It’s been a consistent storyline across the last three pre-seasons, with pundits and fans doubting the Panthers’ ability to win another premiership.
But after lifting their fourth trophy in as many years in 2024, Penrith legend Greg Alexander is certain it’s time for that mentality to be stopped in its tracks.
“Who would doubt them? How could you doubt them?” Alexander said to foxsports.com.au.
“I don’t think there’s anyone in the game that would comfortably say ‘no, they can’t do it’.
“Apart from them showing what an incredible team they are, how could you doubt Cleary, Yeo and Edwards?
“The senior players, that’s not mentioning Brian To’o or Liam Martin, who are vitally important.
“But with Ivan (Cleary) still coaching and those players still there, who could doubt them?”
But like every season gone by, the Panthers have lost a wealth of talent.
Five-eighth Jarome Luai has departed for the Tigers, leaving behind the NRL’s best-ever halves partnership, with Luai and Cleary winning four premierships.
They boast a 87.6 per cent strike rate, winning 78 from 89 first grade games — statistically making them better than the likes of Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling and Allan Langer and Kevin Walters.
Alongside Luai, the Panthers have also lost the ever-present James Fisher-Harris and winger Sunia Turuva, with both leaving gaping holes at prop and on the wing.
While their losses could prove crucial, league legend Braith Anasta believes the culture embedded into the Panthers as an organisation will once again hold strong.
Ivan Cleary has lost players like Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau and still found a way to win, and this season shapes as no different.
“It comes down to standards and their standards won’t waiver,” Anasta said to foxsports.com.au.
“Their attitude is first class and they don’t get complacent. Most teams who win the competition, it’s very hard to back that up.
“It just shows they aren’t happy with one, two, three, four. They won’t more.
“Luai is going to be a massive loss, Turuva will be a big loss, but when you’ve got the juniors coming through they do, and the ability to win big games, they’re always going to be there.”
Young gun Jack Cole, who has 10 NRL games to his name, won the race for Luai’s vacant No.6 jersey, with an in-house trial impressing Panthers coaching staff.
Foxsports.com.au understands Cole was on fire alongside Cleary, making Penrith’s coach’s minds up after a blistering performance.
However, new recruit Blaize Talagi shapes as his most likely opposition.
“I saw Blaize at the game on the weekend, geez he looks fit and he has a real good body type for a five-eighth,” Anasta said.
“He’s a prodigy… anyone can work with Nathan, then you add that he’s one of the next big things in the game, of course it will work.”
