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The last five years for the Penrith Panthers have been nothing short of extraordinary.
They made the Grand Final in 2020 after missing the top eight entirely the year prior, only to go on an incredible and historic three straight Premierships in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
In 2024, we thought we might see the Panthers slow to more of a jog, but they locked up the second seed and blitzed their way past the Roosters to make the Grand Final decider.
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On the verge of FOUR STRAIGHT Premierships, it’s hard to see any slow down or quit in a team that is by far the most dominant we’ve seen in the NRL era.
But if you look at the facts, and by facts I mean the list of departing players at the end of the season, it’s hard to see the Panthers coming up trumps when the new year rolls around.
And I get it, we said that last year too when Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu were out the door, but this time things are different.
Jahrome Luai, who has arguably been the Panthers best in 2024, is a much bigger piece of the puzzle and a much tougher pill to swallow.
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Luai has accepted a monster deal with the Wests Tigers from 2025, while their top big man James Fisher-Harris has accepted a deal with his hometown New Zealand Warriors.
Those are the kind of losses that are much harder to come back from. Those are the losses that hurt your chances.
Now there’s no telling that the Panthers are still a force for years to come. As long as Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards and Isaah Yeo are on your side you’re going to have as good a chance as any.
But to have a playmaker of Luai’s calibre and a forward as potent as Fisher-Harris, it feels inevitable that the blow is going to soften significantly next season.
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When Cleary is injured, who is going to pick up the slack?
Who is the new Panthers enforcer?
For now, they’re still with Penrith and the Panthers will look to send them out as winners and hold their fourth consecutive trophy on the Premiership podium.
Topics: NRL, Wests Tigers
Bryce Webster