Even right-hand man Casey McLean has to stop and admire Tom Jenkins' surge from "square one" to top of the NRL's try-scoring leaderboard.
Jenkins' comeback is in the spotlight again this weekend as Penrith travel to Newcastle, the club Jenkins left at the end of 2024 with his career at a crossroads.
Plenty was made last year of the 25-year-old's efforts to parlay a stint with semi-professional side St Mary's into a full-time NRL contract at the Panthers for 2025.
But things have gone to yet another level in 2026, with left-winger Jenkins entering round eight six tries ahead of the next most prolific scorer for the season.
En route to nabbing 16 tries so far, the Panthers junior has also become the first man in premiership history to score more than one try in seven consecutive games.
He didn't score a single try from five games at the Knights, but on Sunday Jenkins could become the first Penrith player to score a four-pointer in nine consecutive games.
"He's got a fantastic story," Jenkins' outside man McLean told AAP
"Coming back down here, starting from square one pretty much, and now being one of the most in-form wingers in the comp."
McLean has thrown the last pass for six of Jenkins' 16 tries this season.
He credited coffee catch-ups off the field, and another pre-season together, for the pair's chemistry on the left edge.
"You get him the ball and he scores more than half the time," McLean said.
"I suppose it's that connection, trusting in one another now. I put my faith in him and he puts his in me. You don't want to let him down."
Jenkins and McLean have both played the Knights twice together since the former returned to the Panthers, first in a 25-6 loss that signalled rock bottom last season.
The then four-time reigning premiers slumped to last on the ladder with the round-12 defeat, only to win their next nine games and lock up a finals spot.
"It was obviously a tough period last year," McLean said.
"We took a lot of learnings from last year, how to carry ourselves not just through the games but also at training."
As for Jenkins, McLean doubts a trip up the M1 to face his old side carries much extra emotion.
"He just kind of lets his work do all the talking," McLean said.
"He enjoyed his time up there, but he's happy around here (at Penrith)."
