Penrith has clinched its third minor premiership and extended its historic winning streak to 14 matches with a comfortable 32-12 triumph over North Queensland in Townsville.

The Panthers previously claimed the minor premiership in 1991 and 2003 before winning the grand final in both seasons.

They secured the JJ Giltinan Shield in the penultimate round of the regular season, having recorded 16 wins from 18 matches.

At the other end of the ladder, Brisbane is in line to collect the first wooden spoon in club history after slipping into last place following a 26-12 loss to Parramatta.

Despite resting captain James Tamou and injured star Apisai Koroisau, the in-form Panthers were never threatened by a cumbersome Cowboys side.

The visitors did much of the damage in the first half when they established a 20-0 lead at the break before completing their assignment in the second term, as they became the first team other than the Roosters and Storm to claim the minor premiership in eight years.

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The only serious blemish is the possible suspension for strike second rower Viliame Kikau, who was put on report for a high tackle on North Queensland fullback Valentine Holmes in the first half.

Kikau, who has already been suspended for a match this season for dangerous contact, has 50 carryover points and could be looking at another ban should he be hit with a grade-two charge.

He was arguably the Panthers' best, carrying the ball for a team-high 180 metres and scoring a try and setting up another.

It was one-way traffic from the kick-off, with winger Brian To'o on the end of a Dylan Edwards grubber in just the fourth minute and then Kikau rampaged through three defenders for Stephen Crichton to score soon after.

Josh Mansour and Jarome Luai also scored for the Panthers in the first half.

Kikau continued the carnage soon after half-time when he took a Nathan Cleary kick, before the Cowboys finally got on the scoreboard through Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the 61st minute.

Retiring Cowboys veteran Gavin Cooper, playing his final home match in Townsville, played a crucial part in the build-up to the try.

The four-pointer proved a consolation, with Brent Naden finishing off a 50-metre kick-return that included a Cleary line break to score the Panthers' sixth try of the night.

Kyle Feldt added a second Cowboys try late in the match.

Cleary kicked four conversions for the Panthers, who wrap up their regular-season campaign against Canterbury on Saturday week.

Eels add to Broncos' season of woe

The loss to the Eels at Western Sydney Stadium was the 10th straight for the Broncos and leaves them in position to finish last.

Brisbane fell to last place on the ladder behind the Bulldogs, who scored a rare win on Thursday night when they defeated top-eight side South Sydney.

To avoid finishing last the Broncos will need to beat North Queensland at Lang Park next Thursday and hope the Bulldogs do not upset the Panthers.

The Eels shored up a top-four spot but failed to put the Broncos to the sword.

Regardless of next week's result against Wests Tigers, in the final game of the regular season, the Eels will get a second chance in the NRL finals.

And luckily too, with prop Junior Paulo put on report for a tackle on Brisbane second-rower David Fifita two minutes into the second half.

It could mark Fifita's last match in a Broncos jersey with their final match of the season just six days away.

The Gold Coast-bound forward was taken from the field in agony with what is believed to be a low-grade ankle sprain after Paulo's 123-kilogram frame fell on his lower leg.

After weeks of stuttering performances, the Eels looked nervy early but put their season back on track with four tries in 19 minutes to lead 20-6 at half-time.

And while it was hardly a fair fight between the premiership hopefuls and the cellar-dwellers, it served as a reminder of what the Eels are capable of when they are on.

But it was also a lesson in concentration as the Broncos kept fighting, scoring in either half.

Fifita's try was the best of them and came when he shrugged off a poor tackle from Mitch Moses to power over and score.

Two tries to Eels fullback Clint Gutherson in four minutes, however, gave the Eels a healthy half-time lead.

But they did not go on with it in the final 40 minutes.

Everything was set up for them to run up a score and build confidence leading into the finals, but somehow it did not reach any great heights.

Even after the Broncos lost their five-eighth Tyson Gamble to a head knock in the opening minute, the visitors kept rallying.

Gamble was laid out by hulking Eels winger Maika Sivo while trying to make a tackle and was helped from the field and did not return.

It set an ominous tone for the night, but to their credit the Broncos did not concede easily with just two players on the bench for the second half.

AAP/ABC