Without their State of Origin stars Nathan Cleary, James Maloney and Tyrone Peachey and injured duo Josh Mansour and Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Penrith's premiership hopes were supercharged by rookie Jarome Luai in the six tries to one rout.
Playing just the second NRL game of his career, Luai scored two tries, set up a third and had a hand in two more in an eye-catching effort.
He also nailed six of eight goals to finish with a personal 20-point haul.
The victory ends a worrying two-game slide for the Panthers that had some questioning their title ambitions.