In the pre-season, many, myself included, had the Panthers firmly in the top eight with predictions. I had them just missing the four but a fair amount of those in the media had Penrith finishing with the double shot in the finals.
Although it is only three weeks into the season and they could still go on and win both the Minor Premiership and Premiership without suffering another defeat, they look a fair way off what was expected.
Their off-season was hugely disrupted following a string of unsavoury videos being leaked but the biggest distraction started months earlier with the will he/won't he saga by two members of the same family.
The Melrose Place-esque drama bordered on the ridiculous at times with reports emerging almost daily that Ivan would leave the Tigers while contrasting reports of his re-signing with the club were produced just as regularly.
Ivan's future seemed to hinge largely on the decision of his son, Nathan, as he looked to be drawn into a Panthers/Tigers tug of war.
It looked as though the two would reunite whether that be at Ivan returning to Penrith or with Nathan shifting across Western Sydney to the Tigers.
Ultimately the Panthers would announce the re-signing of their prize Origin-winning asset which resigned Tigers fans to the fact that Ivan would be shifting back to the club he managed just years prior.
Reports this past week indicate that Penrith boss Gus Gould had Wayne Bennett ready to sign to take over the reins of the club, only for the board to overrule him in favour of the returning Cleary.
The bitterness from that decision has divided the club with suggestions that Gould could walk from his position as soon as this season.
He's already been linked to a job with the Sharks, his now local team.
The Panthers looked to move heaven and earth to form the father/son team they hoped would take them to near immediate Premiership success.
Nathan was re-signed on a monster deal. If reports are to be believed, Nathan's re-signing largely hinged on Ivan's being brought to the club.
I have no idea whether or not that is true, but on the surface, you'd have to imagine it at least came up.
In order to secure the signing of the Origin number seven, the Panthers said no to the most successful rugby league coach in the history of the game.
Bennett's signing has already provided a huge shot in the arm at the Bunnies. Although many will be quick to point out that they made the pre-lim final last year, players such as Reynolds, Walker and Burns have already lifted their game to a new level since the master coach arrived.
Souths now join the Roosters as title favourites.
Meanwhile, Penrith under Cleary, are one win from three. A scrappy win against an under done Newcastle at that.
I'm not saying that Penrith is in danger of missing the finals. Not by any means.
That roster should still compete for the top four, at least!
That said, the Panthers biggest asset, the Cleary connection, is now proving to be it's the biggest weakness.
Literally every day this week the club has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Earlier this week it was the news that Gould and Cleary aren't on talking terms. The day prior it was talk that Gould has been linked to a head office position with the Sharks.
Monday questions were being asked of the form of Nathan, who looks distracted to say the very least.
It's worth remembering that despite three seasons in the top grade and a rep series win, young Cleary is still 21 years of age.
To say it would be hard for him to not be distracted by seeing his and his father's name in the papers every day is an understatement.
The Panthers are a distracted side right now.
They had a late pre-season from hell as they scrambled to overcome being the latest victims of videos being leaked. Tyrone May was then released from the club following a second incident.
Literally, every time the Panthers lose questions will be asked whether bringing Cleary back was the right call, especially now that it has come to light that Wayne Bennett was set to join the club.
A clash with Ivan's former side, the Tigers, could not come at a worse time. It will provide the main narrative as we build up this weekend's fixtures.
That said, at least it will be over with.
I feel like I should make a bus pun here but as it stands, Cleary is a distracted driver.
The club needs to exit the headlines for anything other than results.
They under delivered in 2018 after chasing immediate success through the recruitment of James Maloney. They surely can't waste their title window, which until three weeks ago looked open.
2019 is by no means a write-off, far from it, but unless both Cleary gentleman produce results quickly, the distractions will continue and Panthers fans will start asking questions.
They need both of their prize assets to go back to being just that, assets.
I like this article. Ussually I prefer rumours of players moving as I like weak teams improving or my Warriors getting some better players. But I do kinda like the Panthers and like their team on paper and never understood why they don’t smash teams by 20+ and look dominating like the Toosters did last night. This is quite the eye opener. They had a very very bad pre season firstly like coaching rumours then the player sex sagas. It wasn’t touched on in the article but even this week Tyrone Phillips who had been a back up utility back at the club for some time is leaving with more drama. Something behind the scenes must be happening. Especially for Gus to on the outer, he’s been a big part in the club aiming for success and SLOWLY getting there. It’s not he ever really need a job at the Panthers they needed him. And Penrith are in the best position they have been for a long time they need to achieve some form of premiership before things continue to plateau and then go downhill.