Is it time for Penrith to take their place among the title contenders?

Penrith have seemingly been on the cusp of premiership contention for several seasons now. Is their 2019 squad the one to finally take them over the top?

nrl RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL YEAH

• NOT OVER: Seibold-Bennett swap could still be on

• WAR: NRL bracing for showdown with agents

It is difficult to shake the feeling that next year is always “the year” for Penrith.

Despite their undoubted pedigree as a roster, despite making the finals three years in a row, despite their seemingly endless run of young talent, can the Panthers take the next step and move into the premiership’s upper echelon?

The last time the club made the preliminary final was in 2014 under Ivan Cleary. He returns to a squad unrecognizable from the one he left, but there’s talent all over the park.

Then again, talent has never been the problem for Penrith. Have they finally landed on a roster than can take them all the way?

Full squad: Caleb Aekins, Waqa Blake, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Jed Cartwright, Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Wayde Egan, Kaide Ellis, James Fisher-Harris, Tyrell Fuimaono, Tim Grant, Jack Hetherington, Sione Katoa, Viliame Kikau, Moses Leota, Jarome Luai, Nick Lui-oso, James Maloney, Josh Mansour, Liam Martin, Tyrone May, Tyrone Phillips, Paea Pua, Hame Sele, James Tamou, Dean Whare, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Isaah Yeo

Watene-Zelezniak is New Zealand’s new captain. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images.

Ins

Tyrell Fuimaono (South Sydney), Tim Grant (Wests Tigers), Malaki Watene-Zelezniak (Wests Tigers), Hame Sele (Dragons)

Outs

Tim Browne (retired), Peter Wallace (retired), Christian Crichton (Canterbury Bulldogs), Corey Harawira-Naera (Canterbury Bulldogs), Tyrone Peachey (Gold Coast Titans), Trent Merrin (Leeds)

Best XVII

1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Dylan Edwards 3. Dean Whare 4. Waqa Blake 5. Josh Mansour 6. James Maloney 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Sione Katoa 10. Moses Leota 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Isaah Yeo 13. James Fisher-Harris 14. Tyrone May/Wayde Egan 15. Kaide Ellis 16. Jack Hetherington 17. James Tamou

Recruitment strength

Penrith have played it pretty steady in the recruitment department, going for depth signings. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak could snag a spot on the wing while Tim Grant and Hame Sele fill out the forward depth. Tyrell Fuimaono could be a useful purchase given his versatility and may contend for a bench spot.

Malakai Watene-Zelezniak has returned from the Tigers. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images.

Forwards

Now Trent Merrin has left the building, Penrith are a little light on experience up the middle. James Tamou and Tim Grant are their only middles to have played more than 100 first grade games and beyond them, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and James Fisher-Harris none of the contenders have played more than 50 games.

That’s not to say Moses Leota, Jack Hetherington and Kaide Ellis can’t do the job – Leota in particular was impressive last season – it’s just a note on how raw the Penrith pack could be with Merrin now gone.

The edges are a bit more established with Viliame Kikau and Isaah Yeo tipped to play 80 minutes at second row every week now Corey Harawira-Naera has left.

Backs

Penrith’s backline appears pretty settled with Dean Whare, Waqa Blake and Josh Mansour all certain starters while Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Tyrone Phillips, Caleb Aekins and Dylan Edwards battle it out for the right wing spot.

Edwards is in a curious position – he was entrenched as the club’s starting fullback before an injury ended his season after just eight matches.

The form of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for club and country could make it difficult for the 22-year old to get his former spot back.

Edwards lost much of last season to injury. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

Spine

Leading on from the Dylan Edwards situation, Penrith have a big call to make with he and Watene-Zelezniak. It seems clear Watene-Zelezniak’s best spot is fullback but the club has earmarked Edwards for the job over the past few seasons.

Watene-Zelezniak can be effective on the wing while Edwards is not as tested in that position. Both players are known for their running and support play more than their ball-playing but Edwards is perhaps a little more advanced in the latter category.

It will be one of Ivan Cleary’s first big decisions in his return to Penrith and it will be a crucial one – the rest of his spine in Nathan Cleary, James Maloney and Sione Katoa is relatively settled.

Katoa improved as the 2018 season went on. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Where they’re lacking

Sione Katoa and Wayde Egan are both promising players but Penrith do look a little light on at dummy half. Tongan international Katoa improved as the year went on in 2018 but he still only has 33 NRL games to his credit while Egan debuted last season.

Either man could be the club’s long term option but as it stands their careers are still in their infancy.

Katoa, who we can expect to start the season as the first string, is the more robust defender and plays more direct but Egan has the greater upside - his running game was a joy to watch in the Under 20s although that particular skillset doesn’t always translate to the top level for dummy halves.

Every Test, ODI & T20I live, ad-break free during play and in 4K. Only on Foxtel. SIGN UP TODAY!

Originally published as Is it time for Penrith to take their place among the title contenders?