Dolphins dominate as the Panthers hit a fresh NRL low
Penrith’s struggle is now a full-blown crisis after the four-time reigning premiers copped a Dolphins beat down at Suncorp Stadium.
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It’s official, the Penrith Panthers are in disarray.
The club that set a new benchmark in the NRL after marching to the last four premierships slipped to a stunning fifth straight loss to the Dolphins on Thursday night, 30-12 at Suncorp Stadium.
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Instead of rallying following some competitive defeats to the Storm, Roosters, Cowboys and Bunnies, the Panthers let in regular tries in a performance that underlines the club’s woes.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow starred with a hat-trick of tries for a Dolphins outfit that regularly cracked Penrith’s defensive line and ended with five converted tries for the night.
The teams came into the match one place apart towards the bottom of the NRL table and the manner of victory from the home side indicates the struggle ahead for Ivan Cleary’s team.
A moment of madness from the Dolphins late in the match, when Jack Bostock’s attempted clearing kick in his own in-goal area led straight to a Moses Leota try in the 72nd minute, mattered little as the Hammer grabbed his third try in the final minute.
Nathan Cleary, so often the playmaking saviour, summed up his side’s malaise at one stage when he threw a pass straight into touch.
“I don’t think I’ve seen Nathan Cleary throw a bad pass like that before,” Cooper Cronk said on Fox League.
“It’s hard to put into words what Penrith are doing given the level they have been at – they’re coming up with fundamental errors.”
After such a period of dominance, experts and fans alike were having their say as the Panthers lost a fifth straight game for the first time in six seasons.
Sports journalist Scott Bailey wrote on X: “No team has ever recovered from a 1-5 start to win the premiership. And of the teams to go 1-5 in the NRL era, more have picked up the wooden spoon than made finals. History now well and truly against Penrith, with a tough Origin period ahead.”
ABC reporter Elinya Chenery wrote cheekily: “This Panthers collapse has been both swift & satisfying.”
Sports commentator Daniel McCamley pointed his finger at the skipper, writing: “Nathan Cleary has been built up to be regarded as maybe the best ever … now our “experts” wanna blame the loss of talent … the loss of experience … loss of grunt in the middle … nah man … If Nathan is that good he’s gotta elevate all those around him.”
Podcast account Footy Legend quipped: “In good news for Panthers fans, they won’t have any players named for Origin.”
While the Panthers have lost a series of quality players in recent years, including Cleary’s main offsider Jarome Luai to the Tigers after last year’s premiership, it’s still been a sudden decline for Penrith so far in 2025.
The Panthers will be favourites when they take on fellow strugglers the Roosters next week before clashes with Manly and the Broncos.
Originally published as Dolphins dominate as the Panthers hit a fresh NRL low
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