Five reasons the Panthers can make the top four in 2016

To make the four they need new medical, fitness and conditioning staff. I don't think two horrific injury filled seasons in a row is a coincidence. As a Panthers fan I really hope I am wrong. There have been rumours from people inside the club that Cleary didn't listen to the medical staff and that caused a few injury issues. Again, as a Panther's fan I hope that is true and his leaving fixes the issue. Fingers crossed......

For Penrith to make the top four, they need to avoid another year of atrocious injuries. Teams like Cowboys, Brisbane and etc doesn't get those type of runs with injuries ever, where as Penrith copped a bad one in 2014 and a really really really horrendously awful one in 2015, in which is sort of a sucker-punch to the Panthers faithful(not saying they want other players to get injured, you get what i mean). After following up their win against premiership favourites at the time in Canterbury, they easily dismissed Titans in a 40-0 bashing.Which made the great Andrew Voss exclaim, "Make no mistake, the Penrith Panthers are premiership heavyweights in 2015.".So how does a team make someone say this only to 'deservedly' miss the top eight entirely.Hint, they don't. This line was only said because Penrith's quality was clear, and that he along with many other people assumed the 2014 injuries were a 'one off'.Well unfortunately, they came back in even more brutal fashion, with a rumour turning into reality that Jamie Soward required back surgery which kicked off a year that hosted literally ten different halves pairings, and injuries that would send even great sides towards the bottom.Could you imagine if Brisbane had ten different halves pairings with Milford and Hunt missing large parts of the year?They wouldn't be in contention for the finals, full stop. So my plea to the Panthers will be to please, if you're going to make changes, make it minor.Keep the spine positions along with lock to having the same players(1.Moylan, 6.Soward, 7.Wallace, 9.Segeyaro, 13.Taylor), transition is necessary in all sports, but it doesn't have to be started right now, as Penrith still hasn't fully got the full rewards from the previous one to the current one.Starting a transition now is unnecessary and postpones success for at least another season that isn't even guaranteed.Transitioning now won't remove problems, it only changes them and most likely creates even more.Have Merrin and Cartwright as the starting back-rowers to combine work rate with attacking flair in the forwards and Taylor can stay in the position he has been made comfortable in.Changing halves is a ridiculous thought especially with a player doing so well(Moylan) being made to changed positions.That'd be ridiculous right now. So what do Penrith have to do to be successful?Minor changes through great signings that will certainly make the team even better.Anything else and you're just asking for a transition year that will probably do more harm than good.Their problem has been injuries, not specific players.Every player, and i mean every single one, has shown that they are capable to be put together with each other to muster up a team more than capable of pulling off a real premiership assault. Please Penrith, don't throw away this opportunity just because of two horrible injury filled seasons.

I respectfully disagree Jarrod. There is no doubt that the Panthers have some serious talent on their list. Whether this turns out to be top 4 material this year, or even next year is a bit of a long shot in my opinion. Remember when the Raiders won the inaugural youth comp in '08? Everyone was waxing lyrical about their talent. Still hasn't yielded a lot of fruit. Here are a couple of other reasons: 1. Change of Coach. A lot of people are talking about Griffin's ability to nurture talent...actually, at the Broncs he often did the opposite. Didn't give Ben Hunt a chance for years. Chose Wallace and Prince, despite lacklustre form, over both Hunt and Norman. Couldn't see that Granville had talent. Its a long list. Am not convinced Griffin has what it takes. 2. Moylan into the halves. This may be a masterstroke, but unless Moylan is better than Lockyer, which is unlikely, he will take most of a full season to get used to the change, and without a dominant half beside him, the Panthers will lose some tight ones because of it. They need to win 17 or so matches to guarantee top 4, so having an inexperienced yet talented 5/8 will almost guarantee they don't make it. 3. General inexperience. The talent is there, but without the guiding hand of experience. They will, as a result, likely be a little up and down. Further, I think you over-state the strength of their back 5. You need good service for the back 5 to do their thing, and with an average halves pairing, they will not be able to truly shine. Plus again, their inexperience. And there is no evidence the injury curse is over. It probably won't be like last year, but the Panthers will only need Segyaro to go down to feel the pinch. I could be wrong, but I think just making the 8 will be a great achievement for the Panthers this year.

"The sides with the best halves will be top 4 " Tend to agree with you robbo ! But surprised you haven't included the Cowboys, surely with the best halves combination in the NRL ! I would rate next the Broncos, the Storm and then the rest on their day. As a long time Panthers fan, I see the halves problems they have had since Alexander retired, as still the key to their success or failure this year. They have a good pack of forwards, a good set of outside backs, plenty of young talent coming through in these positions also, but their halves are again the big query this year. They have the veteran pairing of Wallace & Soward and the junior Kiwi pairing in youngsters Docker-Clay and Te Mare Martin all targeting these positions , leaving Moylan at fullback for mine. He can come into the line in attack and run the show , but I see no point in him being targeted road kill for opposition packs as a defensive number 6. It will be interesting to see Griffin's approach here. Panther fans are hoping the young Kiwi pair might be the future solution to their halves problem, but will Griffin throw them in straight away ? Or start the season with the old boys ? Perhaps mix them up with the veterans. Wallace & Martin combination or Docker-Clay & Soward combination ? Or will he throw Moylan into the halves. Whatever the solution, it will likely take some time to get it right, and making a top 4 spot prediction, is pretty brave.

I like the look of the Panthers . Cartwright is a potential superstar . Moylan is very very good but he may take a little time to grow into a role in the halves. Even the great Lockyer took a while to adapt. Exciting times for Panthers fans though. Top four ? An outside chance.

Your points are valid for 12 of the teams in the comp injuries and momentum will dictate the top four personally i dont see the chocolate soldiers making it The sides with the best halves will be top 4 I would say broncos cronullla warriors and....

Definitely a talented squad. 1. The jury's out on Griffen. He did a good job developing the young Broncos teams but seemed out of his depth in first grade. Bennett took the same group of players Griffen had to the grand final. Some coaches are better with younger teams - Peter Mulholland springs to mind. 2. It's too early for mine to call whether the interchange will benefit small packs or not. Certainly with players like Cartwright, Peachey, Merrin and Taylor they have an immensely talented back row. 3. The backfield looks good to. Whare still doesn't get the wraps he deserves and I really like Hiku. Mansour is so effective when he's fit and DWZ looks the goods as a fullback. 4. No evidence that the 'injury crisis' is over. All teams suffer injuries. The panthers were certainly hit hard last year but I thought they hid behind it and it certainly didn't justify a 15th finish. 5. Really looking forward to Moylans move to 6. He looks a natural front line playmaker and should improve without the burden of the extra running and hitting the ball back that being fullback entails. They should be big improvers from last year and will be one of the most interesting teams to watch early. There's still that question of whether they over achieved in 2014.

Have to be the eternal optimist to think this. Parramatta has better chance and they are the perennial losers. Griffin had an ace team at the Broncs and was useless plus Moylan a stretch too far at this stage.

Still in the development phase and two or three years away from being a threat for the title. Once their rising stars get another 40 games into their legs and develop the mental toughness and consistent high performance needed they will be eyeing the big dance.

i agree they are a chance but i doubt that Griffen is the reason