LAS VEGAS: Liam Martin admits the Panthers have to eradicate one crucial weakness from their game in their quest for a remarkable five-peat – and it begins in Sin City.
Penrith lost the World Club Challenge and two of their first five games last season and the WCC and two of their first three games in 2023.
For a team that barely loses half a dozen games all year, it was a poor way to kick off both seasons and is an area the club has marked for improvement.
“We have been a bit slow off the mark the last couple of seasons and put pressure on ourselves,” Martin told Wide World of Sports.
Liam Martin and Nathan Cleary will line up for the Panthers this weekend. Getty
“We have worked really hard in the off-season to fix that and I guess we will see on the weekend if it worked. Cronulla are a top four team so they will put us to the test.
“It’s a long way to come and a historic day so we want to win badly – but we know they do too.”
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Martin revealed that he played with a ‘dodgy’ shoulder all last season – and it only got worse in the finals.
“I did it early in the year and it kept troubling me,” he said.
“I was needled up through the finals and probably wasn’t at my best.
“But luckily I didn’t need surgery and just gave it a good rest and I feel great now. I can’t wait for the game to come around – none of us can – this place is just