Experts debate the end of Penrith Panthers’ golden era

The crown on the Panthers’ golden era is beginning to slip. DAVID RICCIO, BRENT READ and MICHAEL CARAYANNIS dissect how the champions have plummeted towards the bottom of the ladder.

The crown on top of the Panthers golden-era is slipping like few would have ever predicted. With just one win to begin the season, experienced NRL reporters David Riccio, Brent Read and Michael Carayannis debate the burning issues that have plummeted the champions towards the bottom of the ladder.

Panthers during loss to Dolphins. Picture: NRL Photos

David Riccio: The golden rule in sport is to never write-off a champion. However, six rounds into the season and Penrith’s golden premiership-reign is over. They might scrape into the finals, but winning it? They’re leaking 28-points per game compared to 15 per match last year. It’s surely over.

Brent Read: I’m with you Dave. I have written them off in the past and ended up with egg on my face but this time it looks and feels different. It looks to me like they have lost a little bit of hunger. After four successive premierships, I can’t really blame them. It was going to catch up with them eventually and every sign thus far suggests it finally has. As you point out, defensively they have been an abomination and I reckon that points towards the hunger issues. So stick a fork in them, they are done.

Michael Carayannis: I’m holding fire. But I am very intrigued how the Panthers go about this season. For mine they’ll still make the eight and have the firepower to cause some damage if they find form late. It’ll turn at some point and they will go on a run.

DR: They would want to start the run Mick by beating the Roosters on Easter Saturday. Look, in fairness, they’ve had a different spine combination in every game this season. And I thought we saw how influential Mitch Kenny is on the team, particularly defensively, by his absence against The Dolphins. At what point do we start questioning their recruitment? They’ve spent around $700k on Isaiah Papali'i and $500k on Blaize Talagi, who is still developing, but they’re both significant cap investments.

Is it time to start questioning the Panthers’ recruitment. Picture: NRL Photos

BR: I think Talagi is going to be a really good buy in the long-term. He will be a star. He just needs time and sadly, the Panthers don’t have time on their side at the moment given they have only won one game. Injuries have really cruelled them. You mention Kenny being out but at times this season they have been without Nathan and Dylan Edwards. They haven’t had Brian To’o, who is so important for them in setting up their sets. Their depth has been eroded over the years, their lower grades aren’t as dominant and it is showing.

MC: I’m not questioning the recruitment of any side which have just won the past four titles. They’ve also added Papali'i who hasn’t been able to reach the form he showed at the Eels but I think he will be a good buy. For mine it’s been a perfect storm in the opening start to the season. Injuries, Vegas travel, a makeshift home ground and clearly some patchy form.

DR: You’re kidding Mick, how can you possibly trot out Vegas travel as an excuse. Of the other Vegas teams, the Raiders should be sponsored by Flight Centre given the kilometres they’ve been clocking around the country in recent weeks, the Sharks have been to Townsville, Canberra and Perth and the Warriors, well, they’re on a plane every second week. Ivan has spoken about this being his greatest challenge as a coach, but would you agree that this is also career-defining for Nathan Cleary, when you consider that the greatest halfbacks like Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston, showed they can deliver during their careers despite not having the best roster around them at the time?

MC: It’s not just the travel to Vegas. It’s their delayed start to pre-season for the past five years given they have made the grand final each season. It all adds up and eventually your tank is going to be empty. I fear that’s where they are now. I’m not sure if it’s Ivan’s greatest challenge as a coach. Rebounding after their 2019 season was probably that for Ivan. Had 2020 gone differently his coaching days would have been over. But I agree with Nathan. It’s clearly his biggest test as a player. The marquee man without his long-term halves partner. I think he can turn the side around but I fear you guys are having some doubts?

