PENRITH young gun Nathan Cleary has claimed an impressive record in his side’s thrilling 26-22 win on Sunday which ended Canberra’s 2017 finals hopes.

Heading into the game, Cleary needed just eight points to break Manly legend Graham Eadie’s 43-year-old record to become the youngest player in premiership history to score 200 points in a season.

The 19-year-old did it in classy fashion at GIO Stadium, scoring a try and kicking five goals as the Panthers hung on for the win.

MATCH CENTRE: Raiders v Panthers

Round 20

The Green Machine rallied in the second half after 10-point deficit at halftime and took the lead at the three-quarter mark, but a 73rd minute try to Panthers rookie Tyrone May landed the killer blow for the visitors.

The result means the Panthers have cemented a spot inside the top eight, while the Raiders will now have to wait until next year to get another shot at playing finals football.

HOW IT WENT DOWN

The Raiders got their day off to a horror start when a Joseph Tapine error led to the Panthers scoring first points through Waqa Blake.

Minutes later they were under the pump again after Nick Cotric dropped a bomb, and the Panthers extended their lead in the following set thanks to a Cleary penalty goal.

The Green Machine came to life following a penalty and Cotric soon redeemed himself when he dived over in the corner after some hot potato footy from Blake Austin and Jack Wighton.

Nick Cotric of the Raiders celebrates after scoring a try. Source: AAP

In the 25th minute Blake showed up Jarrod Croker to race down the sideline and put Cleary over for his record-breaking 200th point.

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The Raiders weren’t done however, and with Dave Taylor injected into the game, they narrowed the gap after a stunning offload from the big man saw Josh Papalii crash in for a meat pie.

Moments before the break the Panthers made it 20-10 following two huge runs from Josh Mansour.

The men in green came out firing in the second half and scored first points courtesy of a strong run from Jack Wighton.

The Raiders fullback was back in the action in the 54th minute after scooping up a grubber and racing down field only to be caught by James Tamou and Reagan Campbell-Gillard. But the home side took full advantage of the field position and hit the lead after a Tapine try and Croker goal.

Was Blake of the Panthers (L) celebrates after scoring a try. Source: AAP

The Panthers almost immediately snatched back the lead but Corey Harawira-Naera coughed up the ball near the Raiders’ line.

Suddenly the Green Machine rolled down to the Panthers’ tryline after a stunning 40/20 kick from Aidan Sezer.

The Raiders bunkered themselves down that end of the field for the next couple of sets but weren’t able to make the most of the opportunity.

May continued his impressive debut season in the 73rd minute when he darted from dummy half to score next to the posts and give his side the lead once again.

The final moments of the match were frantic, but the visitors were able to hang on for a well-deserved victory.

PENRITH 26 (W Blake N Cleary J Mansour T May tries N Cleary 5 goals) bt CANBERRA 22 (N Cotric J Papalii J Tapine J Wighton tries J Croker 3 goals) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Alan Shortall, Ashley Klein. Crowd: 14,818.

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