Panthers run riot over Red V

A triple treat from superstar No.7 Nathan Cleary steered the Panthers to a 46-10 win over the Dragons at WIN Stadium on Sunday.

In his second game back from a hamstring injury Cleary bagged three tries, two try assists and ran for 278 metres as the premiers closed to within four competition points of the Storm with six rounds to play.

On the back of 70 per cent of possession in the opening 10 minutes the Panthers opened up a 12-0 lead courtesy of tries to Jesse McLean and Liam Martin.

Come the 19th minute and the premiers had a third try when Daine Laurie found space down the right side and sent the ball inside for Cleary to score.

The champion No.7 made it a double in the 25th minute when he took the line on from close range and the Panthers had raced away to lead 22-0.

The Dragons hit back in the 33rd minute when Christian Tuipulotu finished off some good work on the inside from Zac Lomax to make the margin 18 at the break.

A try to hard-working back-rower Scott Sorensen in the 45th minute put the Panthers up 28-4 before a kick out on the full by Dragons halfback Ben Hunt heaped more pressure on his side but some strong goal line defence denied Isaah Yeo a four-pointer.

Hunt then made amends with his third 40-20 of the season in the 52nd minute but the Dragons were unable to capitalise.

With 10 minutes remaining it was Cleary stamping his class again with a perfectly weighted grubber for Lindsay Smith to follow through and score before Trent Toelau burrowed over from dummy half as the Panthers put the finishing touches on their 13th win of the season.