Panthers in crisis as Jarome Luai truth laid bare amid latest Penrith horror show against the Rabbitohs

For the first time in more than six years Penrith have lost three straight games as Ivan Cleary is left to deal with a brutal Jarome Luai truth.

The past few seasons Penrith have lost several big names but defied the odds and remained the team to beat in the NRL.

However, in 2025 they find themselves with just a single win in four matches after going down 28-18 against the Rabbitohs on Thursday night.

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It is the first time Penrith have lost three games straight since 2019 and they have now conceded more points than they did across the opening 13 rounds in 2021, the year their premiership reign began.

And while the defeat can be in part put down to the absence of star halfback Nathan Cleary it is being abundantly clear that the Panthers have lost a lot of their bite without Jarome Luai.

Luai has become an immediate success at the Tigers, helping them to a 2-1 start, helping the perennial wooden spooners become a legitimate chance of playing finals footy.

While at the foot of the mountain, his former side are desperately missing his leadership and talk in both defence and attack.

Time and time again we have seen Penrith lose star players and replace them effortlessly but this time it seems different.

Ivan Cleary's Panthers have struggled without Jarome Luai. Image: Getty

Jack Cole and Brad Schneider continue to do a job in the halves but they lack Luai’s creative spark.

While new recruit Blaize Talagi – who was touted as Luai’s replacement – couldn’t make the 17 even with Cleary out as he recovers from a concussion as Ivan Cleary reportedly holds major concerns over his defensive capabilities.

And in the end Thursday’s 28-18 loss masked what was a horror first-half showing as the four-time premiers.

Such was their shocking opening 40 minutes they were booed by fans off the pitch at half time as they only completed 50 per cent of their sets.

And as another Penrith horror performance is in the books for 2025, it appears Brent Read may have been on the money pre-season, with the veteran journalist saying before Penrith’s round one match there is “no way” anyone should consider them premiership favourites.

“You can’t keep losing people they lose. I think this is the biggest year after losing Luai and Fisher-Harris. They’re huge holes,” Read said on the 2025 season premiere of NRL360.

“No, they aren’t favourites. No way they should be favourites.

Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards could only watch on as their side were beaten by an understrengthed Rabbitohs side. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“Melbourne Storm should be clear favourites to win the comp because they’ve actually got stronger. Penrith have got weaker and I know they’ve been able to compensate for it before but those two players they’ve lost, they haven’t really replaced them.

“Luai’s been such a fixture in that team and such an important part of that team as has James Fisher-Harris in different ways.

“You can replace them off the field but its hard to do so off the field as well and that’s why this year will be so much more difficult … For me, they’re not favourites.”

The Panthers will get Nathan Cleary back from his head knock next week, while fullback Dylan Edwards is also expected to return from a groin injury.

But they’ll be without Scott Sorensen (head knock) and winger Brian To’o is also in doubt after hobbling off the field with a hamstring injury in the second half.

Originally published as Panthers in crisis as Jarome Luai truth laid bare amid latest Penrith horror show against the Rabbitohs