'Smashed him': Viliame Kikau in hot water over 'car accident' moment

Penrith forward Viliame Kikau could be in trouble with the NRL's Match Review Committee after a crazy incident during his side's big win over Cronulla on Friday night.

The Panthers extended their club-record winning streak to 10 after thumping the Sharks 38-12 at Panthers Stadium.

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However, they could see one of their star performers sidelined after a bizarre incident late in the game saw Kikau go on report.

The Panthers hard man clearly only had eyes for his target as he lined up a big hit on Sharks youngster Braydon Trindall.

Kikau thought Trindall was about to catch the footy after the Sharks shifted it across their backline.

However, the Penrith enforcer's head was down so he didn't see that the ball had actually flown past Trindall without him touching it.

Kikau still followed through on the tackle, however, absolutely poleaxing the young Cronulla star off the ball.

“Kikau has smashed him right there in the backplay without the ball,” Steve Roach said in commentary for Fox Sports.

“I reckon he might hear about this and they might have a look at this.

“He’s down and still there. Kikau absolutely garrotted him. I could hear him hitting the ground from up here.

“That’s a car accident. Jeez, his head hit the ground. He’s a tough little fella Trindall.”

Roach's co-commentator Warren Smith likened Kikau's brutal hit to a “747 coming into land”, with both callers suggesting the Penrith player might be in some trouble at the judiciary.

Panthers extend club-record winning streak

The incident did little to take the gloss off another stellar performance from the Panthers, who are now three points clear at the top of the ladder.

With a favourable draw on their side, Penrith are on track for their third minor premiership in club history.

But that isn't what coach Ivan Cleary wants to hear.

"I don't mean to be arrogant or disrespectful to the Sharks," he said.

"We're confident, we're doing a lot of things right, but there's lessons again tonight and little things in our game week to week, whether it's individual or team things to improve on and the boys know that."

But aside from their usual slew of stars, rising gun Liam Martin caused nightmares for the Sharks defence as he terrorised five-eighth Matt Moylan.

On a high after extending his contract for another two seasons earlier in the week, the 23-year-old twice cruised past Moylan - once to set up a try for Brent Naden and again to score himself with half an hour to play.

His two strips also turned the tide in the Panthers' favour, although not much went the way of Cronulla.

A horror defensive effort and 14 errors made fluency impossible for the Sharks, who have yet to beat a current top-eight side this season.

The Sharks scored just once each half through Jesse Ramien and Connor Tracey as the Panthers maintained the pressure from a 22-6 halftime lead.

Kikau, Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai all scored, while winger Josh Mansour celebrated his 150th NRL match with a double.

Hooker Api Koroisau didn't finish the match with a calf injury and is set for scans on Saturday.

with AAP