It’s been a consistent storyline across the last three pre-seasons, with pundits and fans doubting the Panthers’ ability to win another premiership.
But after lifting their fourth trophy in as many years in 2024, Penrith legend Greg Alexander is certain it’s time for that mentality to be stopped in its tracks.
“Who would doubt them? How could you doubt them?” Alexander said to foxsports.com.au.
“I don’t think there’s anyone in the game that would comfortably say ‘no, they can’t do it’.
“Apart from them showing what an incredible team they are, how could you doubt Cleary, Yeo and Edwards?
“The senior players, that’s not mentioning Brian To’o or Liam Martin, who are vitally important.
“But with Ivan (Cleary) still coaching and those players still there, who could doubt them?”
But like every season gone by, the Panthers have lost a wealth of talent.
Five-eighth Jarome Luai has departed for the Tigers, leaving behind the NRL’s best-ever halves partnership, with Luai and Cleary winning four premierships.
They boast a 87.6 per cent strike rate, winning 78 from 89 first grade games — statistically making them better than the likes of Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling and Allan Langer and Kevin Walters.
Alongside Luai, the Panthers have also lost the ever-present James Fisher-Harris and winger Sunia Turuva, with both leaving gaping holes at prop and on the wing.
While their losses could prove crucial, league legend Braith Anasta believes the culture embedded into the Panthers as an organisation will once again hold strong.
Ivan Cleary has lost players like Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau and still found a way to win, and this season shapes as no different.
“It comes down to standards and their standards won’t waiver,” Anasta said to foxsports.com.au.
“Their attitude is first class and they don’t get complacent. Most teams who win the competition, it’s very hard to back that up.
“It just shows they aren’t happy with one, two, three, four. They won’t more.
“Luai is going to be a massive loss, Turuva will be a big loss, but when you’ve got the juniors coming through they do, and the ability to win big games, they’re always going to be there.”
Young gun Jack Cole, who has 10 NRL games to his name, won the race for Luai’s vacant No.6 jersey, with an in-house trial impressing Panthers coaching staff.
Foxsports.com.au understands Cole was on fire alongside Cleary, making Penrith’s coach’s minds up after a blistering performance.
However, new recruit Blaize Talagi shapes as his most likely opposition.
“I saw Blaize at the game on the weekend, geez he looks fit and he has a real good body type for a five-eighth,” Anasta said.
“He’s a prodigy… anyone can work with Nathan, then you add that he’s one of the next big things in the game, of course it will work.”
However, Alexander explained that a pre-season shoulder surgery hampered his availability.
“He’s certainly got the ability, but the fact he’s been recuperating from shoulder surgery has not been ideal,”
“But he’s only a baby, he’s only young so there’s no rush. I don’t know whether he’s going to be fit for Round 1.
“But that’s one of the interesting things for Penrith… Blaize certainly has the ability, Jack Cole has been there for a couple of years now and played well when he has been asked to play in first grade.
“Ivan has got his options.”
Luckily for Talagi, after making an off-season switch from the Eels, he has the ability to play in the backline and could slot in on the wing, or in the centres during the season.
Queensland Origin coach and legendary fullback Billy Slater was of the belief Talagi’s talents will be taken to new levels under Cleary.
“What he did in his rookie year last year at the Parramatta Eels, who were struggling for a big chunk of the year, he was a shining light for them,” he said on The Billy Slater podcast.
“For him to go to the best team in the competition, with the best structures and one of the best players to probably play the game, Nathan Cleary, he’s going to set him up in space that he hasn’t been in before.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for a young star like Talagi to jump into that system, to jump into that footy team and go and express himself.”
STRENGTH
Their consistency.
The Panthers have won four premierships in-a-row. As such, their rivals already know just how tough a contest it’s going to be every time they take the field against Ivan Cleary’s men. It’s a mental battle that’s already being fought before the game even begins and gives the Panthers an upper-hand. Throw in the mix a relentless standard and Penrith have remained a consistent force over the past five seasons. That consistency isn’t likely to change either, with an engine room that includes Mitch Kenny and Isaah Yeo and outside backs Brian To’o, Izack Tago and Paul Alamoti consistently eating up metres from the back-field. Once again, the Panthers will be there come the pointy end of the season.
WEAKNESS
Their front row.
It’s almost ridiculous to question the Panthers forward pack at this point, but any team that loses a player of James Fisher-Harris’ calibre will have a gaping hole. The 29-year-old was the club’s enforcer, partnering with Moses Leota to forge a scary front row partnership. In his place, Kangaroos representative Lindsay Smith will likely take up his minutes, while Liam Henry’s responsibilities will also increase. Scott Sorensen and Isaiah Papali’i will also likely feature in the middle at different stages, while internally the Panthers have big wraps on rising star Luron Patea. Penrith have a mountain of talent to fill the shoes left by Fisher-Harris, but regardless, the Kiwi international is one of the game’s premier props and he will be sorely missed at the foot of the mountain.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR
Blaize Talagi.
Blaize Talagi made a huge decision in his rookie NRL season, turning down an Eels extension to make a cross-town switch to the Panthers. The 20-year-old is one of rugby league’s most highly touted players, having played in the centre, wing, fullback and even coming off the bench in his first season in first grade. He was locked in a pre-season battle to wear the No.6 jersey with Jack Cole, eventually losing to his 21-year-old competitor. But regardless, Talagi will be called upon at some stage this season and Cleary knows he has a talented player on his hands. However, as Greg Alexander highlighted there’s no point in shoehorning Talagi into this team when opportunities will arise naturally.