Image source, Getty Images

St Helens have been magnficent here. What a way to come to the NRL premiers in their own backyard and show just what you're made of.

Under Kristian Woolf, Saints became renowned for their defence, and that has showed.

Panthers are frustrated and rattled. They can't crack the line.

But they've also had the craft to open the Penrith defence themselves in return.

So far so good for Paul Wellens' side.

Jack Welsby the bounce of a ball away from steaming through again after a hack-through, but Penrith survive.

Saints have been bang up for it.

Superb from Saints.

Izack Tago was sat down by a perfect low tackle by Will Hopoate on the left.

Then, Jake Wingfield dives on a Nathan Cleary grubber. Doing everything to keep them out.

Wrecking-ball run from Spencer Leniu, who has Saints players desperately pawing at his shorts to halt it.

Penrith get a penalty which is slugged to touch.

Here they come, 30 out.

Danger.

Saints force a drop-out

Brilliant work down the left got them into space.

Then Lewis Dodd rolls a perfect grubber which is picked up in-goal by Penrith, and the tackle made.

Another HIA - Penrith's Zac Hosking. And Tommy Makinson has failed the HIA.

Nathan Cleary then fires a rocket off his boot, went for a low drop-out that tracks the floor and finds touch.

The golden key in the lock.

Mark Percival pouches another testing Nathan Cleary bomb, just outside his own 10.

St Helens are wary of the kick threat.

Their defence has been magnificent. As is the sunshine at Penrith. Gone from tropical storm to beautiful sunset and rainbow.

Taylan May is limping off. It's a rough old affair.

Then Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook cops a forearm from Stephen Crichton as the Saints prop led the kickchase on the full-back.

He's being led off for a head injury assessment.

St Helens draw breath with a clearing kick and set their line to hold out Penrith's next surge.

They've got another chance for a breather now. Agnatius Paasi comes in low third-man to make a challenge on Taylan May, who stays down.

No penalty, no punishment.

Luke Lewis
Ex-Australia international on ABC and Radio 5 Sports Extra

St Helens' defence is getting off their line so quick that they're getting up in their face and the Panthers' players don't know what to do.

Well done to St Helens. They know how to defend it and they're executing it perfectly.

Penrith are really drilling into the line, Nathan Cleary tries to float wide to Taylan May but Saints slide to shut it down.

Then Spencer Leniu tries to sledgehammer his way across, but a tackle goes in and the ball comes loose.

St Helens have defended demonically. Will that effort take its toll?

Penrith have torched Saints down the left. Forcing their way into the 10 thanks to lung-busters from Izack Tago and then Taylan May.

Sunia Turuva is stopped. St Helens scrambling.

Then, Nathan Cleary is shotted late by James Roby. And high.

The Saints skipper avoids punishment. Penalty sufficient.

Penrith really digging into the Saints line.

Zac Hosking stopped on the right.

Isaah Yeo turned away through the middle.

Ball spilled on the last. Saints survive again. But the tide might be turning.

John Gibbs
Ex-Manly half-back on ABC and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

You've got to give St Helens some credit, their hustle and bustle is really good. They've had a couple of chances close to the line but their defence has been desperate. This has been a really good first half by St Helens.

Mark Percival out of the line to shut down Stephen Crichton. Super challenge by Saints.

Then Tommy Makinson is left in trouble, clanging into Izack Tago. Will he continue?

Perfect kick from Nathan Cleary goes into the in-goal, Lewis Dodd volleys it behind.

Makinson has to come off. No protests. It's protocol.

Penrith toil, Nathan Cleary gets the kick away from deep.

Will Hopoate spills... scrum for the Panthers right in the red zone.

Disaster for Hoppa.

St Helens one pass away from perhaps scoring a third, as they attacked the Penrith right edge.

Jack Welsby weaves in off a pass from Jonny Lomax, but as he looked for either Mark Percival or Will Hopoate, he got mixed-up.

Penrith survive.

Jack Welsby has to be on the radar of NRL clubs following his performances for Saints and England.

He's been excellent barring that kick before in this game. Chiming in with real threat. Finesse, toughness and game smarts.

Another sloppy offload, this time by James Fisher-Harris, coughs up Penrith possession.

Disappointing end to a set in good ball as a looping dink to the corner from Jack Welsby for Saints is batted back straight to Penrith's Taylan May.

Saints then force a loose-ball, as Moses Leota spills on half-way.

The visitors have done a superb job so far.

Lewis Dodd able to kick on the last from 40 out from the Penrith line, and Stephen Crichton is wrapped up just a couple of metres out from the sticks.

Great chase. Great kick. Saints playing this game to a tee.

By contrast, Penrith's kick from Nathan Cleary is from 30 out from their own posts...

John Gibbs
Ex-Manly half-back on ABC and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

St Helens are brim full of confidence. Penrith are in a huddle asking 'what's happening here?'

You don't often see Penrith 10-0 down at home - they have won 25 of their last 27 games at home, they hardly get beaten here. This is a real shock.