Penrith broke a five-year NRL losing streak at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night, downing the highly-fancied Raiders 18-10.

But it was bad news for Panthers centre Michael Jennings who left the field after injuring his left ankle four minutes into the second half, potentially ending his NSW State of Origin hopes.

In a fast-paced affair, Panthers winger Geoff Daniela and Raiders opposite Justin Carney bagged doubles.

Carney opened in the 10th minute when he stripped Penrith centre Gavin Cooper of the ball and bolted 60 metres to touch down between the posts.

But Jennings answered back eight minutes later, side-stepping halfback Josh McCrone to even the score 6-6 before Daniela went over in the 27th minute to give Panthers a handy 12-6 lead at the break.

Both defences toughened in the second half but the Raiders clawed back to 12-10 when Carney gathered a Terry Campese bomb in the Panthers in-goal area to touch down in the 74th minute.

However they missed conversion and Daniela sealed the deal for Penrith, scoring a try three minutes later.

Canberra coach David Furner said his side's third-straight loss was frustrating for a side used to dominating at home.

"We just didn't show any patience there in that second half. Any time we tried to build pressure we would come up with an error," Furner said.

"We scored that (second) try, we were back in the game but then we sort of came up with an error straight away and you can't do that."

But with outstanding performances from Jennings, second rower Trent Waterhouse and Daniela, Penrith coach Matt Elliott was quietly beaming.

"I'm so proud of them, honestly. Proud of what they are prepared to do for each other," Elliott said.

But he was giving nothing away when it came to the fate of Jennings and his ankle.

"It could be really bad or it could be really nothing. We are operating off the second," he said.

"He was pretty disappointed about not going back on but that's Jenko for you.

"He doesn't miss too much footy, I think that's the first injury he's had since I've been involved with him so hopefully he's ok."

With City-Country and the Australian squad to be announced on Sunday, Elliott took the opportunity to promote Waterhouse to selectors.

"I'm not ever a coach that pumps people's tyres up for rep footy but if Trent Waterhouse isn't the best back rower in the competition at the moment, I am a really, really poor judge," he said.

"His performance tonight was mind-blowing both in attack and defence.

"Our Test selectors need to have a really, really good close look at him."

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