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2021 season

MugaB

Coach
Messages
11,822
Glad to these videos back this year our media department does them well. The boys are looking for. I saw a photo of Kikau with no shirt on and he’s looking as ripped as I’ve seen him.
Saw it on the video too, when he was sitting in front of the fire he just created, i was waiting for him to yell "WILSON"
 

betcats

Referee
Messages
23,471
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...y/news-story/191eead2938b87cfb0ce3ed99bcdf2ad

The Panthers are coming off their best season in 17 years, but after letting go of two of their most experienced stars picking up where they left off will be no guarantee in 2021.
Penrith are on a hiding to nothing trying to emulate a season where they won a record 17 games in a row and fell one game short of a first title since 2003.

A return to a full 25 Round season will make it very difficult to maintain that sort of success again in 2021, especially with the return of the mid-season Origin series, which should feature a number of key Panthers players.

Ask any grand final and minor premiership winning side and they will tell you it is much harder the following season when every club is out to knock you off your perch.

The Panthers’ two biggest losses from last season are captain James Tamou (Tigers) and winger Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), but they have also lost premiership winner Zane Tetevano to (Leeds).

The club also let handy back-up players Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), Caleb Aekins (Raiders) and Kaide Ellis (Dragons) walk out the door.

The Panthers were not overly active in the player market as they prioritised re-signing a number of young stars in a bid to keep the bulk of their grand final side together.

However they did sign handy back-ups Jaeman Salmon (Eels), Robert Jennings, Matt Eisenhuth (both Tigers) and Scott Sorensen from the Sharks.

Ivan Cleary faces a delicate balancing act to continue what worked for the Panthers last season, while being careful not to make the Panthers predictable, particularly in attack.

The Panthers conceded the fewest points (308) and fewest tries (53) last season so keeping that strong defensive unit will be a priority.

They also scored the most points (626) and the most tries (106), but backing that sort of output up year after year has been something only clubs like the Roosters and Storm have managed consistently.

If the young Panthers can deal with the extra pressure that comes with being reigning minor premiers then they have the tools to go all the way in 2021.

But if the players think they can just rock up and things will carry on from last year they are in for a rude shock.

THE STRENGTH

Squad stability and youth. The Panthers have managed to keep the bulk of their minor premiership winning side together with the exception of Josh Mansour and James Tamou.

Ivan Cleary has chosen to put his trust in a young core of players who have come through the ranks together at the club after letting go of the two veterans, Mansour to the Rabbitohs and Tamou to the Tigers.

After winning an amazing 17 games in a row last year, the Panthers fell one game short of a first premiership since 2003 after going down to the Storm in the decider.

However the young squad would have learned plenty from their experiences last year and they will be a tighter unit from having gone through it all together.


The pain of their grand final loss to the Storm should provide plenty of motivation to go one better in 2021 and hopefully that will see them avoid the dreaded second-year syndrome.

The Panthers will be marked men in 2021 as they become the hunted rather than the hunters and every team will get up to play them each week.

Their settled spine in Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary and Apisai Koroisau should give them plenty of stability to deal with the increased competition from the rest of the league.

THE PRESSURE IS ON

Nathan Cleary. The Panthers halfback is coming off his best season in the NRL and he was unlucky not to take out the Dally M Medal, which went to Raiders star Jack Wighton.

However unfortunately Cleary saved some of his weaker performances for the pointy end of the season in the Grand Final and in games one and three of the Origin series.

Time will tell if those experiences scar Cleary going into the new season or whether he can use them to take his game to even greater heights in 2021.

So much of the Panthers’ success is built around Cleary’s influence at halfback and his ability to create opportunities for himself and his teammates on the edges.

However given his success in 2020, Cleary will have plenty of players coming his way in defence in an attempt to blunt his attacking prowess.

The 23-year-old now has scored 36 tries and 809 points in 100 games for the Panthers and is coming into his prime years as an NRL playmaker.

Cleary led the NRL with Cody Walker in try assists in 2020 with 24 and the Panthers will need that sort of output again if they are to maintain the rage this season and go one better.

How Cleary handles the spotlight each week and the extra attention from rival defences will go a long way towards deciding the Panthers’ fate in 2021.

THE RISING STAR

Charlie Staines. The sample size may be small, but the Panthers winger has made a massive splash since bursting onto the scene in 2020.

Staines has scored six tries in just two games for Penrith since making his debut against the Sharks last season in a game he scored a remarkable four tries.

Staines is actually a fullback, but looks set to continue his promising career on the wing, with Dylan Edwards having a mortgage on the fullback position for the foreseeable future.

The fact that the Panthers let go of club legend Josh Mansour after one of his best seasons and with two years remaining on his contract says a lot about the faith they have in Staines.

