Tom Jenkins is on track to break a 91-year-old record for most tries in an NRL season, but admits he feared being squeezed out of Penrith after 2026.
Jenkins has scored a staggering 20 tries in 13 games this season, most recently crossing for a double in the 68-0 thrashing of Wests Tigers in round 14.
Presuming the ladder-leading Panthers play at least two finals games, Jenkins will pass Dave Brown's historic mark of 38 tries from the 1935 season if he continues at his current strike rate.
With 12 rounds left in the season and then finals, left winger Jenkins has already scored as many tries as the top scorer from both 2005 and 2013.
He is only five off equalling Rhys Wesser's club record of 25 tries in Penrith's premiership-winning 2003 season.
