Jarome Luai scored twice and set up another try in just his second NRL appearance as Penrith Panthers thrashed New Zealand Warriors 36-4.

With New South Wales Blues half-back Nathan Cleary away on State of Origin duty, Luai stepped in and inspired a dominant six-try home win.

Luai missed his first conversion following Tyrone Phillips' opener, but he made amends by adding the extras to a try of his own and splitting the posts from a penalty before half-time.

And the 21-year-old's boot remained true after the restart, delivering following tries from Waqa Blake, Viliame Kikau, himself and Corey Harawira-Naera.

Ken Maumalo's 75th-minute try belatedly got the Warriors on the scoresheet, but the game was long since over thanks to Luai's clinical performance keeping the Panthers in the top four.