The last time the Panthers were involved in an NRL Finals Campaign was in 2004. Is this the year the Panthers make a run deep into the finals series? Are they contenders or pretenders?
There is no reason to question if this team has the capability of winning an NRL Premiership. I am a firm believer that they are contenders, especially with the Storm out of the equation.
This year’s competition is as hard to pick as finding the winner in the Melbourne Cup. On any given day, a team in the bottom half of the competition can beat a top eight side.
The Panthers have a lightning fast backline with the likes of Jennings, Coote, Purtell and Gordon, whom are giving their opponents nightmares on defence. The Panthers have used the bomb to their advantage this year.
Purtell and Gordon have taken some screamers.
However, the Panthers would not be able to take advantage of such a backline if it wasn’t for their brutal forward back.
Civoniceva, Waterhouse and Pritchard are doing the hard yards up front, putting their opponents on the back foot. Kingston, loves to get out of dummy half and have a dart, again working on the opposition’s heels.
The only problem with the Panthers so far this season is the ability to beat quality opposition. Their chance to really prove themselves came last round against the Titans.
Not only are the Titans a tough team to beat, but to win at Skilled Park would have raised some eyebrows.
The problem is they didn’t. They let the Titans, who haven’t been able to put up a score all year, score 38 points. If Penrith are going to be a top four side, they are going to have to fix their defence.
If Penrith can hold a side to 18 points, they will win the majority of their matches.
They have a favourable draw over the representative season, which should place them in good stead for the remainder of the season. If Jennings, Waterhouse and Civoniceva stay healthy, the Panthers will finish with a home final in the first week of the finals.
It’s only taken six years, but I think the Panthers may have put together a side to challenge the finals for years to come.
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