The Penrith Panthers’ premiership defence is on life support after another disappointing loss, continuing a season marred by inconsistency, injuries, and a lack of defensive grit.
The reigning four-time champions have stumbled through the first half of the year, and while the State of Origin period is always a challenge for Penrith, 2025 has hit harder than most.
Despite their struggles, the Panthers still had five stars—Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards—selected for Origin. But even with that level of individual talent, they were soundly beaten by a depleted Newcastle Knights side in Bathurst on Saturday night.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien made it clear post-game: excuses about missing players don’t hold up, especially since Penrith’s defensive issues have been a recurring theme all season. The club, once known for its rock-solid defence, has now conceded over 22 points per game. Offensively, they’ve fared little better—only outscoring six of the NRL’s most struggling sides.
Coach Ivan Cleary admitted he was “super disappointed” with the team’s start against Newcastle.
“We were overrun early,” Cleary said. “When you’re down on troops, that’s the last thing you need. Confidence dropped, and from there it was an uphill battle.”
While he praised the team’s fight in the second half, he acknowledged that Penrith simply isn’t meeting expectations—on the field or on the ladder.
After 12 rounds, the Panthers have just three wins and a draw from 11 games, sitting on 9 competition points (including a bye). Historically, teams need at least 12 or 13 wins to qualify for the finals. For Penrith, that means winning 9 of their remaining 13 games—leaving little room for error.
The road ahead isn’t kind.
They face the Eels just five days after Origin I, then the Warriors in Auckland—likely without their Origin stars—after Game II. The Eels rematch follows Origin III. On top of that, the Panthers still have to play the Storm, Raiders, and Bulldogs in consecutive rounds (24 to 26).
Combine that with the loss of key players like Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris, the cumulative toll of four consecutive grand final runs, and a younger, less experienced bench—this season has exposed Penrith’s depth like never before.
Even with talent across the park, potential can only carry a team so far.
“Win games,” Cleary said bluntly when asked how the Panthers turn things around. “You can only rely on potential for so long. No matter who was out there tonight, we should’ve done better.”
From here on out, every week is a must-win.
The Panthers aren’t out of the race yet—but they’re teetering on the edge. The next month could define their season… or end it.
What do you think? Can the Panthers pull off a miracle run to September? Comment below.
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