By Dan Walsh
Penrith will be without star fullback Dylan Edwards for up to a month as the four-time premiers go into Thursday’s grand final rematch coming off their worst defensive performance of Ivan Cleary’s second tenure.
The Panthers are rare, $2.88 outsiders with the Sportsbet against Melbourne ($1.42) in head-to-head markets, and will turn to utility Daine Laurie to fill the No.1 jumper.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona faces a nervous wait after being cited for a hip-drop tackle playing in Queensland Cup.Credit: LeagueScenePod
The Storm may be missing enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona as well though after he was placed on report for an ugly hip-drop tackle, having been granted permission to build up his minutes by playing for feeder side Sunshine Coast this weekend.
Asofa-Solomona is due to return from suspension against Penrith, but will now be sweating Monday’s Queensland Cup charge sheet.
Scans on Saturday afternoon revealed Edwards’ groin tear that forced him off against the Roosters was worse than first feared, and will sideline him for at least the next fortnight.
The NSW and Australian Test star will sit out Penrith’s round three trip to Melbourne – where his defensive organisation from fullback will be sorely missed – and the following week against South Sydney as well.
A battered, bruised and bloodied Nathan Cleary.Credit: NRL Imagery
Depending on how Edwards’ recovery progresses, the Panthers will consider keeping him on ice for April clashes against the Cowboys and Dolphins as well.
Immortal Andrew Johns raised concerns on The Sunday Footy Show around a potential overuse aspect of Edwards’ groin injury, noting that the star fullback has been a near-permanent selection throughout Penrith’s premiership-winning run.
A bloodied Nathan Cleary required seven stitches to a cut on his face suffered in Friday’s shock 38-32 loss to an undermanned Roosters outfit as well.
Penrith’s uncharacteristic defensive lapses made for the equal-most points conceded by the Panthers since Cleary snr returned to the club in 2019.
A 38-8 loss to North Queensland in 2022 came with 12 of Penrith’s first-choice starting side rested leading into the finals.
Otherwise, not since Anthony Griffin was in charge and Penrith were thrashed 50-18 by the Broncos in July 2018, has one of the best defences in rugby league history been so easily dismantled.
“It was weird, it wasn’t us and I don’t think we’ve defended like that for a long time,” Nathan Cleary told this masthead after going down to the Roosters.
“It wasn’t good enough and there was a lack of resilience from us. But maybe that’s what we needed too, a kick up the bum to sort ourselves out and address that.”
Stefano Utoikamanu’s addition to a star-studded roster had rival NRL captains tipping Melbourne as premiers before the season began, and Cleary said they deserved to be favourites against his side.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona missed last year’s grand final through suspension.Credit: Getty Images
“Based off the starts to the season – what we dished up against the Roosters and how Melbourne played in round one – I’d say we are the underdogs,” Cleary said.
“Melbourne were 10 out of 10 to start the year, it doesn’t get much better than how they played in round one [thumping Parramatta 56-18].
“They’ll come back with a vengeance after the grand final but it’s about us and improving on what we’ve dished up against the Roosters; we need to be better.”
Last year’s grand final was one of the most physically taxing games in recent memory given the ball was in play for extensive stretches and an unprecedented 38 minutes of the first half.
Even Origin clashes rarely reach such high levels of non-stop play and the Panthers eventually ground out a 14-6 triumph against an exhausted Storm outfit.
While Melbourne go into this clash after a round two bye and will be at full-strength, Penrith are on a six-day turnaround from the Roosters loss after the added travel of the Las Vegas season-opener.
“That grand final was up there with Origin and it’s up there with one of the toughest games I’ve ever played at any level,” Cleary said.
“It was absolute exhaustion afterwards, like I’ve rarely felt. But that’s what you get when you get the two best teams up against each other. We’ve both got pretty similar styles in trying to grind teams down and backing our fitness to get teams at the back end of the game.
“I think we’ll get more of the same and I think that’s exactly what we need. It’ll be a short turnaround and they’re the toughest team to play like that. [The Roosters loss] was a wake-up call and we’ll take that with us down to Melbourne.”
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