Penrith impact player James Segeyaro scores a hat-trick as the Panthers finish over Brisbane Broncos

James Segeyaro celebrates one of his three tries. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

JAMES Segeyaro, thanks to fancy footwork and a dodgy Auckland scallop, has now destroyed two teams in the space of five days.

Despite blitzing Brisbane with three solo tries on Friday night at Centrebet Stadium, Segeyaro is still seeking forgiveness from some of his fellow Panthers after being the source of a stomach bug that ripped through the club, restricting them to just one training run this week. 

"Yeah, got the whole crew sick," Segeyaro grinned afterwards as the Panthers celebrated a win that could see them finish the weekend as high up the ladder as eighth.

"I was crook for our game over in Auckland last weekend. I'm blaming it on a dodgy scallop and some seafood chowder. If you're ever in Auckland I wouldn't recommend it.

"Anyway, I was vomiting and, er . . . you know. We got back on Monday and by Tuesday everyone had it. No one would come near me in the finish, those boys that weren't sick approached me with towels over their faces."

He wasn't joking. 

"Went right through the club," coach Ivan Cleary conceded.

"I was actually a bit worried about how we'd finish over the last 20 minutes. While everyone was alright by today, I didn't know how well some of them would be late in the game."

Thanks to the fella dubbed Kamikazee Kumul, it didn't matter.

After twice sneaking over from dummy-half in the opening 40 minutes, the livewire PNG utility then decided the 28-12 result with a brilliant solo try that, with 10 minutes remaining, saw him move between defenders like they were traffic cones.

Despite coming into this round 12th on 22 points, the Panthers could now finish the weekend inside the eight should other results go their way.

For Brisbane, who now look set to miss the finals for just the second time in 21 years, they could only lament their inability to stop an 84kg dynamo who must have the North Queensland Cowboys wondering how they ever let him go.

"He was the difference," Broncos coach Anthony Griffin conceded. "His two tries from dummy-half, they were killers."

Panthers skipper Kevin Kingston agreed adding: "The whole squad just lifts up whenever 'Chicko' comes on the field.

"You just never know what he's going to do with the footy and I'm pretty sure the opposition are the same."

Yet while the night belonged to the livewire PNG rake, it also proved the grit in this club.

Like skipper Kevin Kingston, caught in a tryline collision where he was giving up 15 kilos, not only bringing down charging Broncos forward Lama Tasi, but so violently bending the big unit in half it caused him to lose the ball.

Or No.6 Isaac John, signed for little more than a Coke and chips, setting up the first try when, attacking the tryline, he used a little skip, then a lot of foresight to find lock Ryan Simpkins with a beautiful inside ball.

When Broncos winger Jordan Kahu broke free up the touchline with 15 minutes remaining and six the difference, Nathan Smith had no right to run him down. But he did.

Elsewhere, Simmons diffused bombs like McGyver, Kingston tackled himself to a standstill, Tim Grant bashed out 184 metres and centre Dean Whare . . . well, he twice forced drop outs with grubber kicks while on the run. 

"So we're still in it," Cleary smiled afterwards. "We're still alive."

PENRITH 28 (J Segeyaro 3 R Simpkins tries L Walsh 6 goals) bt BRISBANE 12 (C Oates 2 tries S Prince 2 goals) at Centrebet Stadium. Referee: Gavin Badger, Luke Phillips. Crowd: 8,817.

PENRITH PRESS CONFERENCE

The Daily Telegraph