Panthers keep clawing: Is the 'five-peat' still on?

Strap yourselves in Panthers fans.

The next 12 weeks promise to be a wild ride—and the coming two rounds could even define your season.

The fairness, or otherwise, of this weekend’s post-Origin clash against the third-placed Warriors in Auckland has already been well publicised. 

But it doesn’t get any easier for Ivan Cleary’s squad which then faces a short turnaround for Round 17 playing next week’s Thursday night game against the table-topping Bulldogs.

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As of right now, the Panthers are looming in 9th, just one point out of the eight—but equally they’re just one point ahead of the 14th placed Rabbitohs. 

The margins for error are fine and serious questions persist around form, consistency and motivation.

“They’ve lost so much talent,” Gorden Tallis offered on NRL 360 back in early May as the Panthers sat outright last on the NRL ladder—a position more akin to the club’s early ‘Chocolate Soldiers’ days than those of four-time reigning premiers.

“They aren’t as hard as they used to be for 80 minutes,” he said. 

Co-host Braith Anasta added bluntly, “I don’t think they can win the premiership this year.”

Since then, a powerful statement win against Brisbane, 32-8, at Suncorp in Magic Round showed signs of life. 

But Penrith’s form has once again cooled with just two narrow victories against the Eels and Tigers and a draw against the Cowboys.

Given five of Penrith’s final 11 games are against top four sides—including a brutal run between Rounds 24-26 when they play the Storm (home), Raiders (home) and Bulldogs (away)—there’s no guarantee the four-time premiers will even play finals in 2025, let alone win the comp.

Bookmakers aren’t convinced either, still happy to lay the Panthers at $18 for a fifth consecutive Telstra Premiership.

There’s still time to turn things around, but can Ivan Cleary conjure another fairytale run over the final 12 rounds?

In all likelihood, the ‘five-peat’ hangs by the fickle threads of Nathan’s 27-year-old shoulders, knees and hamstrings.

The run home for the Panthers.