Reporter Brent Read believes the Panthers made the wrong call by resting 16 players against the Bulldogs back in Round 26, and they instead should have pushed harder to finish in the top four.
With two rounds remaining, the Panthers were three competition points behind the fourth placed Warriors and still a mathematical chance of finishing in the top four.
But by resting so many players, the Panthers virtually handed the Bulldogs a 28-4 victory which ended Penrith’s hopes of finishing in the top four.
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Read felt the Panthers, who finished seventh, should have prioritised a top four finish.
“I think they made a mistake resting all those players a few weeks ago,” Read said on NRL 360 on Monday night.
“I think they had to have a red hot go at the top four.
“I think that was crucial. They had to try and make the top four and we’ve seen that.
“That’s been proven.
“Even a side as good as they are.
“That was basically saying, we’re done.”
But while the Panthers exited the competition on Sunday with a 16-14 preliminary final loss to the Broncos, host Braith Anasta defended their decision.
“They nearly won yesterday,” Anasta said.
Read interjected.
“They did nearly win. But they didn’t,” Read said.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing,” Anasta responded.
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Veteran reporter Phil Rothfield echoed Anasta’s sentiments.
“If they hadn’t rested players, they would have been cooked by the time they played their first final,” Rothfield said.
“I don’t reckon they regret that decision,” Anasta added.
The Bulldogs were the last team to win the premiership from outside the top four.
Canterbury finished sixth before surging home to claim the title back in 1995.
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