As far as 2017 is concerned, no team intrigues me quite like the Panthers. Few teams had such a tumultuous season this year.
It’s hard to believe that this was an outfit that counted Jamie Soward and James Segeyaro among its finest assets at the beginning of the year.
With Sowie retired and Segeyaro in the midst of disputes with the Leeds Rhinos, their time with the Mountain Men seems like a distant memory.
At that point, I don’t think that anybody could have predicted just how well the Penrith young guns would step up, nor how they would manage to gel with the old guard.
In some ways, the team try that culminated with Peter Wallace in the first week of the finals against the Bulldogs said it all. Here was an outfit peaking at just the right time.
It was Josh Mansour’s Panther howl, however, that was the enduring image of the night.
I can’t think of a more emphatic or iconic summary of how the Panthers managed to find their feet over the back half of this season.
With that howl, Mansour seemed to be announcing that the new-look team had finally arrived, and would be making their way to a finals berth some time in the next couple of years.
Fast forward to December 2017 and things have shifted once again.
Most dramatically, Mansour is out of the first part of the season with a freak ACL injury.
Given Mansour’s history with injuries and the way he personified that last surge of Penrith energy, his ACL issue has to be a dampener for both him and the club.
On both Reddit and in the wider media world, banter has abounded around his recent “bionic” implant, as if everyone is willing him to return as soon as possible to the form he was displaying in the leadup to the Four Nations.
Given Mansour’s critical role in the synergy between Matt Moylan and the rest of the Penrith backline, it’s going to be interesting to see how the team copes without him.
On the one hand, his loss may be keenly felt; on the other hand, it may be yet another opportunity for the Mountain Men to demonstrate the resilience and flexibility in the face of reconfigurations and rearrangements that kept them alive in 2016.
The addition of Mitch Rein and James Tamou just makes things more interesting. How will these players, so iconic at their previous clubs, fare at Penrith?
Tamou, in particular, will be fascinating – it’s hard not to picture him in a Cowboys jersey.
Add to that the return of Dean Whare and the premature release of Chris Grevsmuhl and things get even more intriguing.
In essence, the Panthers 2017 line-up looks as different from the current line-up as the current line-up was different from the early 2016 line-up.
Yet all that variability is going to place more pressure on two players, in particular, to step up.
For Moylan, it feels as if 2017 will be a make or break year.
We’ve seen that he’s capable of playing Origin, we’ve seen that he’s capable of playing with the Kangaroos, we’ve seen that he’s capable of playing fullback with deftness and dexterity.
While he may not quite have Tedesco’s ingenuity and creativity in the No.1 jersey, he has the potential to become just as iconic, and 2017 also feels like the year in which these two players will place themselves to inherit Darius Boyd’s status as greatest current fullback in the game.
At the same time, the shifting identity at the Panthers will also place more pressure on Nathan Cleary.
Despite his impressive pedigree, this kid seemed to come out of nowhere in 2016.
One minute he was a no-name on the bench, the next minute he was kicking bombs that made Pepper Stadium feel like Cape Canaveral.
Over the second half of the year, Cleary proved that he was as consistent as he was visionary, a workhorse as much as a great thinker and risk-taker on the field.
Time and again, he delivered, often against all the odds, putting his body on the line with the bravery and determination of a front-rower.
Like Moylan, 2017 is poised to be the year at which he comes into his own and takes advantage of the continuing flux at Penrith to cement himself as a real custodian for the club.
Let’s not forget, too, that Mansour is not necessarily out for the whole season. Ironically, Whare suffered a similar injury, but Mansour has been told that he might be back sooner.
Over the course of 2016, Moylan and Mansour helped turn the Panthers backline into one of the most exciting in the business.
Watching it, I felt that we were in the midst of a great new NRL synergy – perhaps not as timeless as Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater, but certainly more impressive than the much-touted trio of Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Whatever configurations the team goes through, I hope that, by the end of the year, this combo is given room to breathe in some way.
So will the Panthers make finals footy in 2017? All the ingredients are there, it’s just a matter of seeing whether they can take advantage of contingencies as flexibly they did in 2016.
