Penrith Panthers 2020 NRL preview: Team list, burning questions
He was one of the few shining lights in Penrith’s forgettable 2019 campaign, and one of the Panthers’ revelations is attracting attention again after standing out in the pre-season.
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These are Nathan Cleary’s Panthers now. With the departure of James Maloney, the 22-year old Cleary is now the master of Penrith’s destiny.
While Cleary is still a young player relatively speaking, he’s now the main man, the on-field general, the engine that drives the Panthers around the park. He was a young prodigy, but there can’t be any more waiting — it’s time for him to become the player everyone believes he can be.
Ivan Cleary knows it as well — which is why Cleary the younger’s control of the team has increased over the off-season.
“Without Jimmy Maloney there, Nath has sort of taken over. The leadership role of our halves has increased from last year, with a bit of direction from (assistant coach) Trent Barrett,” veteran centre Dean Whare said.
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“The overall direction of the team comes from Nathan, and we need to help him out where we can, especially the older guys.
“There’s a few experienced guys coming into the team, like Api (Koroisau) and Kurt Capewell, all of that can combine together, and help him concentrate on steering us around the park.”
THE PANTHERS ROSTER
Who’s in: Apisai Koroisau (Sea Eagles), Dean Blore, Shawn Blore, Stephen Crichton, Braydon McGrady (upgraded from development contracts), Kurt Capewell (Sharks), Zane Tetevano (Roosters)
Who’s out: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Sione Katoa (Bulldogs), Tim Grant, Sam McKendry (retired), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Tyrell Fuimaono (Dragons), Hame Sele, Frank Winterstein, Paea Pua, Nick Lui-Toso (unsigned)
Analysis: Koroisau and Capewell are the two main recruits, alongside tough Roosters forward Zane Tetevano. All three are experienced and battle-tested campaigners from successful clubs, just what the Panthers need to offset their young talent. Tetevano in particular should help toughen up the middle, while Koroisau returns to the club after four years with Manly.
Off-contract: Skipper James Tamou had a resurgent year in 2019, and if he can repeat that form in 2020 the Panthers will no doubt jump at the chance to keep him. Rookie winger Brian To’o will be another priority re-signing, as will the young Blore brothers, backrower Shaun and five-eighth Dean, who are yet to make their NRL debuts but shape as a huge part of the club’s future.
The burning question: Can Penrith find their attacking flair?
Too often last year the Panthers got way too bogged down in the attacking 20 – they only scored more than 24 points in a match three times. Former Manly coach Trent Barrett, who cut his teeth as a lower-grade mentor in the Penrith system, has returned, and his guidance as the club’s attack coach is already paying dividends.
“We’ve got Trent Barrett in at the moment, he’s steering us around in attack and it’s already made a big difference from last year. It’s simplified our game,” said veteran centre Dean Whare.
“It’s like he’s playing. He knows the game, he’s been there, and it feels like he’s out there playing with us, and it’s rubbing off on to the other boys.
“We struggled to find points out there last year, and having Baz has made a massive difference this off-season.”
It’s a big year for: Apisai Koroisau
The Fijian international didn’t struggle in his final year with Manly, but the club made it clear they saw Manase Fainu as their future, and Koroisau was out the door after four seasons of good service.
With Penrith needing experience at dummy half and Koroisau previously playing under both Cleary and Barrett, the Panthers were a natural fit for the 27-year-old.
While Koroisau is known for his attacking prowess from hooker, Whare counts him as one of the most intelligent teammates he’s had in his entire career, likening him to another coach.
“He’s a lot wiser now (than 2015),” said Whare.
“He was very smart then, and very deceptive out of hooker, but now he brings a coaching mentality with a lot of the boys.
“He’s got a coach’s mind, and we need that in the middle — he’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with.”
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The Panthers were overly reliant on Viliame Kikau last season, and as dangerous as the Fijian may be on the left edge without some balance it becomes too easy for teams to see him coming.
That’s why the recruitment of Capewell from Cronulla could prove to be one of the shrewdest moves of the off-season.
A mobile and powerful ball-runner, Capewell gives the Panthers far greater balance, and a big season could propel him into the conversation for a Queensland State of Origin jersey.
“Training with him I noticed that straight away, how he communicates, and how he sets up plays,” said Whare, who will line up next to Capewell on the right edge.
“He’s a really smart football player, he knows his stuff around the footy.
“Plus he runs a really good line, but he’s sort of got that Wade Graham feel about him, passing the ball and backing his own ability.
“That’s something we probably haven’t had in the last few years, so that brings something different.”
Pre-season hero: Brent Naden took some time to get his chance in first grade, but the 24-year-old was a revelation in 2019.
He began the year on a part-time contract, working on the NBN to make ends meet, and ended it as Penrith’s leading tryscorer, with a two-year, full-time contract to boot.
With a full pre-season under his belt, Naden could take things to another level in 2020 and he’s been a standout at Penrith over the summer.
“Brent’s been killing it this off-season,” Whare said.
“He’s really come fit, and he just seems to find the tryline, that’s what he brings to our team. With another year under his belt, and a proper off-season, that makes the difference.”
The best player you’ve never heard of: Here’s how highly they rate young back-rower Shawn Blore in the New South Wales State of Origin set up – he was named in Brad Fittler’s Emerging Blues squad at the end of 2018 before he’d played an NRL game.
After captaining the Panthers’ SG Ball side in 2018, an ACL injury at training wiped out his 2019 season before it really got going. But the club is extremely confident the 19-year old Penrith junior, who stands at 190cm and weighs in at 108kg, will be a star of the future.
In 2018 he earned Junior Kangaroos honours and played against older brother Dean, who represented the Junior Kiwis.
Dean Blore, 21, is a talented five-eighth also contracted to the Panthers.
STATS THAT MATTER: Penrith Panthers missed the finals for the 1st time in four seasons last year. Despite having the most tackles inside their opponents 20 last year (36 per game), the Panthers only managed 17 points per game, the fourth worst attack in the competition. With Maloney in France, the Panthers attack will rely heavily on a fit and firing Nathan Cleary.
Originally published as Penrith Panthers 2020 NRL preview: Team list, burning questions