Steve Orme at CUA Stadium
A hat-trick of tries to Frank Pritchard has helped Penrith secure second spot on the NRL ladder with an emphatic 50-12 thumping of a woeful Cronulla at CUA Stadium.
While the Sharks offered little resistance, the Panthers sent a strong message to their main premiership rivals after cracking the half century for the second time in three weeks.
The Mountain Men, who haven't played finals football since 2004, will host either Canberra or Manly at CUA Stadium next Saturday night.
The win is all the more impressive given the absence of Petero Civoniceva (suspension), Luke Walsh (ankle), Lachlan Coote (groin) and Luke Lewis (calf), while it was a disappointing ending for retiring Sharks duo Trent Barrett and Luke Covell.
Michael Jennings and Brad Tighe both bagged doubles for the home side with Wade Graham and Nathan Smith also crossing, while Michael Gordon kicked seven-of-nine with the boot.
It was a blistering start from the hosts who scored three converted tries in the opening 15 minutes to clear out to an early 18-0 lead.
Covell made an inauspicious start to his final NRL game, spilling a regulation pass in second minute to put Panthers deep on attack.
The hosts took full advantage from the ensuing set when Pritchard steamed on to an inside ball from Smith and bulldozed his way over the line for the opening score on four minutes.
The Sharks looked to have answered through Blake Ferguson who somehow grounded the ball in the corner despite the attention of two defenders, but video referee Paul Simpkins wasn't convinced and sent the decision back to Jason Robinson who ruled Ferguson had stepped into touch.
The Panthers made the most of the let off when Jennings scored in controversial circumstances in the 12th minute.
Sharks full-back Nathan Gardner lost the ball in a two-man tackle, and as the Cronulla players stopped to complain to the referees, Kevin Kingston swooped on the loose ball and found Jennings on his inside.
The video replays appeared to show the ball was stripped while Kingston also appeared to knock the ball on, but Simpkins saw enough evidence to award the try.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Tighe muscled his way over the line before Pritchard crossed on the half-hour for 24-0.
The Sharks finally opened their account on 33 minutes thanks to a piece of brilliance from Ferguson.
Having received the ball from Dean Collis 40m out, the Canberra-bound winger turned on the after-burners before unleashing a chip-and-chase without breaking stride for the converted try.
The match erupted moments later when Masada Iosefa charged Grant Millington who was already well held by two defenders.
Millington responded with a flurry of punches as both teams converged, with Iosefa and Millington both earning a stint in the sin bin for their involvement.
While the fight finished even, the Panthers landed the final blow of the half when Jennings swooped on a ridiculous off-load from Adam Cuthbertson and out paced Ferguson for a 28-6 half-time lead.
Graham's individual effort five minutes in put the result beyond any doubt, as the Sharks-bound playmaker stepped one defender before kicking for himself to complete a brilliant try.
Sharks young-gun Nathan Gardner hit back with a blistering 92m try of his own before the Panthers completed the romp with three unanswered tries.
Penrith Panthers 50
Tries: Pritchard 3, Jennings 2, Tighe 2, Graham, Smith
Goals: Gordon 7
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 12
Tries: Ferguson, Gardner
Goals: Covell 2
@ CUA Stadium, 04/09/10. Crowd: 10,997.