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The Panthers were one of the NRL’s success stories of 2014 after being criticised in the lead-up to the season for their lack of star recruitment and letting go a number of key players.
Despite having one of the highest injury tolls in the competition, Penrith finished in the top four on the back of some great play from players fighting for their careers.
The Panthers made it all the way to the preliminary final after defeating minor premiers the Sydney Roosters in the first round of the finals, before going down to the Canterbury Bulldogs the week before the grand final.
If they can keep their best 17 on the park they will have a massive season, and coach Ivan Cleary’s challenge is deciding exactly what his best 17 is after so many fringe first graders and younger players stepped up last year.
Pre-season fixtures
January 31 – February 1: Auckland Nines versus Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys, South Sydney Rabbitohs
February 7: versus Wyong @ Wyong
February 14: versus New Zealand Warriors @ Rotorua
February 21: versus Parramatta Eels @ Sportingbet Stadium
The 2015 Penrith Panthers’ pre-season is among the longest out of all the teams in the NRL. They play a trial on every week after the nines until two weeks before the season, which logically is when trials cease for all clubs.
At the time of publishing the Panthers have played trial games against both Wyong and the New Zealand Warriors. Defeating Wyong easily, they ran into trouble against the Warriors, although they fielded fewer first grade players than the home side.
The trip to New Zealand could prove to be an important one. The whole squad got some time away from Australia in the build-up to the NRL season, however with player burnout such a prevalent issue in the NRL, and no game in New Zealand this season for the Panthers, the trial game over there has to be questioned.
Ins and outs
2015 gains: Rodney Coates (2015), Adrian Davis (2015), Apisai Koroisau (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2016), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Mid Season: Wests Tigers, 2015), Tupou Sopoaga (Cronulla Sharks, 2016).
2015 losses: Luke Capewell (Queensland Cup), Anthony Cherrington (QueenslandCup), Ethan Cook (Central Newcastle), Tim Grant (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Tom Humble (Queensland Cup), Kevin Kingston (retired), Kierran Moseley (Gold Coast Titans), Eto Nabuli (St George Illawarra Dragons), Kevin Naiqama (Wests Tigers), Wes Naiqama (London Broncos), James Roberts (Gold Coast Titans), Matt Robinson (Gold Coast Titans), Ryan Simpkins (Gold Coast Titans), Vaipuna Tia Kilifi (Queensland Cup).
Out of the 14 players the Panthers have let go of for the 2015 season, 5 have not secured top flight contracts, Kevin Kingston retired, and Wes Naiqama is off to a second-tier Super League team in England. This means that half the players they chose to not retain will not be playing in the NRL this season.
The Panthers’ biggest losses are Tim Grant, James Roberts and Eto Nabuli, while Kierran Moseley could also prove to be a bad loss down the track. Despite this, Grant was playing reserve grade during 2014, Roberts was given his marching orders due to behavioural issues and Nabuli couldn’t get a look in at first grade, however could be a good pick up for the St George Illawarra Dragons. Kierran Moseley proved playing for the Indigenous All Stars that he could be a good pick up for the Gold Coast Titans, however there was no room for him at Penrith.
Season fixtures
R1 Sun 08 Mar 2015, 4:00pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Bulldogs
R2 Sat 14 Mar 2015, 4:30pm, Carrington Park Panthers V Titans
R3 Mon 23 Mar 2015, 7:00pm, Allianz Stadium Roosters V Panthers
R4 Sat 28 Mar 2015, 3:00pm, Hunter Stadium Knights V Panthers
R5 Mon 06 Apr 2015, 7:00pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Cowboys
R6 Sat 11 Apr 2015, 7:30pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Sea Eagles
R7 Sat 18 Apr 2015, 3:00pm, Cbus Super Stadium Titans V Panthers
R8 Sun 26 Apr 2015, 2:00pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Sharks
R9 Fri 08 May 2015, 7:35pm, Suncorp Stadium Broncos V Panthers
R10 Mon 18 May 2015, 7:00pm, Brookvale Oval Sea Eagles V Panthers
R12 Fri 29 May 2015, 7:45pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Eels
R13 Sat 06 Jun 2015, 7:30pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Storm
R15 Sat 20 Jun 2015, 7:30pm, ANZ Stadium Bulldogs V Panthers
R16 Sun 28 Jun 2015, 5:00pm, Leichhardt Oval Wests Tigers V Panthers
R17 Fri 03 Jul 2015, 7:45pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Rabbitohs
R18 Sat 11 Jul 2015, 5:30pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Roosters
R19 Fri 17 Jul 2015, 7:35pm, AAMI Park Storm V Panthers
R20 Sun 26 Jul 2015, 2:00pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Raiders
R21 TBC, ANZ Stadium Rabbitohs V Panthers
R22 TBC, TIO Stadium Eels V Panthers
R23 TBC, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Warriors
R24 TBC, WIN Stadium Dragons V Panthers
R25 TBC, GIO Stadium Raiders V Panthers
R26 TBC, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Knights
Draw analysis
The Panthers start 2015 against the same opponent that ended their 2014 season in the preliminary final – the Canterbury Bulldogs. However this time they get to play on their home turf at Sportingbet Stadium in Penrith on a Sunday Afternoon. It should be a cracker of a game to kick off their season, and could well be the game of the round.
Things don’t get much easier for the Panthers as they take on the Sydney Roosters, North Queensland Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles within the next five weeks, before things will ease off a fraction.
A strong start to the season is key for the Panthers, as they look to build on combinations formed last season, and also establish their best 17 before settling into a rhythm for the season.
The Panthers’ run home is one of the easier ones in the competition for 2015, as during the last seven weeks of the season they take on the the Canberra Raiders, Rabbitohs, Eels, Warriors, Dragons, Raiders again and then a home game against the Newcastle Knights in the final round. Penrith supporters couldn’t have really asked for an easier run home and even if they don’t have the strongest start to the season, they will be banking on at least being able to win five or six of their last seven games.
The teams the Penrith Panthers will be playing twice throughout the 2015 NRL Season are the Raiders, Titans, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Knights, Eels and Storm. This could probably be considered one of the harder set of teams to play twice, as they play five out nine teams that finished in the top eight last season and only two out of the bottom four.
Predicted impact of State of Origin
Last year the Panthers had a lot of good players but no one banging the door down for Origin selection. If his form from last season continues then expect Matt Moylan to be in serious contention for the New South Wales number 1 jersey and Jamie Soward’s name to be thrown around in conversations for the halves. Jamal Idris is the other who could be in with a shot to play Origin in 2015.
If these three make it, while it won’t be the heaviest toll in the comp looking at numbers, it will certainly test the Panthers’ depth. However I would expect the Panthers to stand up and whether the Origin storm.
Predicted finish and final word
The Panthers’ biggest asset is their depth. They are one of the best sides in the comp and are in for another big season on the back of players like Moylan and Soward.
I’m going to take a risk here and tip the Penrith Panthers as the minor premiers for 2015.
Tomorrow we have a look at the reigning premiers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs.