A disappointing outing from the Panthers in Round 2 has critics questioning if the reigning premiers are starting to weaken as they push for a fifth straight title.
Penrith struggled to deliver their usual clinical style of game last Friday night, returning from their Round 1 Vegas win to post a 38-32 loss to the Roosters, with a surprising 44 missed tackles.
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Struggling to also find cohesion in attack with a new-look line-up – and with fullback Dylan Edwards now sidelined for two to three weeks with a groin injury – concerns are growing that the Panthers’ dominance is coming to an end.
Former premiership-winning five-eighth Braith Anasta said while he believes Penrith would still be finals contenders this year, he had to question whether they had it in them to defend the title.
“Every year they continue to deliver (but) with all their players that have gone and moved on… are we starting to see cracks?,” Anasta said on NRL360.
“Are they weaker this year than before? Could this be the year where it does crumble?”
“They’re more vulnerable and susceptible this year than any other year. This year it could take its toll on them. That’s not to say they’re not going to be in the top four, but I am talking premiership.
“That’s where you hold these guys. That’s how supreme and elite this side is.”
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The Panthers will look to turn things around quickly, starting this Thursday night in their grand final rematch with the Melbourne Storm.
However, given their recent loss and Melbourne’s form to kick off 2025, Penrith are heading to AAMI Park as outsiders.
The panellists on NRL 360 alongside Anasta admitted that these kind of questions are always posed around Ivan Cleary’s men, but journalist Paul Crawley said you can only maintain strong form with a changing squad for so long.
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“They have filled the cracks but if you continue to lose them, eventually it will catch up to you,” Crawley said.
“They lost (Jarome) Luai, James Fisher-Harris, (Sunia) Turuva on the wing… It has to have an impact.
“As Ivan said, it’s Round 2, they’ve had a lot of young guys come into this team and it will take time to gel.
“But there’s so much responsibility now on the senior players – Nathan (Cleary), Isaah Yeo and Dylan Edwards, who won’t be there this weekend. He’s a huge out.”
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