30-year-old Mansour was told he would play reserve grade in 2021, despite scoring 12 tries in 22 games last season, with the club preferring to start Staines on the wing.

Salary cap constraints no doubt played their part in Mansour’s departure, but at 20 years of age Staines is clearly the future and the Panthers feel his time has come to start on a regular basis.

Staines struggled with hamstring injuries at the end of last season and hopefully they do not become a recurring theme.

If Staines can stay healthy look for him to score plenty of tries on the end of this seriously good backline in 2021.



THE UNLUCKY ONES

Matt Burton, Mitch Kenny, Dean Whare, Robert Jennings and Scott Sorensen. It is little surprise that last year’s grand finalists have one of the deeper rosters in the NRL.

You don’t win 17 games on the trot without having plenty of competition for spots and players to fill holes when injuries strike.

Even accounting for the loss of Tamou and Mansour the Panthers again have plenty of depth in 2021.

Matt Burton provides excellent back-up for Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary in the halves before he joins the Bulldogs in 2022.

Mitch Kenny would likely be a starting hooker at a number of other clubs, but will struggle for consistent game time behind Api Koroisau.

Dean Whare is stuck behind grand final heroes Stephen Crichton and Brent Naden, while Robert Jennings scored 19 tries in 21 games for Souths a couple of seasons ago.

Scott Sorensen played 14 games for the Sharks last year and provides depth to the Panthers’ bench rotation should injuries strike.

IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR

Moses Leota. Replacing club skipper and seasoned front-rower James Tamou will be no easy task and Leota seems the man most likely of filling the void at prop.

Leota has played over 20 games the last three seasons, but mostly off the bench and it will be a new challenge to start up front on a weekly basis this season.

At 25 Leota has now played 81 NRL games and is at the right point of his career to test himself as a regular starter.

Tamou and James Fisher-Harris provided an excellent platform for the Panthers as they charged to a first minor premiership in 17 seasons last year.

How Leota fills the void left by Tamou could have big repercussions for how Penrith back up from their impressive 2020 season.

Leota can’t be expected to fill the captaincy void left by Tamou, but he does need to offer them stability in defence and plenty of metres in attack if the Panthers are to push for the title again in 2021.

PANTHERS

1 Dylan Edwards

2 Charlie Staines

3 Stephen Crichton

4 Brent Naden

5 Brian To’o

6 Jarome Luai

7 Nathan Cleary

8 James Fisher-Harris

9 Apisai Koroisau

10 Moses Leota

11 Viliame Kikau

12 Liam Martin

13 Isaah Yeo

14 Tyrone May

15 Kurt Capewell

16 Matt Eisenhuth

17 Spencer Leniu

2021 squad: Dean Blore (2021), William Burns (2022), Matt Burton (2021), Kurt Capewell (2021), Nathan Cleary (2024), Stephen Crichton (2021), Dylan Edwards (2022), James Fisher-Harris (2022), Robert Jennings (2021), Matt Eisenhuth (2022), Mitch Kenny (2021), Viliame Kikau (2022), Apisai Koroisau (2022), Spencer Leniu (2021), Moses Leota (2022), Jarome Luai (2021), Liam Martin (2023), Tyrone May (2021), Brent Naden (2021), Jaeman Salmon (2021), Charlie Staines (2023), Scott Sorensen (2021), Brian To’o (2023), Dean Whare (2021, MO 22), Isaah Yeo (2021)

2021 gains: Jaeman Salmon (Eels), Robert Jennings, Matt Eisenhuth (both Tigers), Scott Sorensen (Sharks)

2021 losses: Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), Caleb Aekins (Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), James Tamou (Tigers), Zane Tetevano (Leeds), Kaide Ellis (Dragons), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Pat Hollis, Brayden McGrady (all unsigned)
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
11,822
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...y/news-story/191eead2938b87cfb0ce3ed99bcdf2ad

The Panthers are coming off their best season in 17 years, but after letting go of two of their most experienced stars picking up where they left off will be no guarantee in 2021.
Penrith are on a hiding to nothing trying to emulate a season where they won a record 17 games in a row and fell one game short of a first title since 2003.

A return to a full 25 Round season will make it very difficult to maintain that sort of success again in 2021, especially with the return of the mid-season Origin series, which should feature a number of key Panthers players.

Ask any grand final and minor premiership winning side and they will tell you it is much harder the following season when every club is out to knock you off your perch.

The Panthers’ two biggest losses from last season are captain James Tamou (Tigers) and winger Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), but they have also lost premiership winner Zane Tetevano to (Leeds).

The club also let handy back-up players Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), Caleb Aekins (Raiders) and Kaide Ellis (Dragons) walk out the door.

The Panthers were not overly active in the player market as they prioritised re-signing a number of young stars in a bid to keep the bulk of their grand final side together.

