After four unsuccessful years at the Penrith Panthers, coach Matthew Elliott finally made the most of a talented roster last season, guiding the Panthers to their first finals appearance since 2004.
The Panthers 15-9 game record saw them notch up some notable victories over finals teams such as the Wests Tigers, Dragons, Sydney Roosters and the Manly Sea Eagles throughout the course of last season.
The Panthers finished runners-up to the St George Illawarra Dragons in the race for the minor premiership.
But after laying a superb platform for premiership success, injuries derailed the Panthers campaign, as they bowed out of the 2010 finals after consecutive losses to the Canberra Raiders and Roosters respectively.
It was a hugely disappointing end to last season for the Penrith team which, at full strength, was a real chance to lift their third NRL Premiership.
While the Panthers casualty ward played a significant role in their finals demise last season, their confidence was also dealt a huge blow late in the year thanks to a three match losing streak.
In round 18, the Panthers lost 6-12 to the New Zealand Warriors in a match which the home side had limitless chances to win. Penrith than surrendered a 22 point lead against the Parramatta Eels in the following week to lose 28-34 in front of a shocked Panthers crowd.
An 18-10 loss to the Melbourne Storm seven days later saw the Panthers give up their tag as premiership contenders, despite winning four of their last six matches against opposition who were out of finals contention.
Despite the lean finish to last season, an injury free Panthers unit showed that they are premiership material, and will prove tough opposition for any team come 2011.
The coming of age of players such as Luke Walsh, Michael Gordon, Lachlan Coote, Tim Grant and Sam McKendry last season saw them rewarded with representative selection.
Coote and Grant earned their first City Origin jumpers, while McKendry and Gordon went on to play for New Zealand and NSW respectively. Gordon in particular had an outstanding 2010, finishing as the NRL’s highest point-scorer.
The most significant surge of form however came from Luke Walsh, who certified himself as an influential playmaker last season. The former Newcastle Knight recorded the most try-assists of any player in 2010, finishing with 32 next to his name.
Walsh’s kicking game in particular was a huge string to his attacking bow, with the Panthers scoring more tries from kicks than any side last season.
Walsh’s form with the boot however was often the only route for points, and with players such as Gordon and Michael Jennings in the backline, the Panthers really should find more ways to score tries if they are to seriously challenge for the 2011 premiership.
Much of the Panthers title hopes in 2011 will also rest on last season’s standout players Luke Lewis, Trent Waterhouse and Petero Civoniceva.
Without the services of departed Kiwi Test forward Frank Pritchard, it will be vital that all of the three above players play out the majority of season 2011.
Lewis, Civoniceva and Waterhouse have become the main focal points for inspiration for a Panthers side which is still a confidence team.
If Lewis and company do manage to play well in 2011, the Panthers are every chance of securing a top four birth and erasing the bitter finals memories of last season.
There is a solid mixture of youth and experience at the foot of the mountains, and provided their key players remain injury free, the Panthers could be one of the few teams left standing come September 2011.
Why they’ll win:
Why they won’t:
TAB Sportsbet odds
Additions: Arana Taumata, Coedi Towney, Dayne Weston, Michael Worrincy, Nafe Seluini, Brendon Gibb, Junior Paulo, Tim Winitana, Yileen Gordon,
Departures: Wade Graham (Cronulla), Frank Pritchard (Canterbury-Bankstown), Gavin Cooper (North Queensland Cowboys), Josh Bateman (North Queensland Cowboys), Maurice Blair (Melbourne Storm), Daniel Penese (St George Illawarra).
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