Every Penrith Panthers of 2025 graded: Who is to blame for the demise of a once great team?

With the Panthers dynasty well and truly over we grade every player that has turned out for Penrith in 2025 in an attempt to identify where it all went so wrong for the once invincible premiers.

It’s been an almighty fall from grace for Penrith, coming from four-straight NRL premierships to bottom of the ladder with three wins, a draw and seven losses.

That a stack of talent left at the end of 2024 is part of the natural cycle for premiers, and on a basic level, shows the NRL salary cap is doing its job.

However, the team left behind looks like a shell of itself, and coming into round 13 they are reaching a critical situation.

They face their old foes Parramatta this week, and if they cop another loss, they will be the first premiers since Western Suburbs in 1953 to sit last this late in the season - excluding Melbourne Storm in 2010.

Ahead of Sunday’s must-win clash, we grade every Panthers player who has played at least one NRL game this season.

Panthers graded sub image here

Blaize Talagi

Took him a while to make the cut for first grade but has since played six games at five-eighth. He had a standout game against the Cowboys but has shown he’s more of a long-term project than a short term solution. Equal with Nathan Cleary with seven try assists for the year.

GRADE: B-

Brad Schneider

He was the go-to man when the Panthers needed injury cover in 2024 but he’s slipped down the pecking order this season. Has played a handful of games from the bench, one at hooker and one at halfback against the Knights in last week’s horror loss.

GRADE: D

Brian To’o

Another player to have a stop-start season, the powerhouse winger has been kept on the sidelines while battling a hamstring injury and has only played four games, scoring three tries. GRADE: B-

Casey McLean

The 19-year-old outside back is one of the brightest young stars in the game and has earned a regular NRL opportunity this season, but he’s still learning his craft and been a target in defence.

GRADE: C

Daine Laurie

The Dylan Edwards back-up is a capable enough replacement and his best game of the season against the Cowboys in round 5, but has otherwise been left more to be desired.

GRADE: C

Dylan Edwards

It’s been a tough season for the NSW and Australia fullback, who started the season slow and then missed a handful of games. His form has improved across the past month.

GRADE: B-

Izack Tago

The past two seasons were the best of Tago’s career but he’s been thrown around in confusing ways in 2025. He was demoted to the bench in round 7 and then into the second row in round 12. Has struggled defensively.

GRADE: C

Jack Cole

He was given the first crack in the halves over Talagi to start the season, but didn’t cement his spot and is now playing in reserve grade.

GRADE: D

Jesse McLean

The teenage winger has scored twice in 10 games of reserve grade, but has only played one game this season in an Origin depleted loss to the Knights in Bathurst.

GRADE: C-

Nathan Cleary

The skipper has had a disrupted season so far with injury, but he hasn’t reached the same heights we know he’s capable of. He’s the best player in the NRL and is clearly trying hard, but it’s not as smooth as he’s used to.

GRADE: B

Paul Alamoti

Is the highest try scorer for the year with six, and misses the least tackles on average of anyone in the starting backline this week (1.5 per game). But has been surprisingly dropped for this week’s game against Parramatta.

GRADE: B

Thomas Jenkins

The start of the season was a dream for the former Knights winger, who began the year in Ron Massey Cup and worked his way into first grade. It’s perhaps not been the fairytale he’d hoped for, though.

GRADE: B-

Trent Toelau

Has forced his way into the NRL for two games this season on the back of some strong NSW Cup form, including eight try assists in six games.

GRADE: C

Harrison Hassett

Has long been touted for first grade and finally made his debut against the Knights. Has managed to keep his place against the Eels as Ivan Cleary searches for answers.

GRADE: C

Isaah Yeo

The NSW and Penrith captain has been one of the most consistent for his club, but even he’s down on previous years. His metres are down, and missed tackles up, on last year.

GRADE: B

Isaiah Papali’i

Has missed the past few weeks with a knee injury just as he was warming into his new role in the middle. Had a slow start but has shifted from the edge and was finding his feet at the new club.

GRADE: C

Liam Henry

Currently serving a two-game suspension for a nasty crusher tackle last week, which further puts his team under pressure when they need it least.

GRADE: C

Liam Martin

An absolute war horse, the NSW hardman has taken a battering on his edge over the past couple of seasons and it looks as though it’s starting to take a toll on his body.

GRADE: B

Lindsay Smith

Played for Australia at the end of last season but has dropped completely off the radar after a tough start filling in the hole left by James Fisher-Harris, and wasn’t mentioned at all for a NSW Origin jersey.

GRADE: B

Luke Garner

The second-rower has forced his way into a starting centre spot despite more specialist options, and scored a double against the Cowboys a fortnight ago.

GRADE: B+

Luke Summerton

The NSW Cup hooker has been given four cracks in the NRL this season and has held his own. Earned his place on the bench again this week in the No.14 jersey.

GRADE: C

Luron Patea

A young kid doing his best with the NRL opportunity ahead of him. The Panthers have big raps on him and so far he’s looked determined and added some thrust in the four games he’s played this year.

GRADE: B

Matthew Eisenhuth

The 32-year-old has been a consistent first grade option for the Panthers across the past few years, but his best days are behind him and this year he’s spent most of his time in the NSW Cup.

GRADE: C-

Mavrik Geyer

Had done his job as an interchange forward when promoted from NSW Cup in two games so far this season. But has been sidelined recently with a knee injury.

GRADE: C

Mitch Kenny

He’s been absolutely smashed through the middle with the extra defence he’s been forced to do, but on the other side of the ball has been struggling to get the younger pack rolling too. GRADE: B-

Moses Leota

Without James Fisher-Harris hunting for metres with him up front, Leota has shouldered a lot of the work in the middle and managed to remain one of Penrith’s most consistent players. - GRADE: B

Preston Riki

Made his season debut in a shock loss to the Knights last week and only played 16 minutes from the bench. Not a lot of first grade experience yet, but not exactly banging the door down either.

GRADE: D

Scott Sorensen

Spent the past three weeks sidelined with a shoulder charge ban, which came at an awful time for the Panthers who are fighting to stay in touch with the top eight so early in the season.

GRADE: C

Originally published as Every Penrith Panthers of 2025 graded: Who is to blame for the demise of a once great team?