Gordon provides inspiration for Panthers

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FLASH GORDON: Penrith Panthers winger Michael Gordon (bottom) celebrates his match-winning try against the North Queensland Cowboys with team-mate Lachlan Coote.

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Penrith winger Michael Gordon delivered the inspiration his team has been seeking to get their NRL campaign back on track on Friday night.

Locked 16-all with North Queensland at a damp CUA Stadium, Gordon scored a sensational 55-metre solo effort to snap the Panthers' losing streak and seal a dramatic 24-16 win.

The Panthers were made to scrap for every point against a resilient Cowboys team, but two breakaway efforts overhauled a 16-10 halftime deficit to secure the two points for Penrith.

And for a team that has been criticised for only being able to score off kicks, coach Matt Elliott will take plenty of satisfaction from his team's two second-half efforts.

First it was Nathan Smith's scoot that sent Kevin Kingston over with 18 minutes remaining to level the scores, before Gordon's electrifying effort from dummy-half had the fans on their feet and ended the Panthers' three-match losing run.

As the Cowboys lost the match they also lost their way, a sloppy penalty giving Gordon the chance to add two more points and complete the day's scoring.

Both tries came after the Panthers had a chance taken from them when the video referee ruled Luke Lewis offside after the NSW utility had put a grubber through to the electric Gordon in the 62nd minute.

It had loomed as a much better day for the visitors after they outscored their hosts by three tries to two at the break.

Matt Bowen had a hand in tries to wingers Will Tupou and Ashley Graham, while Johnathan Thurston's quick hands sent Queensland Origin teammate Willie Tonga over.

For the Panthers it was Gordon who cancelled out Tupou's opener while Brad Tighe scored the other first-half four-pointer.

The action wasn't just limited to the tryline, with prop Sam McKendry possibly facing a spell on the sidelines after being placed on report in the 34th minute for a trip on Thurston.

PENRITH 24 (M Gordon 2 K Kingston B Tighe tries M Gordon 4 goals) NORTH QUEENSLAND 16 (A Graham W Tonga W Tupou tries J Thurston 2 goals) at CUA Stadium. Referee: Tony De Las Heras, Steve Lyons. Crowd: 7,080

- AAP