However they did sign handy back-ups Jaeman Salmon (Eels), Robert Jennings, Matt Eisenhuth (both Tigers) and Scott Sorensen from the Sharks.

Ivan Cleary faces a delicate balancing act to continue what worked for the Panthers last season, while being careful not to make the Panthers predictable, particularly in attack.

The Panthers conceded the fewest points (308) and fewest tries (53) last season so keeping that strong defensive unit will be a priority.

They also scored the most points (626) and the most tries (106), but backing that sort of output up year after year has been something only clubs like the Roosters and Storm have managed consistently.

If the young Panthers can deal with the extra pressure that comes with being reigning minor premiers then they have the tools to go all the way in 2021.

But if the players think they can just rock up and things will carry on from last year they are in for a rude shock.

THE STRENGTH

Squad stability and youth. The Panthers have managed to keep the bulk of their minor premiership winning side together with the exception of Josh Mansour and James Tamou.

Ivan Cleary has chosen to put his trust in a young core of players who have come through the ranks together at the club after letting go of the two veterans, Mansour to the Rabbitohs and Tamou to the Tigers.

After winning an amazing 17 games in a row last year, the Panthers fell one game short of a first premiership since 2003 after going down to the Storm in the decider.

However the young squad would have learned plenty from their experiences last year and they will be a tighter unit from having gone through it all together.


The pain of their grand final loss to the Storm should provide plenty of motivation to go one better in 2021 and hopefully that will see them avoid the dreaded second-year syndrome.

The Panthers will be marked men in 2021 as they become the hunted rather than the hunters and every team will get up to play them each week.

Their settled spine in Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary and Apisai Koroisau should give them plenty of stability to deal with the increased competition from the rest of the league.

THE PRESSURE IS ON

Nathan Cleary. The Panthers halfback is coming off his best season in the NRL and he was unlucky not to take out the Dally M Medal, which went to Raiders star Jack Wighton.

However unfortunately Cleary saved some of his weaker performances for the pointy end of the season in the Grand Final and in games one and three of the Origin series.

Time will tell if those experiences scar Cleary going into the new season or whether he can use them to take his game to even greater heights in 2021.

So much of the Panthers’ success is built around Cleary’s influence at halfback and his ability to create opportunities for himself and his teammates on the edges.

However given his success in 2020, Cleary will have plenty of players coming his way in defence in an attempt to blunt his attacking prowess.

The 23-year-old now has scored 36 tries and 809 points in 100 games for the Panthers and is coming into his prime years as an NRL playmaker.

Cleary led the NRL with Cody Walker in try assists in 2020 with 24 and the Panthers will need that sort of output again if they are to maintain the rage this season and go one better.

How Cleary handles the spotlight each week and the extra attention from rival defences will go a long way towards deciding the Panthers’ fate in 2021.

THE RISING STAR

Charlie Staines. The sample size may be small, but the Panthers winger has made a massive splash since bursting onto the scene in 2020.

Staines has scored six tries in just two games for Penrith since making his debut against the Sharks last season in a game he scored a remarkable four tries.

Staines is actually a fullback, but looks set to continue his promising career on the wing, with Dylan Edwards having a mortgage on the fullback position for the foreseeable future.

The fact that the Panthers let go of club legend Josh Mansour after one of his best seasons and with two years remaining on his contract says a lot about the faith they have in Staines.

30-year-old Mansour was told he would play reserve grade in 2021, despite scoring 12 tries in 22 games last season, with the club preferring to start Staines on the wing.

Salary cap constraints no doubt played their part in Mansour’s departure, but at 20 years of age Staines is clearly the future and the Panthers feel his time has come to start on a regular basis.

Staines struggled with hamstring injuries at the end of last season and hopefully they do not become a recurring theme.

If Staines can stay healthy look for him to score plenty of tries on the end of this seriously good backline in 2021.



THE UNLUCKY ONES

Matt Burton, Mitch Kenny, Dean Whare, Robert Jennings and Scott Sorensen. It is little surprise that last year’s grand finalists have one of the deeper rosters in the NRL.

You don’t win 17 games on the trot without having plenty of competition for spots and players to fill holes when injuries strike.

Even accounting for the loss of Tamou and Mansour the Panthers again have plenty of depth in 2021.

Matt Burton provides excellent back-up for Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary in the halves before he joins the Bulldogs in 2022.

Mitch Kenny would likely be a starting hooker at a number of other clubs, but will struggle for consistent game time behind Api Koroisau.

Dean Whare is stuck behind grand final heroes Stephen Crichton and Brent Naden, while Robert Jennings scored 19 tries in 21 games for Souths a couple of seasons ago.

Scott Sorensen played 14 games for the Sharks last year and provides depth to the Panthers’ bench rotation should injuries strike.

IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR

Moses Leota. Replacing club skipper and seasoned front-rower James Tamou will be no easy task and Leota seems the man most likely of filling the void at prop.

Leota has played over 20 games the last three seasons, but mostly off the bench and it will be a new challenge to start up front on a weekly basis this season.

At 25 Leota has now played 81 NRL games and is at the right point of his career to test himself as a regular starter.

Tamou and James Fisher-Harris provided an excellent platform for the Panthers as they charged to a first minor premiership in 17 seasons last year.

How Leota fills the void left by Tamou could have big repercussions for how Penrith back up from their impressive 2020 season.

Leota can’t be expected to fill the captaincy void left by Tamou, but he does need to offer them stability in defence and plenty of metres in attack if the Panthers are to push for the title again in 2021.

PANTHERS

1 Dylan Edwards

2 Charlie Staines

3 Stephen Crichton

4 Brent Naden

5 Brian To’o

6 Jarome Luai

7 Nathan Cleary

8 James Fisher-Harris

9 Apisai Koroisau

10 Moses Leota

11 Viliame Kikau

12 Liam Martin

13 Isaah Yeo

14 Tyrone May

15 Kurt Capewell

16 Matt Eisenhuth

17 Spencer Leniu

2021 squad: Dean Blore (2021), William Burns (2022), Matt Burton (2021), Kurt Capewell (2021), Nathan Cleary (2024), Stephen Crichton (2021), Dylan Edwards (2022), James Fisher-Harris (2022), Robert Jennings (2021), Matt Eisenhuth (2022), Mitch Kenny (2021), Viliame Kikau (2022), Apisai Koroisau (2022), Spencer Leniu (2021), Moses Leota (2022), Jarome Luai (2021), Liam Martin (2023), Tyrone May (2021), Brent Naden (2021), Jaeman Salmon (2021), Charlie Staines (2023), Scott Sorensen (2021), Brian To’o (2023), Dean Whare (2021, MO 22), Isaah Yeo (2021)

2021 gains: Jaeman Salmon (Eels), Robert Jennings, Matt Eisenhuth (both Tigers), Scott Sorensen (Sharks)

2021 losses: Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), Caleb Aekins (Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), James Tamou (Tigers), Zane Tetevano (Leeds), Kaide Ellis (Dragons), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Pat Hollis, Brayden McGrady (all unsigned)
Geez the fox crew like to crap on about our "experienced players" getting moved on, if half the other clubs did that they probably wouldn't be in the lower half of the ladder
 
Last edited:

Hooked

Juniors
Messages
1,000
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...y/news-story/191eead2938b87cfb0ce3ed99bcdf2ad

The Panthers are coming off their best season in 17 years, but after letting go of two of their most experienced stars picking up where they left off will be no guarantee in 2021.
Penrith are on a hiding to nothing trying to emulate a season where they won a record 17 games in a row and fell one game short of a first title since 2003.

A return to a full 25 Round season will make it very difficult to maintain that sort of success again in 2021, especially with the return of the mid-season Origin series, which should feature a number of key Panthers players.

Ask any grand final and minor premiership winning side and they will tell you it is much harder the following season when every club is out to knock you off your perch.

The Panthers’ two biggest losses from last season are captain James Tamou (Tigers) and winger Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), but they have also lost premiership winner Zane Tetevano to (Leeds).

The club also let handy back-up players Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), Caleb Aekins (Raiders) and Kaide Ellis (Dragons) walk out the door.

The Panthers were not overly active in the player market as they prioritised re-signing a number of young stars in a bid to keep the bulk of their grand final side together.

However they did sign handy back-ups Jaeman Salmon (Eels), Robert Jennings, Matt Eisenhuth (both Tigers) and Scott Sorensen from the Sharks.

Ivan Cleary faces a delicate balancing act to continue what worked for the Panthers last season, while being careful not to make the Panthers predictable, particularly in attack.

The Panthers conceded the fewest points (308) and fewest tries (53) last season so keeping that strong defensive unit will be a priority.

They also scored the most points (626) and the most tries (106), but backing that sort of output up year after year has been something only clubs like the Roosters and Storm have managed consistently.

If the young Panthers can deal with the extra pressure that comes with being reigning minor premiers then they have the tools to go all the way in 2021.

But if the players think they can just rock up and things will carry on from last year they are in for a rude shock.

THE STRENGTH

Squad stability and youth. The Panthers have managed to keep the bulk of their minor premiership winning side together with the exception of Josh Mansour and James Tamou.

Ivan Cleary has chosen to put his trust in a young core of players who have come through the ranks together at the club after letting go of the two veterans, Mansour to the Rabbitohs and Tamou to the Tigers.

After winning an amazing 17 games in a row last year, the Panthers fell one game short of a first premiership since 2003 after going down to the Storm in the decider.

