The Penrith Panthers are coming off a premiership, and will be out to maintain the rage as 2022 begins.
Here is their full season preview.
2021 season
What can be added that hasn't already been said?
The Panthers survived having to overcome a huge speedbump in the opening round of the finals to lift the trophy on the biggest day of the season.
Nathan Cleary led both his side and state to ultimate glory in a brilliant individual season. Jarome Luai more than delivered on his promise and was the perfect foil for Cleary at both levels.
The Panthers pack lead the way in an overall faster game in 2021. Isaah Yeo, James Fisher-Harris and Viliame Kikau walk into almost every side in the competition.
Brian To'o was a wrecking ball and can lay claim to being the second best winger in the game, at worst.
Off-Season Moves
2022 gains
Christian Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2022), Mavrik Geyer (2023), Thomas Jenkins (2023), Sean O'Sullivan (New Zealand Warriors, 2022), Preston Riki (2022)
2022 losses
Billy Burns (St George Illawarra Dragons), Matt Burton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Kurt Capewell (Brisbane Broncos), Tyrone May (Catalan Dragons), Paul Momirovski (Sydney Roosters), Brent Naden (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Tevita Pangai Junior (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Recruitment impact
The Panthers have done extremely well to keep the majority of their premiership-winning side together.
Matt Burton is a huge loss but one they knew was coming for over a year. Pangai Junior was a short-term option and did his job. Brent Naden and Paul Momirovski are big losses in the centres. Kurt Capewell will be the player missed the most although is being replaced by Liam Martin.
Sean O'Sullivan is a handy pick up and looks as though he will play the opening three games due to the off-season surgery on Nathan Cleary.
Penrith probably enter 2022 with an ever so slightly weaker squad as they'll have to field two new players across the backline. That said, they're hardly struggling.
Talking points
Back-to-back pressure: The hunter has become the hunted. The literal second a team is crowned champions they become target number one. Every side is going to be gunning to topple the premiers in 2022. That pressure can overwhelm sides. That pressure can just as equally spark sides on and provide extra motivation. I suspect it might be the latter here given an experienced coach and the Origin winning halves are on deck.
Turnover of players: This was touched on above but it will certainly be felt. Kurt Capewell, Matt Burton and Paul Momirovski are three grand final winning talents who have exited the club while Brent Naden played plenty of first-grade over the past two seasons. Burton and Momirovski's absence means the Panthers are going to be forced to rely on youngsters to fill those positions. It can be done but it will test the squad's depth and the patience of a fan base that has become accustomed to success.
Origin worries?: Come Origin time this squad will be without Cleary, To'o, Luai and Yeo. Liam Martin and Api Koroisau will be the mix after playing Origin last season while Stephen Crichton's name will come up if one of the Blues big guns is unavailable in the centres. Last year they struggled through the series last year losing to the Tigers and Sharks. With so many good sides on their heels and with so many players out, this could be crucial.
Key player: Nathan Cleary
A certain Manly fullback aside, Nathan Cleary is the competition's most important player. I'm willing to go in record as saying he's overtaken James Tedesco as the game's second best player overall.
Cleary will miss the opening three weeks of the competition so we'll, unfortunately, find out how the Panthers side can cope without him.
The best kicking game in the NRL and the ridiculous knack of scoring tries, especially late on, puts Cleary in rare territory as a player.
2022 will be the year he finally wins that Dally M medal after being robbed in 2022 and outplayed only by one of the best individual seasons we've ever seen.
Big season for: Stephen Crichton
Stephen Crichton ended the 2021 season on the highest of highs. He was the player to pluck that Cody Walker pass out of the air and score the grand final winner.
If he mistimes that or hesitates, Souths score and win. That was a monster play and doesn't get the attention it should.
That said, overall I'd say Crichton had a down 2021 season; at least compared to expectations. He didn't have a horror season by any stretch but many had him pencilled in as the game's best centre.
He spent time on the wing in 2021 but that won't happen this year as he is now the senior centre. Watch for big, big things.
Breakout star: Izack Tago
I'm sure we've all seen the raps on this kid. If Panthers fans are to believed he'll be just as potent in attack at Matt Burton as in 2021, and then some.
In all seriousness though, Tago looks as close to a can't miss prospect as you can possibly hope for.
He had six NRL games to his name meaning he's not running out on Thursday night as a genuine rookie. This should help him contend with the pressure of nailing down a regular spot.
He has speed to burn and footwork that will dazzle defenders. Certainly one to watch in 2022 as he cements that centre spot.
Watch Rugby League Outlaws discuss the Panthers in their Season Preview
Fixtures to watch
:
Round 1 vs Manly Sea Eagles: What a way to kick off the 2022 NRL season! Talk about a blockbuster. The Premiers running out in front of a sold out home crowd for the first time in many months to face fellow top four finishers Manly and their all star cast. It's a shame we won't be treated to the Origin halfbacks clashing but even sans Cleary the Panthers will enter this game as favourites. Despite the rain I'm expecting plenty of highlights.
Round 4 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs: The grand final sides clash! There is no such thing as a grand final replay, unless these two teams meet again in October, but given the way the decider ended you have to believe the Bunnies will come out firing. Nathan Cleary should be back for this monster clash which in itself is a storyline that can't be missed. Phwoar! What an opening month of footy for the defending Premiers.
Round 9 vs Parramatta Eels: The Western Sydney clash is always a spicy one. Bragging rights are on the line while the result could have a very real say in final finishing positions. Add to that the fact the Eels absolutely wiped the floor with the Panthers in a trial match and this should be very entertaining. I don't usually take much notice of trial results but the Panthers were awful while Parra played like they had something to prove. If that spills over into the season proper then there won't be enough seats to house the crowd on hand for this one.
Prediction
History says it is very, very difficult to win back-to-back premierships. This Penrith side is set up to achieve something special and could very well join the Roosters and Broncos as having achieved that.
They have three NSW Origin players in their spine and arguably the game's elite forward pack. Throw in a winger like no other in the competition and it's on!
There are no weaknesses here. Even with the outgoing talent Ivan Cleary will have very little to worry about.
Penrith carry pressure with them into 2022 that they haven't felt in many years but I see nothing here to suggest a third straight grand final is out of the question.
1st.
