Updated March 12, 2017 21:40:57

Semi Radradra has scored four tries to help Parramatta to a 34-16 triumph over St George Illawarra in Wollongong to wrap up round two of the NRL.

Earlier on Sunday, Penrith showed why its a premiership contender with a 36-2 hammering of Wests Tigers in Campbelltown.

Dragons v Eels

Photo: Semi Radradra crosses for an early Eels' try during the victory over the Dragons in Wollongong. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)

Semi Radradra helped Parramatta made its best start to a NRL season since 1999 after trouncing St George Illawarra.

Radradra crossed for two tries in each half, as the Eels dominated the Dragons from the opening minute.

Michael Jennings also put forward an early contender for try assist of the year when he flicked a ball one-handed between his legs to put Radradra over for his second.

Radradra's haul was the first time he had scored four tries in his 70-match career, but it also brought up his fifth hat-trick.

It marks the first time in 19 years the Eels have gone two from two to open a season, after defeating Manly last week 20-12.

Clint Gutherson and Corey Norman again looked dangerous in the halves, as the Eels ran away with the match in the first half to set up an 18-6 lead at the break.

The Dragons looked more like the team tipped at the start of the season to be wooden spoon contenders, than the one who beat the Panthers last weekend 42-10.

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Tigers v Panthers

Photo: Dean Whare (R) is congratulated by Nathan Cleary after scoring a try for the Panthers. (AAP: Paul Miller)

The Panthers have bounced back from their horror showing in round one against the Dragons with a comprehensive thrashing of the Tigers.

Panthers centres Dean Whare and Tyrone Peachey starred on a sapping Sunday in Sydney's south-west, with the former scoring two tries and the latter carrying the ball for a match-high 191 metres.

It was the first time in a year that the Tigers had been held tryless, as stars James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks were kept quiet in front of a disappointed home crowd of 12,232.

The win could come at a cost for embattled star Bryce Cartwright, who capped off a controversy-plagued week by coming off with an ankle injury in the first half.

Panthers debutant Viliame Kikau and youngster Dylan Edwards joined Whare in cracking the match open with a three-try burst in a 12-minute period leading into half-time.

The Panthers continued their dominance in the second half through a shock try to Leilani Latu, who climbed over David Nofoaluma to take a Te Maire Martin bomb in the 49th minute.

The visitors sealed the win with tries to Whare and Nathan Cleary late in the second half.

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Topics: nrl, rugby-league, sport, balmain-2041, parramatta-2150, penrith-2750, wollongong-2500, nsw, australia

First posted March 12, 2017 15:38:59