However the young squad would have learned plenty from their experiences last year and they will be a tighter unit from having gone through it all together.


The pain of their grand final loss to the Storm should provide plenty of motivation to go one better in 2021 and hopefully that will see them avoid the dreaded second-year syndrome.

The Panthers will be marked men in 2021 as they become the hunted rather than the hunters and every team will get up to play them each week.

Their settled spine in Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary and Apisai Koroisau should give them plenty of stability to deal with the increased competition from the rest of the league.

THE PRESSURE IS ON

Nathan Cleary. The Panthers halfback is coming off his best season in the NRL and he was unlucky not to take out the Dally M Medal, which went to Raiders star Jack Wighton.

However unfortunately Cleary saved some of his weaker performances for the pointy end of the season in the Grand Final and in games one and three of the Origin series.

Time will tell if those experiences scar Cleary going into the new season or whether he can use them to take his game to even greater heights in 2021.

So much of the Panthers’ success is built around Cleary’s influence at halfback and his ability to create opportunities for himself and his teammates on the edges.

However given his success in 2020, Cleary will have plenty of players coming his way in defence in an attempt to blunt his attacking prowess.

The 23-year-old now has scored 36 tries and 809 points in 100 games for the Panthers and is coming into his prime years as an NRL playmaker.

Cleary led the NRL with Cody Walker in try assists in 2020 with 24 and the Panthers will need that sort of output again if they are to maintain the rage this season and go one better.

How Cleary handles the spotlight each week and the extra attention from rival defences will go a long way towards deciding the Panthers’ fate in 2021.

THE RISING STAR

Charlie Staines. The sample size may be small, but the Panthers winger has made a massive splash since bursting onto the scene in 2020.

Staines has scored six tries in just two games for Penrith since making his debut against the Sharks last season in a game he scored a remarkable four tries.

Staines is actually a fullback, but looks set to continue his promising career on the wing, with Dylan Edwards having a mortgage on the fullback position for the foreseeable future.

The fact that the Panthers let go of club legend Josh Mansour after one of his best seasons and with two years remaining on his contract says a lot about the faith they have in Staines.

30-year-old Mansour was told he would play reserve grade in 2021, despite scoring 12 tries in 22 games last season, with the club preferring to start Staines on the wing.

Salary cap constraints no doubt played their part in Mansour’s departure, but at 20 years of age Staines is clearly the future and the Panthers feel his time has come to start on a regular basis.

Staines struggled with hamstring injuries at the end of last season and hopefully they do not become a recurring theme.

If Staines can stay healthy look for him to score plenty of tries on the end of this seriously good backline in 2021.



THE UNLUCKY ONES

Matt Burton, Mitch Kenny, Dean Whare, Robert Jennings and Scott Sorensen. It is little surprise that last year’s grand finalists have one of the deeper rosters in the NRL.

You don’t win 17 games on the trot without having plenty of competition for spots and players to fill holes when injuries strike.

Even accounting for the loss of Tamou and Mansour the Panthers again have plenty of depth in 2021.

Matt Burton provides excellent back-up for Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary in the halves before he joins the Bulldogs in 2022.

Mitch Kenny would likely be a starting hooker at a number of other clubs, but will struggle for consistent game time behind Api Koroisau.

Dean Whare is stuck behind grand final heroes Stephen Crichton and Brent Naden, while Robert Jennings scored 19 tries in 21 games for Souths a couple of seasons ago.

Scott Sorensen played 14 games for the Sharks last year and provides depth to the Panthers’ bench rotation should injuries strike.

IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR

Moses Leota. Replacing club skipper and seasoned front-rower James Tamou will be no easy task and Leota seems the man most likely of filling the void at prop.

Leota has played over 20 games the last three seasons, but mostly off the bench and it will be a new challenge to start up front on a weekly basis this season.

At 25 Leota has now played 81 NRL games and is at the right point of his career to test himself as a regular starter.

Tamou and James Fisher-Harris provided an excellent platform for the Panthers as they charged to a first minor premiership in 17 seasons last year.

How Leota fills the void left by Tamou could have big repercussions for how Penrith back up from their impressive 2020 season.

Leota can’t be expected to fill the captaincy void left by Tamou, but he does need to offer them stability in defence and plenty of metres in attack if the Panthers are to push for the title again in 2021.

