Nathan Cleary has sparked Penrith in a 40-6 demolition of the Warriors, deflating any expectations for their long-awaited New Zealand NRL homecoming next month.
Any sign of fight from the Warriors at Redcliffe's Moreton Daily Stadium on Saturday would have sparked some hope for their Round-16 clash with the Wests Tigers in Auckland, the Warriors' first genuine home game after two years based in Australia.
They were willing but largely rudderless as the ladder-leading Panthers flexed their muscles in a seven-try rout of their 14th-placed opponents.
It was the Warriors' seventh consecutive loss, expertly ground into submission by Cleary, fullback Dylan Edwards, second-rower Liam Martin and lock Isaah Yeo.
Halfback Cleary was always a play ahead of the Warriors. He tormented them with an array of kicks on top of his slick running and passing game.
It was in stark contrast to Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson, who failed to trouble the Panthers' defence and is fighting for his place in the side.
The Panthers took some time to find the precision expected from the NRL's benchmark team.
Two handling errors inside the first five minutes provided an uncharacteristic start but when they eventually clicked they were near unstoppable.
Apisai Koroisau expertly attracted two defenders and put Moses Leota through a hole for the first try.
And their second was an artfully created set play from a scrum.
With the Warriors fixated on the Panthers' devastating left edge, Cleary turned the ball back inside to Edwards who sprinted to the line untouched.
The Panthers led 18-0 halftime and were effectively home when Brian To'o crossed in the corner for the first of his two tries early in the second half.
The Warriors' best chance of igniting points came from livewire fullback Reece Walsh.
Walsh probed the Panthers' line with weaving runs, deft kicks and offloads, but for all his gut-busting effort could not spark a comeback.
It was his 40-20 and a beautifully timed pass that led to his side's only try to Josh Curran in the 76th minute.
There were promising signs, too, from debutant Warriors half Ronald Volkman who boasts a clever kicking and passing game.
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