Brian To'o avoids Origin ban, but now awaits knee scan
The more pressing concern will be his left knee, which To'o injured in the first half, and needed to be strapped.
He was able to finish the game, but Penrith medical staff will send To'o for scans on Saturday to be safe.
Penrith co-captain Issah Yeo said he wanted to challenge the To'o call because he was convinced the only contact on Xerri was to the chest – not the head – but was unsure if he could once he was placed on report.
'The contact was so hard it made it look like whiplash,' Yeo said.
'We wanted to challenge it after looking at the slo-mo. There was obviously whiplash, but I thought it was more contact with the chest, not the head.
'The tougher the game is, the better he goes, and he showed that again tonight.
'He went into game two off a limited preparation, and he was our best in that game. I thought he was just about our best again tonight.'
If scans confirm any damage for To'o, and he is in doubt for the Origin decider on July 9, Canterbury's Jacob Kiraz would come into contention for NSW.
Dogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said: 'If Jacob got an opportunity, he wouldn't let anyone down, and he's been one of the form wingers of the comp.'
The Panthers made it four wins on the trot to remind the competition why a fifth straight title is not out of the question, despite winning just one of their opening seven games.
A Cleary charge-down try in the 55th minute proved the difference, with Cleary's right groin also proving no problems whatsoever.
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'I saw the guys outside of him [Burton] were a bit in front of him, so he couldn't pass it – I think I'll end up with a bruised chest because he kicked it that hard into me,' Cleary said of his try.
'I said to dad [coach Ivan Cleary] after the game there was a charge-down in an Origin game in 2022 in Perth, and the ball bounced over my head. I had visions [tonight] of that as the ball was bouncing, and I was like, 'please, don't bounce over my head'. Luckily I got a good bounce.'
Casey McLean more than held his own against Crichton, Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards ran for more than 260m, Mitch Kenny tackled himself into the ground, while Canterbury fullback Connor Tracey was the standout in a side that lost no admirers.
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