The Penrith Panthers – minus Peter Wallace, Tyrone Peachey, Isaac John, Bryce Cartwright, Elijah Taylor and Brent Kite – are not only in great shape to make their way to the finals but what’s more they are more than capable of making an impact.
Mad you say? Maybe. Bias you say? Most definitely.
But when you dig a little beneath the surface at the structures in place at the club labelled as being no chance by any bookmaker you care to listen to, they are in great shape to qualify for their first finals campaign since 2010.
What’s more, despite a tough draw with games coming up against the Dragons, Cowboys, Storm, Sea Eagles and Warriors, with three games at home the Panthers are a realistic chance of making the top four.
In recent times, the Panthers have shown plenty of resolve to defeat Wests Tigers at Leichhardt (despite losing Wallace early), Brisbane at home (despite losing Josh Mansour and Tyrone Peachey before half time) and most recently Canterbury at ANZ Stadium (despite losing Taylor early plus Cartwright and Kite later in the game).
Statistically the Panthers’ winning ways in 2014 falls greatly on their spine, a crucial fact for Cleary.
Three of those members – James Segeyaro, Matt Moylan and Jamie Soward, who are dubbed the SMS by Panthers faithful, are among the category leaders in each key performance area for the team. That is tries, try assists, runs, metres, line breaks, tackle busts, offloads, line break assists, tackles, kick metres.
Tries: first Mansour (12) second Whare (10) third Segeyaro (8) (4th Moylan (7), seventh Soward (4))
Try assists: first Soward (16) second Moylan (13) third Whare (7) (Segeyaro – nil)
Line breaks: first Segeyaro (13) Equal second Moylan (9) with Whare (5th Soward (7))
Line break assists: first Moylan (15) second Soward (13) third Whare (6) (6th Segeyaro (3))
Offloads: first Latimore (24), second Idris (23), third Segeyaro (20) (5th Moylan (18), 11th Soward (9))
Tackle busts: first Mansour (95), second Idris (63) third Segeyaro (54) (4th Moylan (51), 10th Soward (16))
Runs: first Mansour (261), second Moylan (252), third Latimore (229) (6th Segeyaro (180), 18th Soward (76))
Metres: first Mansour (2,565), second Moylan (2,252), third Latimore (2,054) (7th Segeyaro (1,448), 18th Soward (524))
Tackles: first Taylor (642), second Segeyaro (621), third Latimore (452) (15th Soward (183), 18th Moylan (115))
Kick metres: first Soward (6,239), second Wallace (2,667), third Segeyaro (412) (4th Moylan (392))
Only in two categories does any of Penrith’s injured brigade feature – Wallace (kick metres) and Taylor (tackles).
If the media bothered to take note of the lower grades they will see a side that has sewn up a NSW Cup minor premiership with four rounds remaining. They have a team full of first grade talent coupled with some of the best up and coming youngsters in the game.
How many teams would like to be able to call upon a side that regularly fields 10-13 first graders, including prop Tim Grant who just two years ago played State of Origin, a hooker who has led the Panthers through some tough times in Kevin Kingston, an up and centre Isaah Yeo.
This team also has the likes of Kevin Naiqama, Tom Humble, Ryan Simpkins, Sam Anderson, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Kieran Moss, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Waqa Blake, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Kierran Moseley and even Chris Smith on the books.
There are plenty of reasons why Panthers insiders haven’t exactly had to reach for the panic button just yet.
What about finals experience? This current playing squad has three players with premiership-winning experience: Jamie Soward, Brent Kite and Sika Manu.
Lewis Brown, Tim Grant, Jamal Idris, Kevin Kingston, Sam McKendry, Kevin Naiqama, Nigel Plum, James Segeyaro, David Simmons, Dean Whare and Ben Murdoch-Masila all have experienced finals footy before.
Ivan Cleary also has the experience of guiding a team to a grand final before, so he too will know what’s required to get the Panthers deep into the finals series.
Now to just put back on my rose-coloured glasses, reach for my wallet and put a few dollars on the outsiders to win more than just a game or two as the Panthers continue to confound experts in 2014.
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