The Penrith Panthers have strengthened their position in the top-eight following a comprehensive 27-14 defeat of the Canberra Raiders at CUA Stadium on Saturday night.
In front of a paltry 8,074 fans at the foot of the mountains, the home side benefited from a series of 50-50 calls by the video referee to take a commanding 18-0 lead into the break before withstanding a brief Canberra second-half resurgence to eventually finish comfortable 13-point winners.
The result pushes the Panthers into seventh position on the NRL ladder, leapfrogging the out-of-form Broncos, who suffered an embarrassing 32-point loss to the Rabbitohs in Brisbane on Friday night.
The Raiders' finals hopes are now as good as over following back-to-back losses, leaving them six points shy of eighth spot with seven rounds remaining.
Penrith was fortunate to be awarded the opening try of the game in the sixth minute when prop Frank Puletua was given the green light by video referee Russell Smith after seemingly taking an eternity to ground the ball with Raiders' full-back Josh Dugan underneath him.
Puletua's third career try in 161 first-grade games was converted by winger Michael Gordon to open up a 6-0 lead for the hosts.
There was more video ref joy for the mountain men in the 18th minute when a possible obstruction by back-rower Trent Waterhouse on Raiders half-back Marc Herbert was overlooked by the man in the box, allowing the Junior Tia-Kilifi effort in the left corner to pass muster.
Gordon made it 32 from 34 goals for the season with the sideline conversion to give the Panthers a solid 12-0 lead.
Things escalated from bad to worse for the Raiders just before the half hour when their NSW Origin forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs limped from the field unable to return.
Then six minutes out from half-time the Raiders copped another questionable video refereeing decision when what appeared to be a fair try to young winger Daniel Vidot was denied after Dugan was ruled to have knocked the ball forward off a rebound from a Campese kick in the lead-up.
The Panthers showed little concern for their frustrated opponents, posting a converted try right on the stroke of half-time, centre Brad Tighe racing over following some fine lead-up from youngster Wade Graham.
Canberra grabbed a much-needed try 10 minutes after the break when a strong Bronson Harrison charge at the line paved the way for Campese to dive over from dummy-half.
The Raiders pivot converted from the sideline, reducing his side's deficit to 12 points.
A 53rd minute penalty goal to Gordon handed the Panthers a 14-point lead before the Raiders struck back swiftly via Vidot who raced over in the right corner off a fine Herbert pass.
Any thought of a Raiders' comeback was quickly extinguished in the 63rd minute by Penrith interchange player Joseph Paulo, who raced over from the scraps of a bomb to give his side a 26-10 lead.
Raiders centre Jarrod Croker finished off the try-scoring with a 70th minute four-pointer before Penrith half-back Luke Walsh slotted a late field-goal to open up the final 13-point gap.
Penrith Panthers 27
Tries: Puletua, Tia-Kilifi, Tighe, Paulo
Conversions: Gordon 4
Penalty goals: Gordon
Field goals: Walsh
Canberra Raiders 14
Tries: Campese, Vidot, Croker
Conversions: Campese