Penrith has secured its first win of the 2008 NRL season, weathering a determined South Sydney challenge to prevail 26-22 at CUA Stadium.
The Panthers took control of the game when running with the substantial westerly wind in the first half, leading by 16 points at half-time, but Souths cut the lead to just four points with eight minutes remaining. Under siege, Penrith just held on, much to the relief of coach Matthew Elliott.
Souths wasn't helped by two key injuries which saw them lose Roy Asotasi (concussion) and Issac Luke (broken hand) for the entire second half.
The Panthers' complete domination of the first 12 minutes of the game saw them 10-0 up thanks to a pair of Brad Tighe tries.
The first came in the fourth minute, starting with an Asotasi mistake which gave Penrith possession and ended with a cut-out pass from Frank Pritchard which allowed Tighe to stroll over.
The second was the result of a concerted period of pressure from the home side. They had three consecutive sets before the Rabbitohs' defence relented and allowed Tighe through a gap. Jarrod Sammut added the extras the second time around.
It was 16-0 on 23 minutes when Sammut's grubber caused havoc in the Rabbitohs' defence and Maurice Blair dived on loose ball. The video ref gave Blair the benefit of the doubt and Sammut stretched the lead further.
Centre Fetuli Talanoa got the visitors on the board on 32 minutes, charging through a flimsy Panthers defence to go under the posts, giving Luke an easy conversion assignment.
But the Souths defence let Adam Woolnough through for his first try for the Panthers and it was 22-6 at the break thanks to Sammut's third conversion.
A Penrith defensive mistake four minutes into the second half allowed John Sutton through to close the gap to just 10 points after Luke's conversion.
Sammut slotted a penalty after a high shot but Souths had regained the momentum and Michael Greenfield surprised everyone by recovering his own grubbered kick to score.
George Ndaira's first conversion in Luke's absence made it just six points the difference on the hour mark.
The Rabbitohs could have been level seconds later, but Ben Rogers dropped the footy over the line and another penalty from Sammut gave the home side breathing space.
A clever offload by Sutton put Dean Widders over to close the margin to four with eight minutes remaining but Penrith's defence lifted to hold on.
Panthers 26
Tries: Tighe 2, Blair, Woolnough
Conversions: Sammut 3
Penalties: Sammut 2
Rabbitohs 22
Tries: Talanoa, Sutton, Greenfield, Widders
Conversions: Luke 2, Ndaira
at CUA Stadium
Sportal's NRL Player of the Year:
3 - John Sutton (Souths)
2 - Frank Pritchard (Penrith)
1 - Jarrod Sammut (Penrith)