PANTHERS

1 Dylan Edwards

2 Charlie Staines

3 Stephen Crichton

4 Brent Naden

5 Brian To’o

6 Jarome Luai

7 Nathan Cleary

8 James Fisher-Harris

9 Apisai Koroisau

10 Moses Leota

11 Viliame Kikau

12 Liam Martin

13 Isaah Yeo

14 Tyrone May

15 Kurt Capewell

16 Matt Eisenhuth

17 Spencer Leniu

2021 squad: Dean Blore (2021), William Burns (2022), Matt Burton (2021), Kurt Capewell (2021), Nathan Cleary (2024), Stephen Crichton (2021), Dylan Edwards (2022), James Fisher-Harris (2022), Robert Jennings (2021), Matt Eisenhuth (2022), Mitch Kenny (2021), Viliame Kikau (2022), Apisai Koroisau (2022), Spencer Leniu (2021), Moses Leota (2022), Jarome Luai (2021), Liam Martin (2023), Tyrone May (2021), Brent Naden (2021), Jaeman Salmon (2021), Charlie Staines (2023), Scott Sorensen (2021), Brian To’o (2023), Dean Whare (2021, MO 22), Isaah Yeo (2021)

2021 gains: Jaeman Salmon (Eels), Robert Jennings, Matt Eisenhuth (both Tigers), Scott Sorensen (Sharks)

2021 losses: Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), Caleb Aekins (Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), James Tamou (Tigers), Zane Tetevano (Leeds), Kaide Ellis (Dragons), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Pat Hollis, Brayden McGrady (all unsigned)

Grand final heros?
 

Smug Panther

First Grade
Messages
7,004
Geez the fox crew like to crap on about our "experienced players" getting moved on, if half the other clubs did that they probably wouldn't be in the lower half of the ladder
Yep. Our squad is filled with origin and internationals
 

Kilkenny

Coach
Messages
13,148
Always look at who we lost not who we have in the squad

Looking at the squad Moses Leota really is a key for us this season.

He really needs to step up and fill the void left by Tamou and others who have left.

He really should be coming into his best years and fulfil his potential. We need him to.
 

franklin2323

Immortal
Messages
33,546
Looking at the squad Moses Leota really is a key for us this season.

He really needs to step up and fill the void left by Tamou and others who have left.

He really should be coming into his best years and fulfil his potential. We need him to.

The issue I had with him was he was too much like Tamou so had limited impact off the bench. So starting for Tamou should suit him
 

betcats

Referee
Messages
23,471
Geez the fox crew like to crap on about our "experienced players" getting moved on, if half the other clubs did that they probably wouldn't be in the lower half of the ladder

I think it was a pretty fair look at the squad tbh. They did talk up our strengths and our depth and I think the challenges they mentioned are legit ones. Tamou does leave a leadership void, we should be able to cover it but we have not proven it yet.
 

Kilkenny

Coach
Messages
13,148
As is to expected a lot of sides have added considerable value to there squads so lesser teams Gold Coast for example will be tougher opponents in 2021 to name but one.
 

betcats

Referee
Messages
23,471
The titans squad has improved a lot but there are serious cultural concerns up there. If Garth Brennan genuinely expressed concerns over Gordans character to management and they still hired him as an assistant than they have a long way to go. Who knows what the players are getting away with up there. Mal seems to be running things up there, his old school boys will be boys attitude may have worked for QLD but its not going to work at club with numerous young guys on massive contracts. Thats the other challenge the titans culture will face is keeping all young, highly paid guys working hard. Fifita and Tino got massive contracts, they need to deliver on them straight away. They have never been a team where players go and play better, if someone like Fifita loses a bit of motivation and doesnt work quite as hard as he should then they are in trouble.
 
Last edited:

John Hamblin

Juniors
Messages
861
The titans squad has improved a lot but there are serious cultural concerns up there. If Garth Brennan genuinely expressed concerns over Gordans character to management and they still hired him as an assistant than they have a long way to go. Who knows what the players are getting away with up there. Mal seems to be running things up there, his old school boys will be boys attitude may have worked for QLD but its not going to work at club with numerous young guys on massive contracts. Thats the other challenge the titans culture will face is keeping all young, highly paid guys working hard. Fifita and Tino got massive contracts, they need to deliver on them straight away. They have never been a team where players go and play better, if someone like Fifita loses a bit of motivation and doesnt work quite as hard as he should then they are in trouble.

I agree their roster has improved but Jai Arrow going to souths is a BIG loss. I expect Souths to improve with Arrow they will have more mobility in the forwards
 

snickers007

Juniors
Messages
1,450
The titans squad has improved a lot but there are serious cultural concerns up there. If Garth Brennan genuinely expressed concerns over Gordans character to management and they still hired him as an assistant than they have a long way to go. Who knows what the players are getting away with up there. Mal seems to be running things up there, his old school boys will be boys attitude may have worked for QLD but its not going to work at club with numerous young guys on massive contracts. Thats the other challenge the titans culture will face is keeping all young, highly paid guys working hard. Fifita and Tino got massive contracts, they need to deliver on them straight away. They have never been a team where players go and play better, if someone like Fifita loses a bit of motivation and doesnt work quite as hard as he should then they are in trouble.

