Penrith Panthers conveyor belt of talent has broken down leaving premiers out of their depth

One of the biggest factors of Penrith’s record-breaking run was the steady stream of talent from the foot of the mountains – these are the numbers that prove the stream has dried up.

The Penrith dynasty is officially over, and their empire is slowly crumbling beneath them.

It was only three short years ago Penrith dominated every facet of rugby league, taking out premierships in SG Ball (under-19s), Jersey Flegg (under-21s), and NSW Cup (reserve grade).

And of course, the second of their four straight NRL premierships.

That history-making season of success in the juniors buffeted the greatest team in the modern era – with a whopping 19 players from those three teams went on to make their NRL debuts.

Just 10 players from Penrith's successful 2022 premiership team remain at the club.

One of the biggest factors of Penrith’s run was a seemingly never-ending supply of talent at the foot of the mountains, a next-man-up mentality that kept the wins flowing.

But the well has well and truly run dry.

Last weekend’s results in the lower grades was the worst the Panthers have fared in years, going down 22-18 to the Cowboys in NRL, 26-24 to North Sydney in NSW Cup, 30-20 to Melbourne in Jersey Flegg, and missing finals in both SG Ball and Harold Matthews.

Both the SG Ball and the Harold Matthews (under-17s) teams only won two games in their 2025 seasons in worrying signs for a club that prides itself on being development leaders.

Back Page of unbeatable Panthers . . .

The pilfering of their top-end talent has been well-documented: Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris, Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Apisai Koroisau to name a few.

But clubs have also ransacked their depth.

Their triumphant 2022 NSW Cup grand final winning team included current NRL starters

Isaiah Iongi, J’maine Hopgood (Eels), Sunia Turuva (Tigers), and Sean O’Sullivan (Dolphins).

Six players from that team remain at Penrith: Jack Cole, Lindsay Smith, Liam Henry, Soni Luke, Matt Eisenhuth and Preston Riki are still in their top 30.

(L-R) The departure of Isaiaya Katoa (halfback – Dolphins) and Ryley Smith (hooker – Eels) depleted Penrith's depth in the spine.

From their 2022 Jersey Flegg title-winning side, Liam Ison (Sharks), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins) and Ryley Smith (Eels) have all found new homes elsewhere.

Remaining in Panthers colours are John Sagaga, Samuel Lane, Mavrik Geyer and Billy Scott.

Finally, from their 2022 winning SG Ball team, skipper Mason Teague (Dolphins), Luke Hanson (Warriors), Aston Warwick (Roosters) and Keagan Russell-Smith (Storm) have left.

Jesse McLean, Samuel Lane, Angelis Hotere-Papalii and Harrison Hassett remain.

Even the Cleary family haven’t been left untouched, with Nathan’s younger brother Jett taking his talents across to New Zealand this year.

(L-R) Russell-Smith and Teague. Pictures: Supplied

Penrith boss Matt Cameron foreshadowed an exodus of talent from that historic season on the very day they took out both the NSW Cup and NRL trophies in 2022.

“When those local juniors come in, you‘ve got a high level of output for not necessarily a high level of salary comparatively” Cameron said at the time.

“But the reality is that success bites you on the bum as you go on and obviously we’ve seen that this year with Api and Billy (Kikau) moving on.

And no doubt we’ll see it next year and no doubt we’ll see it the year and year after that.”

While clubs lose junior players all the time, some that you don’t even hear about, Penrith have lost a number of players who were expected to take the places of their departing stars.

And it looks like the losses of those players has finally taken its toll at Penrith in top grade and their pathways system.

Originally published as Penrith Panthers conveyor belt of talent has broken down leaving premiers out of their depth