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NRL: Nathan Cleary has scored brilliant try off the back of a bit of Bryce Cartwright magic.

Chris Grevsmuhl scores a try.

PENRITH held off a fast finishing South Sydney side and it was a former Rabbitoh in Chris Grevsmuhl who scored the try that mattered.

The Panthers are now in the top eight following Friday’s 28-26 win over South Sydney at Pepper Stadium.

The visitors have now lost four straight but they weren’t without their chances.

THE STAR

NRL: Penrith are back in the top eight, after going back to back for just the second time this season, as South Sydney’s finals hopes took another massive hit.

Bryce Cartwright.

Pick this man for Origin. That’s not a request. It’s a statement.

Whether he’s playing five-eighth or backrow, Cartwright is dangerous. When he is running and his hands are on the ball, he’s a genuine threat to any opposition. Sure, he gives away a penalty or two and misses a couple of tackles but what he offers in attack is worth the small defensive lapses.

Cartwright played a hand in four of Penrith’s five tries to deny the Rabbitohs victory.

It is his creativity which has experts like Matty Johns and Steve Mortimer calling for his immediate selection in the Origin dead rubber in Sydney on July 13.

THE MOMENT

NRL: Former Rabbitoh Chris Grevsmuhl has rubbed salt in his old teams? wounds, scoring against them in the 70th minute

With 69 minutes gone and Penrith leading 22-14, Bryce Cartwright drifted across the field.

The five-eighth then straightens to find Chris Grevsmuhl on his inside.

The former Rabbitoh pushed off Cody Walker and Greg Inglis to barge over the line for his third try of the season but we think this one will be the sweetest of them all.

The former bunny left the club in controversial fashion, giving coach Michael Maguire a spray for his “mind games” he plays with players as he joined his new team.

The 23-year-old had the last laugh with his try gifting Nathan Cleary a kick for goal which would ultimately prove the difference.

WHAT WE LEARNED

NRL: Penrith utility Tyrone Peachey has been wiped out by the back fence as he tried to run onto the end of a Nathan Cleary grubber.

Nathan Cleary is a future superstar.

He had a tough NRL debut a few weeks back against Melbourne but since that night, the halfback hasn’t looked back.

And he hasn’t looked out of place in first grade.

Kicking for goal for the first time in his NRL career, Clear nailed four of his five attempts, with his conversion of Grevsmuhl’s try proving the difference.

Scoring his second career try, Cleary showed great pace and commitment to back up a Cartwright break and slide over for a crucial four-pointer.

Still only 18, the Australian Schoolboy clearly has a bright future in the game.

Re-live the action in our blog below: