Brian To’o sweats on avoiding Origin ban and fresh injury

“The contact was so hard it made it look like whiplash,” Yeo said.

“We wanted to challenge it after looking at the slo-mo. There was obviously whiplash, but I thought it was more contact with the chest, not the head.

“The tougher the game is, the better he goes, and he showed that again tonight.

“He went into game two off a limited preparation, and he was our best in that game. I thought he was just about our best again tonight.”

The other pressing issue for To’o was his left knee, which was strapped midway through the first half. Penrith officials confirmed after the game To’o would go for precautionary scans on Friday, but it was a good sign he could finish the game.

Should To’o be in any doubt for the Origin decider in Sydney, Canterbury’s Jacob Kiraz would come into contention for NSW.

Dogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said: “Firstly, I don’t think Brian’s got too much to worry about, there wasn’t much in it. If Jacob got an opportunity, he wouldn’t let anyone down, and he’s been one of the form wingers of the comp.”

The Panthers made it four wins on the trot to remind the competition why a fifth straight title is not out of the question, despite winning just one of their opening seven games.

A Nathan Cleary charge-down try in the 55th minute proved the difference, with Cleary’s right groin also proving no problems whatsoever.

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“I saw the guys outside of him [Burton] were a bit in front of him, so he couldn’t pass it – I think I’ll end up with a bruised chest because he kicked it that hard into me,” Cleary said of his try.

“I said to dad [coach Ivan Cleary] after the game there was a charge-down in an Origin game in 2022 in Perth, and the ball bounced over my head. I had visions [tonight] of that as the ball was bouncing, and I was like, ‘please, don’t bounce over my head’. Luckily I got a good bounce.”

Casey McLean more than held his own against Crichton, Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards ran for more than 260m, Mitch Kenny tackled himself into the ground, while Canterbury fullback Connor Tracey was the standout in a side that lost no admirers.