NRL 2021: Ivan Cleary weighs in on Panthers’ minor premiership hopes

The Storm’s shock loss to Parramatta has opened the door for the Panthers to snag their second consecutive minor premiership.

The Panthers have a chance to notch consecutive minor premierships for the first time in club history. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary says the lure of back-to-back minor premierships won’t influence team selections as his side prepares for a grudge match with local rivals the Eels.

The minor premiership appeared to be a mere fantasy a few days ago, but Parramatta’s shock win that snapped Melbourne’s 19-game winning streak leaves the Storm level with Penrith on 42 points with one round remaining.

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Both teams play on Friday night, with the Storm to take on a Sharks team battling for eighth spot first, before the battle of the golden west.

The Storm have made a habit of resting their stars in the past, while Eels coach Brad Arthur has already confirmed Clint Gutherson won’t play and could be joined in the stands by a host of other big name players.

Penrith named a near full-strength side in the final round last year when they’d already sealed the minor premiership, but Cleary says he won’t factor in the prospect of another J.J. Giltinan Shield when squads are named on Tuesday.

“Not at all. We’ll do what’s best for us to get ready for the first week. We won’t make selections based on trying to get the minor premiership,” he said.

“I think it’s important (winning the minor premiership). I think it’s a great achievement. To finish the regular rounds on top shows that you’re the most consistent team throughout the year.

“We were certainly honoured to win it last year, and I think anybody who wins it should be congratulated.

“Having said that, the most important thing at the moment is the finals. If it comes, it does. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

The minor premiership will be a moot point if the Storm win, but Cleary wants to see some improvement from his team after they came up with 17 errors in a scrappy 30-16 win over the Wests Tigers.

There were patches of brilliance on Sunday, but their stars produced uncharacteristic mistakes in a worrying sign so close to the finals.

“If you make 17 errors then you’re not going to beat a top-eight side,” a frustrated Cleary said.

“It was just one of those days. I think we had guys dropping the ball who normally wouldn’t and it became contagious.”

Cleary guided the Panthers to their first minor premiership since 2003 last year. Image: NRL Photos

Superstar halfback Nathan Cleary became the second youngest player in history to score 1000 points as Penrith overcame a scrappy start to keep its slim minor premiership hopes alive.

It wasn’t the cricket score many were expecting, but the Panthers moved level with the Melbourne Storm on 42 competition points with a 30-16 win over the Wests Tigers that justified the smack talk from their officials and social media team during the week.

They’ll face an Eels team next week that will likely be without Clint Gutherson and Junior Paulo, and should they win – and the Storm lose to Cronulla – they will finish the regular season on top for the second year in a row.

In a round that saw the Rabbitohs lose Latrell Mitchell, the Roosters lose Joseph Manu and the Storm simply lose, the Penrith juggernaut gained momentum as they look to go one better than last year.

Brian To’o returned from injury and steamrolled his way to a game-high 265 metres, Jarome Luai rediscovered his running game, while Cleary overcame a few errors to rack up two try assists.

It was a rare mixed bag from the usually methodical Cleary, who had the accuracy of an Easter Show fortune teller with a couple of wayward bombs, but then displayed military-like precision to set up Moses Leota with an angled grubber that ricocheted off the post and into the prop’s arms.

He repeated the dose to force a line dropout, and his trusty right boot landed five goals, including the conversion that brought up his milestone.

“He won’t be overly happy with a couple of things he did today, but he’s still trying to find his way,” dad, and coach, Ivan Cleary said.

“It’s a nice milestone for him. Hopefully those points will keep racking up in the years to come.”

The Panthers welcomed Brian To’o (pictured) back into the squad as well as James Fisher-Harris and Tyrone May. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Bright future

Powerhouse prop Stefano Utoikamanu continues to show why the Wests Tigers were so desperate to pluck him from the Parramatta system with another strong performance against Penrith on Sunday.

The 21-year-old ran for more metres than any other Tigers forward and barged over for his sixth try of the season as his side showed plenty of fight in their 30-16 loss to the premiership heavyweights.

Utoikamanu is still a relative rookie compared to some of the other props in the game, but he’s shown that he can match it with the best in 2021.

His leg speed and big motor are huge assets through the middle, and he’s the shining light that gives Michael Maguire hope that the club can eventually turn things around.

The club has several promising young forwards, including Shaun Blore who was strong against Penrith, but the Tigers must play with the effort they showed on Sunday if they are to rise from the ashes.

“I think he’s showing that now, but it’s being able to do that consistently as a front-rower,” Maguire said of his potential.

“He’s only young, and when you’re in the middle of the park, there’s a fair workload. He’s matched it with a lot of the players that he’s played against. They had a pretty strong forward pack out there and I thought he took them on well today.

“It’s just about getting a few others with him, and we’ve got a number of guys that will come into the group over a period of time that will add to what we’re doing.”

Bash brothers

Ivan Cleary may be onto something with a new-look bench rotation that should strike fear into opposition coaches.

It’s hard enough trying to contain Penrith’s starters, but it’s almost unfair now that Viliame Kikau comes off the bench along with Tevita Pangai Junior to terrorise tiring tacklers.

Pangai, who at one stage was being courted by the Tigers, is the x-factor who has the skills to produce the one big play that wins the Panthers a grand final.

“That’s why we got him here,” Cleary said.

“There were some good signs today.”

The former Bronco bullied his way through several would-be defenders to grab a try late in the first half, and was backed up by Kikau a minute later when he brushed two Tigers away and then produced a stunning flick to Matt Burton who was held up in goal.

The big Fijian then backed up a Cleary half-break to score in the second half as the Panthers kicked clear with the wind at their backs.

“I thought ‘Kiks’ was very good today,” Ivan Cleary said.

Mid-season recruit Tevita Pangai Jr. scored his first try as a Panther on Sunday. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Earning their stripes

They were disgraced last week against the Sharks in a loss that ended their finals chances, but as they’ve done a few times this season, the Tigers responded with a far more encouraging effort that should win back some respect.

The next step is to ensure they don’t have any more embarrassing performances when there’s still plenty to play for, but there were positive signs on Sunday as they defended stoutly against one of the premiership heavyweights.

The Tigers enjoyed just 24 per cent of the territory in the first half but kept the Panthers to 12 points thanks to a couple of outstanding try-saving tackles by David Nofoaluma.

It looked like they’d be blown away in the second half but they nabbed two late tries to keep the score respectable, while youngster Stefano Utoikamanu continues to impress after he crashed over for his sixth try of the season.

“To see the boys fight and compete is something that we need to take forward,” Michael Maguire said.

“You play like that throughout a season, and you play consistent footy like that where you’re competing, then you’re going to find yourself with a lot more wins.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Ivan Cleary weighs in on Panthers’ minor premiership hopes