthers hung on for a 22-14 win.
He scored again in the 23rd and 29th minutes as the Panthers built a 22-0 halftime lead, overtaking Ryan Girdler and Greg Alexander and moving into outright second behind Rhys Wesser (113).
Liam Martin, Lindsay Smith and Jack Cogger all spent time in the sin bin for Penrith and during the early part of the second half, the visitors were reduced to 11 men.
The Storm’s Oryn Keeley was also dispatched to the bin.
PENRITH 22 (To’o 3 Henry tries Cleary 3 goals) beat MELBOURNE 14 (Wishart Howarth Tuimalatu-Brown tries Meaney goal) at AAMI Park.
and Teams:
MELBOURNE: Sua Fa’alogo; Siu Tuimalatu-Brown, Jack Howarth, Nick Meaney, Moses Leo; Cameron Munster, Tyran Wishart; Stefano Utoikamanu, Harry Grant (c), Josh King, Shawn Blore, Oryn Keeley, Trent Loiero. Res: Trent Toelau, Alec MacDonald, Angus Hinchey, Cooper Clarke, Joe Chan, Jack Hetherington.
PENRITH: Dylan Edwards; Tom Jenkins, Izack Tago, Casey McLean, Brian To’o; Jack Cogger, Nathan Cleary (c); Moses Leota, Freddie Lussick, Liam Henry, Isaiah Papalii, Liam Martin, Lindsay Smith. Res: Billy Scott, Scott Morrison, Billy Phillips, Luke Garner.
Referee: Grant Atkins.
