History against Penrith Panthers’ unlikely NRL premiership bid
After Round 11, Penrith were sitting 15th on the ladder and were considered $101 outsiders to win the comp. Despite a stunning charge of form, an 86-year hoodoo suggests they won’t take the title in 2019.
Panthers
Don't miss out on the headlines from Panthers. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LATE MAIL: Taumalolo scratched for Cowboys
The Penrith Panthers will have to snap an 86-year hoodoo to win this year’s NRL premiership.
Only one team in rugby league history has won the title after being last or second last with more than 40 per cent of the competition completed.
The Newtown Jets claimed the 1933 honours despite being seventh of eight teams after six of 14 rounds.
Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >
MORE NRL NEWS
WHY NOT US? EELS HAVE PREMIERSHIP IN SIGHT
‘WAKE UP AUSTRALIA’: LATRELL TO SHAME RACISTS
This year’s Penrith side have followed a similar path to the ’33 Jets so far this season.
After 11 rounds, the Panthers were in second last position on the ladder.
As a result, they were paying $4 to win the wooden spoon and were friendless $101 outsiders to win the competition.
Since then, Penrith have won seven of their past nine games to surge to seventh on the ladder with four rounds remaining before the finals.
And there is still plenty of hope for the title for Ivan Cleary’s men.
In the NRL era, six teams have made the finals after being in a comparable position to the Panthers this season.
North Queensland made the 2017 grand final against Melbourne after being 15th after 13 rounds.
Penrith’s local rivals Parramatta have become the masters of the late surge home to qualify for the post-season.
In 2006, the Eels reached the first week of the finals after being in 14th position after 17 rounds.
Then in 2009, Parramatta was 14th of 16 after 18 rounds and went on to finish eighth and make the grand final, losing to Melbourne.
LISTEN! On a very special episode of the Matty Johns Show one of Matty’s sporting heroes is welcomed to the studio — Liverpool legend Craig Johnston.
The Panthers must win at least three of their remaining four games to guarantee a position in the top eight.
The mountain men play the Broncos in Brisbane on Friday night before clashes against North Queensland (A), the Roosters (A) and Newcastle (H) to round out the regular season.
This is a tough run for Penrith considering three of the four games are on the road. But the Panthers possess the strike power to shock in the finals.
Penrith players weren’t getting too carried away when they fronted the media on Wednesday, preferring to focus on Friday’s must-win game against the Broncos.
Originally published as History against Penrith Panthers’ unlikely NRL premiership bid
Vegas set to feature NRL’s biggest star
The Las Vegas extravaganza is set to get even better with one of the game’s superstars on track to return from off-season surgery.
Trials analysis: Early holes in NRL’s play-the-ball, offside crackdown
The NRL’s crackdown on illegal play the balls and policing of the 10-metre rule threatens to turn into a farce. Here are our major takeaways from the first week of trials as round 1 looms closer.