The Panthers keep shooting for the stars – now chasing a four-peat which hasn’t been achieved since the mighty St George Dragons in the 1950s and ’60s.
Biggest danger to the Panthers isn’t the rival NRL clubs or their own headspace – it’s the salary cap that is slowly eating away at their star-studded team.
The better the Panthers get, the more their players go up in value – and rival clubs pounce.
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Matt Burton and Kurt Capewell left after the 2021 triumph, Apisai Koroisau and Viliame Kikau after 2022 and now Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu after the latest victory – with Jarome Luai set to follow next year.
The Dragons back in the old days had no such salary cap dramas – and it is to Penrith’s eternal credit that they keep losing their best players – yet the winning run continues.
But Crichton and Leniu – a strike back and a powerhouse forward – leave big holes and there will be question marks in the early rounds of 2024.
Ivan Cleary has some fine young talent coming through, but players not yet capable of providing the spark of Crichton and Leniu.
The Panthers definitely look a little vulnerable after so many departures in the past three years – but are still top four certainties and given a good run with injury, will still mount a formidable title defence.
Grand final 2023 showed they are never beaten – the mark of a true champion team – and they are the one every other team in the race most fears.
LUAI TRAITS YOUNG STAR CAN’T REPLACE
Could Jarome Luai’s departure at the end of this season be the straw that finally breaks the premiership streak?
Luai isn’t just a fine player, he also represents all the Panthers are about – the confidence, the swagger and, yes, even a touch of arrogance.
I believe the Panthers will target Lachlan Galvin – a brilliant young prospect from the Tigers – to replace Luai.
But he is a vastly different player – a quiet kid who won’t bring the Luai cockiness to the table.
He’ll score and create tries – but will Penrith be the same beast without Luai’s cheeky antics? Time will tell.