Two players not good enough to make the NRL media guide and a playmaker recycled from the NSW Cup starred as Penrith's patch-up outfit crushed Parramatta 44-12 on Monday night.
Winger Travis Robinson scored a double including one with his first touch of the ball and 21-year-old debutant fullback Matt Moylan provided the crucial pass for three of his side's eight tries as Penrith ended a five-match losing streak in style.
They were brilliantly steered around the paddock by Luke Walsh, his pinpoint kicking game leaving onlookers baffled as to just how he could have been dumped to the NSW Cup just a few weeks ago.
He only got a reprieve thanks to the injury crisis engulfing the club, but on this performance it's clear coach Ivan Cleary has plenty of talent to work with.
The Eels gave little hope for their fans or coach Ricky Stuart, a busy performance from Chris Sandow and a powerful Vai Tautai try which rekindled memories of Eric Grothe as he ran through eight defenders, brief bright spots for the visitors.
To complete a poor night for the Eels, co-captain Tim Mannah was carried from the field with what appeared a serious ankle injury.
Robinson, the twin of Canberra fullback Reece, could not have dreamed of a better return to the top grade when with his first touch he took a quick tap after defusing a bomb and racing 80 metres untouched to score.
Some Sandow brilliance engineered the Eels' reply via Jarryd Hayne, but a Walsh 40-20 turned the game back the home side's way, Moylan showing little first-game nerves with the money ball for David Simmons and then James Segeyaro to make it 16-6.
Robinson and Segeyaro finished off their doubles either side of halftime, the Panthers turning the final quarter into a training run as they punished the visitors for their second biggest win over the Eels.
Cleary said he was confident the players he brought into the side would handle the step up.
"The thing about injuries, what comes with it is opportunity," Cleary said.
"The reality is a lot of our squad could probably chop and change with each other.
"That probably happened a little bit tonight, a couple of players got their opportunities and certainly did a good job."
Of Moylan's debut, Cleary said:
"I could hardly fault him.
"But the reality is he'll have another game next week and when that game starts no-one will be worrying about this game."
Stuart was as disappointed as he had been after any game this year, claiming Toutai and teenager Kelepi Tanginoa were the only players to stand up.
"It's embarrassing when your two best players are an 18 and 19-year-old trying to learn how to play the game at a first grade level and one of those is a winger," he said.
Stuart added that Mannah would have scans on Tuesday on a suspected broken fibula.
- AAP