Yep. Seems like every player who gets a bit of money from the Titans ends up on the bench, or playing QLD Cup by mid season, and replaced by rookies, who punch above their weight, but very rarely get another NRL gig either. That's not a sustainable model, and it doesn't breed success.

Outside of that initial batch of stars (Rogers, Bailey, Campbell, Harrison) they've really struggled to show any pride in their jersey at all - and that's 100% a cultural issue.

If Mat Rogers is to be believed, he's approached the Titans on numerous occasions offering to help out, but can barely get a foot in the door. I think that gives a pretty good indication of what kind of ship Meninga runs.
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
11,822
Yep. Seems like every player who gets a bit of money from the Titans ends up on the bench, or playing QLD Cup by mid season, and replaced by rookies, who punch above their weight, but very rarely get another NRL gig either. That's not a sustainable model, and it doesn't breed success.

Outside of that initial batch of stars (Rogers, Bailey, Campbell, Harrison) they've really struggled to show any pride in their jersey at all - and that's 100% a cultural issue.

If Mat Rogers is to be believed, he's approached the Titans on numerous occasions offering to help out, but can barely get a foot in the door. I think that gives a pretty good indication of what kind of ship Meninga runs.
There was a re-run of their 1st year derby with the broncos, last night that side was pretty good, they lost in extra time 18-19, Bailey hit everything that moved, he was a weapon..
Kinda wish they had that hard nut mentality from back then
 
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2,571
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...y/news-story/191eead2938b87cfb0ce3ed99bcdf2ad

The Panthers are coming off their best season in 17 years, but after letting go of two of their most experienced stars picking up where they left off will be no guarantee in 2021.
Penrith are on a hiding to nothing trying to emulate a season where they won a record 17 games in a row and fell one game short of a first title since 2003.

A return to a full 25 Round season will make it very difficult to maintain that sort of success again in 2021, especially with the return of the mid-season Origin series, which should feature a number of key Panthers players.

Ask any grand final and minor premiership winning side and they will tell you it is much harder the following season when every club is out to knock you off your perch.

The Panthers’ two biggest losses from last season are captain James Tamou (Tigers) and winger Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), but they have also lost premiership winner Zane Tetevano to (Leeds).

The club also let handy back-up players Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), Caleb Aekins (Raiders) and Kaide Ellis (Dragons) walk out the door.

The Panthers were not overly active in the player market as they prioritised re-signing a number of young stars in a bid to keep the bulk of their grand final side together.

However they did sign handy back-ups Jaeman Salmon (Eels), Robert Jennings, Matt Eisenhuth (both Tigers) and Scott Sorensen from the Sharks.

Ivan Cleary faces a delicate balancing act to continue what worked for the Panthers last season, while being careful not to make the Panthers predictable, particularly in attack.

The Panthers conceded the fewest points (308) and fewest tries (53) last season so keeping that strong defensive unit will be a priority.

They also scored the most points (626) and the most tries (106), but backing that sort of output up year after year has been something only clubs like the Roosters and Storm have managed consistently.

If the young Panthers can deal with the extra pressure that comes with being reigning minor premiers then they have the tools to go all the way in 2021.

But if the players think they can just rock up and things will carry on from last year they are in for a rude shock.

THE STRENGTH

Squad stability and youth. The Panthers have managed to keep the bulk of their minor premiership winning side together with the exception of Josh Mansour and James Tamou.

Ivan Cleary has chosen to put his trust in a young core of players who have come through the ranks together at the club after letting go of the two veterans, Mansour to the Rabbitohs and Tamou to the Tigers.

After winning an amazing 17 games in a row last year, the Panthers fell one game short of a first premiership since 2003 after going down to the Storm in the decider.

However the young squad would have learned plenty from their experiences last year and they will be a tighter unit from having gone through it all together.


The pain of their grand final loss to the Storm should provide plenty of motivation to go one better in 2021 and hopefully that will see them avoid the dreaded second-year syndrome.

The Panthers will be marked men in 2021 as they become the hunted rather than the hunters and every team will get up to play them each week.

Their settled spine in Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary and Apisai Koroisau should give them plenty of stability to deal with the increased competition from the rest of the league.

THE PRESSURE IS ON

Nathan Cleary. The Panthers halfback is coming off his best season in the NRL and he was unlucky not to take out the Dally M Medal, which went to Raiders star Jack Wighton.

However unfortunately Cleary saved some of his weaker performances for the pointy end of the season in the Grand Final and in games one and three of the Origin series.

Time will tell if those experiences scar Cleary going into the new season or whether he can use them to take his game to even greater heights in 2021.

So much of the Panthers’ success is built around Cleary’s influence at halfback and his ability to create opportunities for himself and his teammates on the edges.

However given his success in 2020, Cleary will have plenty of players coming his way in defence in an attempt to blunt his attacking prowess.

