Greg Alexander predicts Penrith ‘could have been the most dominant side ever’ in a non-salary cap era

Panthers legend Greg Alexander has claimed the current Penrith side would’ve claimed premierships in the double digits if the existed in the non-salary cap years of legendary teams like St George.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: The Panthers players celebrate victory as the hold up the premiership trophy after the 2023 NRL Grand Final match between Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Penrith “could have been the most dominant side ever” and won a remarkable 10 NRL grand finals had they played in a non-salary cap era.

That is according to Panthers legend and club deputy chairman, Greg Alexander, whose side is preparing for Thursday night’s game of the year against Melbourne.

The Panthers are somehow eyeing a fifth successive grand final and fourth-straight premiership this season despite losing multiple stars over the past four years due to salary cap pressure including Api Koroisau, Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Jaeman Salmon and Kurt Capewell.

Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva will leave after this season through a salary cap squeeze with prop James Fisher-Harris departing on compassionate grounds.

The Panthers confirmed the signing of Parramatta’s Blaize Talagi on a three-year deal on Monday.

This masthead revealed Talagi’s defection to western Sydney rivals Penrith late last month.

The Panthers are hunting their fourth-straight premiership. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Alexander said this Panthers side could sit alongside the great St George side of the 1950 and ’60s and the legendary South Sydney team of the late 1960s and early ’70s – both teams succeeding in salary cap-free eras.

“This Penrith team is special, aren’t they? They are a special team and one we have not seen since the days of the Dragons or the great Bunnies side,” Alexander said.

“If this wasn’t a salary cap era, if this was the ’50s and ’60s, this (Panthers) side would have won 10 premierships.

Graeme Langlands scores a try for St George against Parramatta in 1964, an era which Greg Alexander believes the current Panthers would dominate.

“Look at the impact of those players that have been forced to leave the club because of the salary cap, look how important those players are to the clubs where they are playing right now.

“If the Penrith line-up hadn’t changed from the 2021 side, I’m thinking it could have been the most dominant side ever.

“It (the salary cap) has made it hard and we will lose another three players after this year. You take those players out of this side and again you’ve got to try and find players to fill the holes.”

Despite the heartache of losing such firepower, Alexander said he was actually thriving on watching his club’s ex-players move on and star at rival clubs.

“I don’t begrudge the success those players that have left are having at other clubs – in fact I enjoy it,” he said. “Those players making an impact and becoming key players at other clubs.”

Alexander teased this masthead by claiming the Panthers will fight back and confirm a big buy on Monday.

While he wouldn’t reveal the player’s identity, it is thought to be confirmation of the Panthers signing Parramatta’s Blaize Talagi.

Jarome Luai will move to the Wests Tigers from next year. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“We have Isaiah Papali’i coming and there will be an announcement, I’m sure, (on Monday) about another player joining the Panthers,” Alexander said. “Things are looking pretty good.”

Asked to name the player, Alexander said: “I can’t give you anything, c’mon, you know that.”

Penrith head into the Storm game after an extraordinary win over Parramatta last Friday night.

Down 34-20 late in the game, the Panthers scored three tries in three minutes to secure a memorable victory.

Young gun Blaize Talagi is joining the Panthers. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“Just when you think you’ve seen it all, they do something that gives you a little slap across the face and makes you realise just what a good team they are,” Alexander said.

And on Thursday evening’s big game at BlueBet Stadium, Alexander said: “They are both very consistent sides. The opening 10 minutes of both halves will be critical.

“Playing at home will give Penrith a slight advantage. If we win by one point then that would be fantastic. It will be a great game and everyone gets a look at what might be the grand final in eight weeks’ time.

“But I don’t want to get ahead of myself. You’d like to think the club is in a good position to do what they’ve done over the last three years but there is still a lot of footy left and so much can happen in the run to the finals and then in the finals.”

Originally published as Greg Alexander predicts Penrith ‘could have been the most dominant side ever’ in a non-salary cap era