The Cowboys dominated possession and field position in the first half as the Panthers were slugged with a heavy penalty count.

But Penrith kept last year's grand finalists at bay through hard work and defensive grit.

Wallace was pleased with his side's character and the display from five-eighth James Maloney.

"We didn't have much field position that first half on the back of the penalty count but I thought we hung in there really well and defended our line and scrapped for our tries in the first half," the hooker said.

 


 

"We knew we had to come out and match them and I thought our boys laid a great platform for us in the middle, I thought that was probably the difference in the game tonight.

[The forwards] laid a great platform and that let Jimmy do what he does, he had a blinder tonight."