The reigning premiers cracked the 20-point mark in style and saved a potentially dire start to their season after overcoming Canberra in a physical confrontation in the nation’s capital.

The Panthers were the only team in the competition yet to score more than 20 points in a game but beat the Raiders emphatically 53-12.

After a stop-start attacking first half which included a Stephen Crichton sin bin, Ivan Cleary’s men laid on a masterclass in the second 40 against a Raiders team that struggled to find any cohesion.

An early second-half try-scoring spree laid the platform for the win. Izack Tago was the first to claim second-half points in the 44th minute, followed by his second four-pointer shortly after and Nathan Cleary’s 50th career try in the 54th minute.

The Raiders were left stunned and were unable to recover as the Panthers laid on four more late tries.

Vital errors cost Ricky Stuart’s side dearly, finishing the game with 14 and a 68 per cent completion rate.

DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR YOUNG DUO

Most of the action came down the Panthers left edge and young duo Izack Tago and Sunia Turuva reaped the rewards.

Turuva has been one of Penrith’s biggest metre-eaters in the opening rounds and his efforts were rewarded with his first career double in the first half.

The 20-year-old has been waiting in the wings for his opportunity — which came when Taylan May suffered a season-ending injury — and hasn’t let anyone down.

“He’s just been able to handle that jump in class quite easily. He’s always been the next guy in our whole backline. It’s great to see. He gets targeted a lot but he’s been solid,” coach Ivan Cleary said.

Tago followed suit scoring two tries in the first 10 minutes of the second half in a big performance that also included two try assists, three linebreaks, five tackle busts and 105 running metres.

NEW PANTHER DELIVERS IN AUDITION

New Panther Zach Hosking has done everything he possibly can to show Ivan Cleary why he should be retained in the 17 when Liam Martin returns.

Hosking arrived to Penrith with Luke Garner to battle it out for Viliame Kikau’s vacant spot in the second row. Garner got the nod in Round 1 but Hosking has had an opportunity in the last two games while filling in for the injured Liam Martin.

However with Martin expected back next week coach Cleary will have to make decision on who stays — and Fox League expert Michael Ennis believes it should be Hosking.

“When you get an opportunity in first grade sometimes you’ve got to just shut the door on the opposition and that’s exactly what Zac Hosking has done,” Ennis said.

“The timing of his lead runs have been superb the last two weeks. He’s going nowhere, he is about to establish himself as a regular starter, I believe in this side. I think he holds down that left side.”

RAIDERS CRUMBLE IN SECOND HALF CAPITULATION

The Raiders were very much in the game in the first half — that’s why Nathan Cleary kicked a field goal just before the half time break.

But they completely crumbled in the second 40, leaking seven tries to become the first team to concede 50 points this season.

As the stat goes, no team has gone on to win the premiership after conceding 50 points.

They missed 43 tackles in total — 37 of those in the second half — but their errors were just as concerning. They completed at 57 per cent in the second half.

Fox League analyst Michael Ennis summed up the Raiders’ second half as “sloppy” while commentator Andrew Voss described the try haul “one way traffic” with the Raiders getting “blown out of the park.”

TEAMS

Raiders: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Matt Frawley 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Harawira-Naera 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Corey Horsburgh 18. Brad Schneider

Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 19. Jack Cogger