Adam
Guest
Mitch Rein was in no way iconic, just show's the author's lack of rugby league knowledge. Rein didn't achieve great things, and will be easy to replace, hardly iconic in any way. May he was referring to his hair...
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
WOW, you got 1 out of 8 mentioned I didn't mention that alcohol and gambling ADDICT, Grevswhinge!
andrew
Guest
So you say I don't watch Souths games, yet you are telling me adamantly that Sutton did not play on the 24th of June 2016....? Because I am looking at a screen shot of the hand written Team Sheet handed in one hour before kick off for that match which has John Sutton in the number 11 jersey.... Maybe you could google the highlights... you will see a try by your favourite ex Rabbitoh - Grevsmuhl created by Cartwright who strolls through a pathetic effort by Sutton. But no, I don't watch the games..... Oh and so to confirm, Cook will be getting that sky blue jumper ahead of Cam Mcinnes i guess?
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
YES, did you watch that game, Vincent? The sharks were at FULL STRENGTH. The sharks scored 1 try off a lucky bounce in the wet and NEVER looked like scoring again even though ALL of the 50/50s went their way and on 3 occasions were let out of their own end with soft Penalties. The sharks held us down and wrestled the life out of us with No Penalties to Souths. The only Penalties we received was those blatant ones you have to give, otherwise, you look like a real CHEAT! They had a total of 16 sets inside Souths 20m red zone for ONLY that 1 lucky try. Souths were continually coming out of our own end. Souths had I think 3 or 4 total sets in their Red Zone for 2 trys. If Souths had such field position as the Sharks did have then we would have scored at least 6 trys. Cannon fodder? you bet it was!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Well Vincent, Robbie Rochow plus 4 exciting prospects. NSW U20s players Tyrell Fuimaono and Robert Jennings Queensland Residents forward Brett Greinke Australian schoolboy Braidon Burns Souths have a well balanced young squad. I can't wait to smash your roosters in Rd 4.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
In answer to your Points Andrew! A) Proves Plenty, It shows that Souths Juniors/Development is FIRST RATE! B) so what? Cleary is a Rookie! So why are you downplaying the efforts of Souths Rookies, Musgrove, Hunt and Crichton? C) Sutton got injured in Round 1 and was unavailable. PLUS Crichton would have debuted in Round 1 but he also was unavailable for selection due to injury. D) Musgrove debut was in Rd 1 but he got injured and was out for most of the year. Hunt debut in Rd 1 also and played in ALL 8 games before he succumbed to injury. All players mentioned above were straight back in First-Grade when available. George Burgess is an International Damien Cook will eventually be the NSW Hooker. You obviously DON'T watch any Souths games do you, Andrew? You are so irrelevant and Naive when it comes to clubs that you do NOT watch or support! By the way, you mention the Sharks and the Warriors? Souths beat the eventual Premiers at FULL STRENGTH easy... the sharks never ever looked like scoring, 1 try off a lucky bounce from a kick, in the WET! The Warriors? Souths smashed them the week before Didn't you watch the last 5 rounds in 2016? Souths looked like what we ARE a TOP 4 CLUB! Injuries plagued both of our 2015 and 2016 campaigns. still finished 7th in 2015. The Previous year, 2014 we were the premiers and the 2 before that, 2012 and 2013 TOP 4. ALL players mentioned above played wonderfully and in the Souths Professional Systems, they will ALL Flourish again next season in 2017!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Alex-L I posted a reply to your question but it wasn't printed... I will try again... The average age of Souths TOP 17 is 24.8 years old. The Average age of Souths NRL TOP 25 is actually 24.44 years old.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Which are the 3 or 4 clubs they are going to beat? They beat the pathetic Tigers last season and drew with the Raiders. So maybe the Dragons and the Roosters or Sea Eagles as well. lol They won't beat the Rabbitohs Souths have beaten them for the last 7 games in a row. The last time the knights beat the Rabbitohs was Rd 5 on the 10th of April 2010.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Billy has been back two or three times. What I'm worried about is the losses of Proctor and Green. Korro is a pretty big loss but in reality wasn't much more than someone who just ran hard. Made about as many if not more bone head plays as he did freakish ones.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I think if Billy plays then Munster covers Green. There's also Jahrome Huges from the Cowboys. Kenny Bromich, Kaufusi probably first in line to replace Proctor. I thought Hoffman was a greater loss but got covered by Harris who probably spent half of last season playing out of position in the centers and halves. Koroibete replacement will come from either Curtis Scott, Ado-Carr, Olam, Tatupu or Hawkins. If Billy returns I think the Storm are better placed this year. The likes of Vunivalu and Nelson Asofa Solomona have a year under their belt...I think their best is still to come. I think Munster at 6 is a more dangerous player than Green. Also I doubt they'll get another horror injury run like they did last year...knocking frantically on wood!!!
