With scores locked 6-all at half-time and the Knights benefiting from 61 per cent possession, home fans started to entertain hopes of celebrating their first victory since April 10.

But four minutes after the interval, Panthers skipper Matt Moylan burst through the middle of the ruck to score and break the deadlock.

Tries by Waqa Blake and Tyrone Peachey soon followed, then winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak crossed twice in the space of five minutes.

Josh Mansour dived over seconds before full-time to finish with the first and last tries of the match.

Halfback Nathan Cleary kicked seven goals from eight attempts.

Newcastle's only try came from winger Brendan Elliot in the 30th minute.

The 42-6 win keeps Penrith in seventh place on the points table, ahead of a logjam of teams fighting for a top-eight finish.

The Knights remain last and, with three games to play, appear almost certain to finish 2016 with only one win and a draw to their names.

Last week, Newcastle broke their club record losing streak of 13 games, set in 2005.

This story originally appeared on www.smh.com.au