There’s no denying that the NRL table toppers have had a tough run to the top.
If you had told me in February that the Penrith Panthers would top the National Rugby League ladder in Round 14, I would have chuckled. Sure, they have an exciting young side and the addition of Australian representative would do no harm.
However, if the rugby league gods had their way, they would’ve (like the rest of the competition) be trailing the powerhouse Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters.
If you had then told me that in the first 14 weeks they would lose Nathan Cleary, Tim Browne, Sam McKendry, Dylan Edwards, Moses Leota, Peter Wallace, Josh Mansour, Villiame Kikau, Waqa Blake and Jack Hetherington for extended periods of time, I would have laughed in your face.
The adversity that this football team has faced is like none I have ever seen before. The injury crisis has taken Penrith supporters on a rollercoaster ride throughout 2018 and I think they are going to like where it finishes.
Round 19 at Suncorp is bookmarked, circled and highlighted in my calendar because barring any more serious injuries, and surely there can’t be any more, Penrith will regain all their stars excluding McKendry, Edwards and Browne who suffered season-ending injuries and the Panthers-Broncos clash is set to be a cracker.
These returning stars, adding to the experience that State of Origin stars; Tyrone Peachy, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Nathan Cleary and James Maloney will gain from the next month make the Panthers a hot tip for September 30.
See you in September, Panther fans!
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