Is Nathan Cleary stuck in a rut? Picture: NRL Photos

BR: Having some doubts? That’s an understatement Mick. As good as Nathan is - and he is clearly the best player in the game - he hasn’t been able to drag them over the line this season. He’s been okay so far but he’s finding it hard I reckon without a halves partner who can ease some of the pressure on his shoulders. He needs some continuity and consistency alongside him. I also reckon he has been bashed a bit early in the season. He copped a massive hit in Las Vegas, missed a week with concussion and got cleaned up the other week by Coen Hess. He’s a great player and his toughness is probably one of his most underrated qualities. Physically and mentally he is being tested at the moment like never before.

DR: Here’s the irony of the Panthers current form. NSW coach Laurie Daley said on NRL 360 last Wednesday night that he’ll be picking players who are playing well so that they are coming into camp with confidence in their current form. Penrith have four games before the Blues Origin I team is chosen. I can’t possibly see how Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Edwards and Cleary miss out. But geez if Penrith are still struggling, that will certainly be a dilemma for Daley.

MC: No doubt that’s a concern for Daley, but I agree Dave they are all walk-up starts. Their form may cost someone like Lindsay Smith an Origin debut after he played for Australia at the end of last year. But Origin is the least of Penrith’s concerns at the moment. Forecasting ahead just before the Origin period they play the Roosters (A), Manly (H), Brisbane (H) and Cowboys (A). I have them winning three of those.

BR: To be fair boys, it probably doesn’t matter who Laurie picks. It’s Queensland’s year anyway. But back to more pressing matters, the next four weeks leading into Origin are crucial for the Panthers. They need to win at least two of those games or their season will genuinely be on life support. It won’t be easy given their current form. The Broncos, Manly and Cowboys are all traveling better than them at the moment. Imagine if they hit Origin and they have won only two games. Oh dear. Drama indeed.

DR: Right, last one. Do you think there would be some decision-makers at Penrith that would be feeling they should’ve fought harder to keep Jarome Luai?

MC: In a dream world for sure. But they were never going to be able to compete with a million plus offer that was on the table from the Tigers.

BR: Yeah, I am with ya Mick. The Tigers offered Luai $1.2 million a year and the Panthers were never going to match that. Look, I still think they can make the top eight but I reckon they will have to exhaust so much emotion and energy to get there, they will find it difficult to maintain the rage in the finals. It’s been a hell of a ride and it’s still got some way to go. But I reckon it might be just beyond them this year. The Panthers may make us eat our words yet. Wouldn’t be the first time!!!

‘I DIDN’T THINK HE WAS READY’: CLEARY’S BLAIZE TALAGI BURN

—David Riccio

Ivan Cleary has given a frank appraisal on why he resisted selecting star recruit Blaize Talagi for the first five rounds of the season.

Signed by the Panthers from the Eels this season, 20-year-old Talagi earned his first start in the No. 6 jersey in the Panthers 30-12 shock loss to the Dolphins on Thursday night.

Panthers fans had spent the first month of the season questioning why Talagi was being overlooked for first grade and left to adjust to the club’s structure and systems in the NSW Cup.

Against The Dolphins, Talagi played with reams of effort, but much like his teammates, struggled to leave an imprint on the game.

Nathan Cleary (R) and Isaah Yeo front the press after the loss to the Dolphins.

After the match, Cleary gave a telling insight into why he had opted against starting Talagi prior to the round six loss.

“It wasn’t surprising really that he wasn’t perfect tonight, but you saw the kind of player he is,” Cleary said.

“If he doesn’t get it all right, it doesn’t stop him, he just keeps on going and keeps on asking questions.

Blaize Talagi had a night to forget against the Dolphins.

“Tonight probably gives you some indication of maybe why I didn’t think he was ready before that, but it’s a hard one to judge on tonight.

“But I thought he was definitely asking questions all the way to the end and he’ll only get better.”

Talagi was chosen in the halves alongside Nathan Cleary due to fellow five-eighth Jack Cole being unavailable under HIA protocols.

Cole is available for selection for Penrith’s next match against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Easter Saturday.