2024 NRL: Penrith Panthers Season Preview

After completing the three-peat last year, can anyone catch the Panthers or will they make it four in a row?

Season Preview

In 2023, the Panthers completed one of the hardest feats in professional sport, winning their third premiership in a row. Now, they are aiming for number four, and should still go into the 2023 season as one of the favourites to take out the title.

It is another year where they have to deal with some key losses, headlined by the departures of Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs) and Spencer Leniu (Roosters). Crichton has developed into one of the best centres in the game and has made a reputation as a big game player, scoring some of the biggest grand final tries during the Panthers three-peat. While never playing big minutes, Leniu’s impact off the bench was always key, and while there is plenty of depth to cover that role, that loss will definitely be felt.

In a positive for the defending premiers, their spine remains intact for one more year, before Jarome Luai departs for the Tigers. The usual suspects will still remain key, including the likes of Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, and the prop duo of James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota, who helped turn the tide in the wake of a large deficit in last year’s decider. Dylan Edwards and Brian To’o will continue to headline one of the safest back threes in the competition, with Sunia Turuva ready to back up his stellar rookie campaign.

While off-season losses continue to provide challenges for this champion team, the Panthers are still one of the best teams in the NRL, and should be a near-lock for the top four – and perhaps a fourth minor premiership in five years – until proven otherwise.

Best Signing

It has been another relatively quiet off-season for the Panthers, as they continue to rely on their strong junior nursery. While Taylan May is expected to take over Crichton’s centre role, Paul Alomati could be one to watch. Brad Schneider will provide some great depth in the halves, but the best signing for this team should be the return of Daine Laurie after three years at the Tigers. Laurie could be in line for a bench utility role but otherwise should provide more depth, able to fill in across most of the backline. He could be the man to replace Jarome Luai at five-eighth in 2025: but for this upcoming season, he should at least get a few cracks in first grade, and a player of his talent likely won’t make those go to waste.

Key Player

It is a boring answer but it is still Nathan Cleary. You only need to look back to last year’s grand final. With the Panthers on the brink of defeat, he almost single-handedly produced the greatest grand final comeback in NRL history, en route to a second Clive Churchill Medal. At just 26 years old, Cleary might only still be yet to reach his prime, which is a scary prospect for the rest of the competition. There is no shortage of talent on this team but Cleary remains the most important player. He will also have the added motivation of wanting to send out his halves partner (Luai) as a winner. If the Panthers can incredibly make it four premierships in a row, Cleary will be one of the biggest reasons why.

Player to Watch

With Spencer Leniu gone, Liam Henry seems to be the frontrunner to take over that key role in the bench rotation. He only has limited experience, with just three NRL games to his name, but he has shown plenty of promise in those appearances. It’s the classic case of next man up for the defending champions. With Fisher-Harris and Leota ready to continue their dominance, Henry doesn’t need to be a star, but he could become a key cog in the bench rotation of this Panthers team.

Number Crunching

Premiers: 5 (1991, 2003, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Minor Premierships: 5 (1991, 2003, 2020, 2022, 2023)
10 years win/loss record: 169 wins, 87 losses, 1 drawn (65.8%)
5 years win/loss record: x wins, x losses, x drawn (xx.xx%)
2023 win/loss record: x wins, x losses, x drawn (xx.xx%)
NRL Finals Appearances since 2014: 8
NRL Finals win/loss record since 2014: 15 wins, 6 losses (71.4%)
Biggest win since 2014: 48, vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (48-0, 7/5/21, BlueBet Stadium)
Biggest loss since 2014: 42, vs Melbourne Storm (10-52, 17/7/15, AAMI Park)