Dean Ritchie: The multiple challenges Penrith face in bid for fifth straight premiership
At the risk of being made look foolish again, DEAN RITCHIE claims 2025 will mark the end of the Penrith Panthers dynasty, with the tyranny of travel and lack of home ground just the start of the issues that club must conquer.
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Five in ‘25? Surely not.
I have erroneously dismissed Penrith’s premiership chances several times in recent years and been shown up as a dunce.
At the risk of being made look foolish again, I will outline why five in ’25 is even beyond Penrith’s magical powers.
As historic, amazing and spine-tingling as the journey has been, the Panthers era is now over.
We should sit back and digest what we’ve witnessed over the past four years because we may never again see such dominance in our lifetime.
A friend has a four-year daughter who is a mad Panthers fan. She is yet to watch any other side win a grand final. Remarkable stuff.
But as Penrith’s champion players wake from a two-day grand final hangover, a bigger headache looms in their bid for five rings next season.
The Panthers will have to navigate being homeless, a tricky Las Vegas season opener that could make or break their title campaign, and the exit of three key members from their premiership squad.
Penrith’s grand final heroes will emerge from a 60-plus hour celebration on Wednesday to take part in a club fan day.
Most players will swing back into party mode while Australian squad members Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Dylan Edwards and Lindsay Smith begin focusing on the upcoming Pacific Championships.
While Penrith deservedly continue to party long and hard, the club faces a daunting task to keep their remarkable dynasty alive with 2025 presenting a range of new challenges.
HOMELESS FOR 2025
For starters, they’ll have to do it without their home comforts with BlueBet Stadium to undergo a massive renovation.
Construction on the $300 million project, which includes a new western grandstand and refurbished eastern grandstand to increase the capacity to around 25,000, will force the club to share Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium for at least the next two seasons, some predict three.
The Panthers averaged more than 19,500 fans at BlueBet Stadium for the second straight season, so it will be fascinating to see if that support base shifts 36 km to Parramatta.
LAS VEGAS HANGOVER LOOMS
Las Vegas also shapes as a potential banana peel.
Ivan Cleary’s team will headline the NRL’s season-opening spectacular in the US on March 2 against Cronulla while Canberra play New Zealand as part of a four-game package that includes NRLW and the English Super League.
While the Sydney Roosters and Manly were able to handle the US trip and played finals footy this season, 2023 grand finalists Brisbane and South Sydney didn’t, capitulating in spectacular fashion which cost both teams their respective coaches.
Penrith may also need to somehow squeeze in the World Club Challenge.
Only seven players from their 2021 grand final-winning team will be at the club when they kick-off 2025 in Las Vegas.
THREE KEY PLAYERS DEPART
And on top of that, the Panthers will also farewell another batch of elite stars when their grand final party finally ends, as their unprecedented success in the NRL era, and the salary cap, strips their squad of more talent.
Five-eighth Jarome Luai, prop James Fisher-Harris and winger Sunia Turuva will defect to rival clubs next season, leaving Penrith with the challenge of unearthing more reinforcements.
In horse racing terms, the Panthers are The Everest favourite but the handicapper keeps adding weight to their saddle to bring them back to the field.
Only seven players from their 2021 grand final-winning team will be at the club when they kick-off 2025 in Las Vegas.
But don’t attempt to tell Panthers players that five in a row is unattainable.
“That’s the goal, absolutely,” said Clive Churchill Medal backrower Liam Martin. “Not satisfied yet.”
Halfback Nathan Cleary added: “It’s so addictive – it’s the best. I want to keep making memories.”
Hooker Mitch Kenny said: “This group’s not done, see what happens.”
Asked whether five premierships was possible, Kenny said: “Absolutely.”
It’s been history-making and extraordinary. But surely it’s over.
Isn’t it? Or am I going to look like an idiot once again?
* * * * *
DOG TREATS
Ray Price seems to be at war with Parramatta, his former club, once again.
Speaking at the Kangaroos reunion, Price said: “My mob (Parramatta) are a pain in the arse at the moment because they’re not having a go. They won’t let me anywhere near them.”
* * * * *
The so-called cold war between former Cronulla stars Paul Gallen and Chad Townsend has clearly thawed.
The 2016 grand final-winning pair were spotted having coffee last week with ex-teammates Mick Ennis and Jack Bird.
* * * * *
Allan Langer to remain at the Broncos? Unlikely, according to my sources.
* * * * *
The line of the night at last week’s Dally M Medal night – Manly star Daly Cherry-Evans telling my old colleague Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield at the after-party to head home because it was “past your bedtime?”
Cheeky stuff, Chez.
* * * * *
Wigan play Hull Kingston Rovers in this Sunday morning’s Super League grand final at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Hull KR’s side is expected to include former NRL players Peta Hiku, Tyrone May, Matt Parcell, Joe Burgess, Oliver Gildart, Sauaso Sue and Ryan Hall.
Wigan’s team will include Adam Keighran, Abbas Miski, Bevan French, Jai Field and Kaide Ellis.
Officials are predicting around 65,000 people will attend the big game.
Former Wigan and current Newcastle halfback Jackson Hastings was in the crowd for last weekend’s grand final qualifier against Leigh.
And former Test fullback John Dorahy is flying to England for the grand final as a guest of Hull KR. Nicknamed Joe Cool, Dorahy played 91 games for HKR between 1983 and 1986.
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What does a retired front-rower do on his first weekend away from playing rugby league?
He goes shopping.
Roosters champion Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was spotted out and about at Warringah Mall last weekend.
And former Roosters teammate Victor Radley was seen enjoying a beer at South West Rocks Country Club.
* * * * *
INXS bassist and Manly Sea Eagles tragic Garry Beers applauded Kid Laroi’s grand final concert version of hit song, Never Tear Us Apart.
“I think he did a great job and it was fab to see the song spreading its message of love,” Beers said.
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