Before the new season starts in March, there is the seemingly now-annual debate about whether the Panthers have bucked the anti-dynasty format of the NRL. No team in the modern era has dominated the sport like Penrith has, winning the last four titles after losing a previous Grand Final to the Storm.
The 2025 NRL season hasn't even begun but pundits and opposing fans have already leapt on the perceived new weaknesses in the Panthers team. Commentators seem very excited about the prospect of a change at the top of the ladder.
If you are still consulting the best sportsbook reviews to find out where to place a bet on the NRL this year, you will still probably find the Panthers as favorite to win a fifth straight title. But with such a high level of play over the last few years, any downturn in form for the team is highlighted, piling on more pressure. Some have even argued that a new champion this season would actually be a good thing for the NRL as it expands its global reach yet further.
The Panthers domination has been something that is rarely seen in the NRL, or even the wider sports world in general. With NRL teams working to a strict salary cap, an in-built parity between the teams is supposed to be the result. This has largely been the case, with very few teams able to win more than one title in a row, let alone the four that the Panthers have managed in recent times.
Looking outside of rugby league, there is a very easy comparison to make with the current NFL system in the US. Much like the NRL, the NFL has adapted its rules over the years and works on a salary cap system, boosted by an annual draft sharing the best new players from college fairly around the pro teams โ with the worst performing getting the best rookies. Although there are times when a particular team might be a real force for a few years, the format evens everything out after a while and other teams come to the fore. The Kansas City Chiefs have only just failed to win what would have been an unprecedented three championships in a row โ and they are considered a dynasty team. The Panthers have already managed four consecutive titles and could well still win a fifth.
Unlike many of the top sports leagues around the world, even the very best NRL athletes move on from championship rosters before they are pushed out. That has happened with the Panthers this year โ and it could be the main reason why Penrith does not end up winning that fifth consecutive title. Losing Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva to the Tigers and James Fisher-Harris returning to New Zealand is a killer blow to the Panthers. All three played a hugely important part in the success over the last few years and will be greatly missed, even with star talent brought as replacements.
If that wasn't enough, the Panthers are also having to contend with playing home games โaway from homeโ. Penrith Stadium was a journey for opposing teams and players and was a special place for the home side. Moving to CommBank Stadium for this season could act as a psychological advantage for opponents, with shorter travel times also a bonus. Panthers players will probably be fine performing wherever they play, and the top professionals are able to develop that kind of mindset. But allowing opponents just a small advantage could make all the difference when they might already be looking at the Panthers team as weaker than previous years.
Penrith will still be one of the teams expected to win the title this year โ but there will now be more chance of another team challenging in a more meaningful way. The Storm would seem to be the obvious contenders if that was the case. This is a team that has been improving year on year and made some good upgrades of its own ahead of the season. The Sharks and Sea Eagles will also challenge โ and be ready to pounce if the Panthers do start to drift as the season goes on.
Nathan Cleary certainly has a job on his hands to continue the Panthers dominance and will also be required to avoid the types of injuries he has suffered in the last few years. The Panthers will continue to win a majority of their games this year and be in the hunt for another title. But other teams are looking to challenge in 2025 โ and it can only be good for the league if that is to be the case.
