Panthers edge Cowboys in Origin star's 100th match

The Panthers opened with a slick try through Brian To’o and closed out their Saturday night clash with a 26-20 victory, marking the gun winger’s 100th NRL game in winning fashion.

Milestone man To’o and his teammates will return from Townsville as victors after they held off a fast-finishing Cowboys outfit at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

The Panthers led 24-4 after cracking the Cowboys’ defence in the 45th minute, before three unanswered North Queensland tries gave the three-time reigning premiers a scare.

The Cowboys piled on tries through Valentine Holmes, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Jeremiah Nanai in the second half, but the Panthers resisted the onslaught from then on to bolster their position in the top four.

The Panthers are placed third with two games remaining in round eight, while the Cowboys are floundering in 10th.

Penrith hit the scoreboard just two minutes into the contest, spreading the footy to the left as To’o burst onto a Jarome Luai ball and darted over to score.

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The NSW State of Origin winger also busted through 18 tackles and made 228 metres.