The 23-year-old now has scored 36 tries and 809 points in 100 games for the Panthers and is coming into his prime years as an NRL playmaker.

Cleary led the NRL with Cody Walker in try assists in 2020 with 24 and the Panthers will need that sort of output again if they are to maintain the rage this season and go one better.

How Cleary handles the spotlight each week and the extra attention from rival defences will go a long way towards deciding the Panthers’ fate in 2021.

THE RISING STAR

Charlie Staines. The sample size may be small, but the Panthers winger has made a massive splash since bursting onto the scene in 2020.

Staines has scored six tries in just two games for Penrith since making his debut against the Sharks last season in a game he scored a remarkable four tries.

Staines is actually a fullback, but looks set to continue his promising career on the wing, with Dylan Edwards having a mortgage on the fullback position for the foreseeable future.

The fact that the Panthers let go of club legend Josh Mansour after one of his best seasons and with two years remaining on his contract says a lot about the faith they have in Staines.

30-year-old Mansour was told he would play reserve grade in 2021, despite scoring 12 tries in 22 games last season, with the club preferring to start Staines on the wing.

Salary cap constraints no doubt played their part in Mansour’s departure, but at 20 years of age Staines is clearly the future and the Panthers feel his time has come to start on a regular basis.

Staines struggled with hamstring injuries at the end of last season and hopefully they do not become a recurring theme.

If Staines can stay healthy look for him to score plenty of tries on the end of this seriously good backline in 2021.



THE UNLUCKY ONES

Matt Burton, Mitch Kenny, Dean Whare, Robert Jennings and Scott Sorensen. It is little surprise that last year’s grand finalists have one of the deeper rosters in the NRL.

You don’t win 17 games on the trot without having plenty of competition for spots and players to fill holes when injuries strike.

Even accounting for the loss of Tamou and Mansour the Panthers again have plenty of depth in 2021.

Matt Burton provides excellent back-up for Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary in the halves before he joins the Bulldogs in 2022.

Mitch Kenny would likely be a starting hooker at a number of other clubs, but will struggle for consistent game time behind Api Koroisau.

Dean Whare is stuck behind grand final heroes Stephen Crichton and Brent Naden, while Robert Jennings scored 19 tries in 21 games for Souths a couple of seasons ago.

Scott Sorensen played 14 games for the Sharks last year and provides depth to the Panthers’ bench rotation should injuries strike.

IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR

Moses Leota. Replacing club skipper and seasoned front-rower James Tamou will be no easy task and Leota seems the man most likely of filling the void at prop.

Leota has played over 20 games the last three seasons, but mostly off the bench and it will be a new challenge to start up front on a weekly basis this season.

At 25 Leota has now played 81 NRL games and is at the right point of his career to test himself as a regular starter.

Tamou and James Fisher-Harris provided an excellent platform for the Panthers as they charged to a first minor premiership in 17 seasons last year.

How Leota fills the void left by Tamou could have big repercussions for how Penrith back up from their impressive 2020 season.

Leota can’t be expected to fill the captaincy void left by Tamou, but he does need to offer them stability in defence and plenty of metres in attack if the Panthers are to push for the title again in 2021.

PANTHERS

1 Dylan Edwards

2 Charlie Staines

3 Stephen Crichton

4 Brent Naden

5 Brian To’o

6 Jarome Luai

7 Nathan Cleary

8 James Fisher-Harris

9 Apisai Koroisau

10 Moses Leota

11 Viliame Kikau

12 Liam Martin

13 Isaah Yeo

14 Tyrone May

15 Kurt Capewell

16 Matt Eisenhuth

17 Spencer Leniu

2021 squad: Dean Blore (2021), William Burns (2022), Matt Burton (2021), Kurt Capewell (2021), Nathan Cleary (2024), Stephen Crichton (2021), Dylan Edwards (2022), James Fisher-Harris (2022), Robert Jennings (2021), Matt Eisenhuth (2022), Mitch Kenny (2021), Viliame Kikau (2022), Apisai Koroisau (2022), Spencer Leniu (2021), Moses Leota (2022), Jarome Luai (2021), Liam Martin (2023), Tyrone May (2021), Brent Naden (2021), Jaeman Salmon (2021), Charlie Staines (2023), Scott Sorensen (2021), Brian To’o (2023), Dean Whare (2021, MO 22), Isaah Yeo (2021)

2021 gains: Jaeman Salmon (Eels), Robert Jennings, Matt Eisenhuth (both Tigers), Scott Sorensen (Sharks)

2021 losses: Josh Mansour (Rabbitohs), Caleb Aekins (Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), James Tamou (Tigers), Zane Tetevano (Leeds), Kaide Ellis (Dragons), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Pat Hollis, Brayden McGrady (all unsigned)

Dean Blore’s back?!?
 

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