andrew
Guest
A - What does that prove? B - It was the third game of Ivan Cleary's career - he won't be better next year? C - False, Sutton played, Crichton was yet to debut so wasn't "out" D- Musgrove and Hunt have not even established themselves as first graders much less players that will make any sort of difference. Cook is just Cook and George Burgess was as much a liability as an asset. In the same Round the Sharks beat the Warriors at home in golden point? What relevance does that have to next year? If Hunt, Cook, Crichton and Musgrove are "walk up starters" for Souths next year, I am not sure that is something i would be boasting about...
Albo
Guest
Spot on Geoff regarding the Panthers ! As a Panther fan, I pretty much agree with your summation. I am not overly excited about them buying Tamou & Tim Brown whilst letting Matagi, Latimore & Chris Smith go , then the loss of Gresmuhl will also hurt as he was going really well last season ! Not sure I can see any upside there with those changes ? But what is in their favour is the further year experience of their key spine men. Moylan & Cleary are the keys who were improving every game in 2016. The experienced and had working Wallace & Rein competing for the 9 will improve both of them, and the missing piece to their spine puzzle will be the return of Te Mare Martin at 6 , and Cartwright back to the pack where he belongs. The return of Whare & Hiku will strengthen their backs, and they have plenty of young talent coming through the lower grades. But as usual it will all depend on the run of injuries they have as to whether they really bring the promise to fruition in 2017. They have had three pretty poor years in a row on the injury front but still managed to compete. Given a good run of no injuries in 2017 with the extra year experience , I would expect them to do very well.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Cannon Fodder? At a 6 point win.. cmon mate!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
We will see, who do you go for? At least I let everyone know where my loyalties lie! Souths will finish in front of more than 4 teams. Knights, Dragons, Tigers, Roosters, Dogs, Warriors, Manly, Eels... There are 8 that we will definitely finish in front of. Didn't you watch the last 5 games last season mate? We finally got some players back from injury... Sutton, Musgrove, Crichton, Hunt, George Burgess, Gray. The so-called premiers were cannon fodder for us even though the refs did their level best to get them over the line. They wrestled and held us down all night but NO penalties to Souths YET the Sharks received 3 Penalties for the same the thing.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Read my comment above mate, it explains everything.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
The Panthers only beat Souths by 2 points at Penrith Stadium last season. Souths had 8 players out Reynolds, George B, Sutton, Cook, Carter, Hunt, Crichton, Musgrove. Penrith is so inconsistent, sure they are a great attacking team but the best defence wins Premierships NOT the best attack. Of the 8 players mentioned above, 7 will be walk-up starters in Souths best 17 for 2017, Carter was obviously was sacked then went to the Rorts!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Addo Carr is a Souths Junior. Born at Blacktown but played his junior football at the La Perouse Panthers!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Rankin was kicking for the Tigers, and Addo-Carr was just out of the 20s -- put another pre-season on him and some time in the Storm system and he'll be solid. Plus now I think about it he's probably behind Curtis Scott. Development is key, and that's somewhere the Storm haven't ever really struggled.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Anthrax doesn't cause cancer , it just kills you outright.
souvalis
Guest
Ado Carr was ranked below Jordan Rankin...Koro was arguably amongst the top 3 wingers and the Storms most dangerous attacking weapon..huge loss as will be Proctors motor and super collaboration with Cronk and Greens experiential nous..there's a big gaping hole that needs more than a band aid..