2024 Panthers

[Chins get the wins]

Slater's fear for Panthers after 'creativity' lost

By Simon Brunsdon

Billy Slater fears the wheels may be falling off the Penrith juggernaut after watching the three-time reigning NRL champions lose the World Club Challenge.

The Panthers lost 16-12 to Super League winners Wigan on Sunday morning in Manchester, although some dodgy referee decisions certainly didn't help the Aussie club.

While the NRL premiers went within a whisker of winning the showpiece, Slater was surprised to see such tight a contest.

"I'm sure the Panthers would be sitting there going, 'well we let it get that close'," Slater told Nine's The Billy Slater Podcast.

"The Panthers still played their style of football, they played that field position game and they won the majority of the field position game, but they couldn't score enough points.

"Is that a reflection of the amount of quality they've lost over the last two seasons? There's a lot of good players and lot of creativity (gone).

"It will be interesting to see if that continues into the NRL season, or Jarome Luai coming back into the fold adds another dimension and takes some responsibility off Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.

"It's interesting, because this time last year we were saying the same thing... but they still went on to win the competition."

Since winning their first of three straight premierships in 2021 the Panthers have lost star players Api Koroisau, Matt Burton, Kurt Capewell, Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton, and Spencer Leniu - among others.

The exits of Crichton and Leniu this year robs Penrith of some X-factor and power. Next year five-eighth Luai heads to the Tigers.

Slater says, eventually, the loss of star power will catch up to the Panthers.

"It's hard to begrudge anyone that moves on. Our game is designed so the salary cap comes in, the successful teams can't stay together," Slater said.

"We've seen it time and time again, and the Panthers are going through it now.

"To hold that standard and continually find that success during this three-year period is phenomenal because they've lost a couple... of good players each year."

Penrith is the only team in the NRL era to win three consecutive grand finals.

No team has won four in a row since the famous St George side that claimed 11 straight from 1956.

Slater isn't discounting the Panthers' chances this year.

"They are a champion club, I think they've earned that tag, and you would be a brave man to back against them continuing their run," he said.

"The one question mark I do have is you continue to lose quality, and eventually quality will fall out of your game.

"I don't doubt that the fabric of their game and the foundation of their game will still be there. I don't doubt the hunger will be at less of a level.

"But when you take the quality out, and all of a sudden you're not finishing like you were a year ago. There is more pressure on the Nathan Clearys and Dylan Edwards."

Penrith opens its 2024 campaign against Melbourne on Friday week.

Source: wwos.nine.com.au

Last year we lost the WCC, this year we got cheated in a farce away from home.
We'll be top 4. After that it's up to injuries if we win the comp again

 

[Iamback]

Last year we lost the WCC, this year we got cheated in a farce away from home.
We'll be top 4. After that it's up to injuries I'd we win the comp again

We will start the year slow, Even 2/5 then make changes at the bye and smash everyone

 

[Kilkenny]

The points made by Billy Slater are valid points.

It will be interesting to see how we overcome the losses of key influential players, match winners.

 

[Chins get the wins]

The points made by Billy Slater are valid points.

It will be interesting to see how we overcome the losses of key influential players, match winners.

Critter always delivered in big games but Api is still our biggest loss over this period imo

 

[ColdWetPanther]

Slater's fear for Panthers after 'creativity' lost

By Simon Brunsdon

Billy Slater fears the wheels may be falling off the Penrith juggernaut after watching the three-time reigning NRL champions lose the World Club Challenge.

The Panthers lost 16-12 to Super League winners Wigan on Sunday morning in Manchester, although some dodgy referee decisions certainly didn't help the Aussie club.

While the NRL premiers went within a whisker of winning the showpiece, Slater was surprised to see such tight a contest.

"I'm sure the Panthers would be sitting there going, 'well we let it get that close'," Slater told Nine's The Billy Slater Podcast.

"The Panthers still played their style of football, they played that field position game and they won the majority of the field position game, but they couldn't score enough points.

"Is that a reflection of the amount of quality they've lost over the last two seasons? There's a lot of good players and lot of creativity (gone).

"It will be interesting to see if that continues into the NRL season, or Jarome Luai coming back into the fold adds another dimension and takes some responsibility off Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.

"It's interesting, because this time last year we were saying the same thing... but they still went on to win the competition."

Since winning their first of three straight premierships in 2021 the Panthers have lost star players Api Koroisau, Matt Burton, Kurt Capewell, Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton, and Spencer Leniu - among others.

The exits of Crichton and Leniu this year robs Penrith of some X-factor and power. Next year five-eighth Luai heads to the Tigers.

Slater says, eventually, the loss of star power will catch up to the Panthers.

"It's hard to begrudge anyone that moves on. Our game is designed so the salary cap comes in, the successful teams can't stay together," Slater said.

"We've seen it time and time again, and the Panthers are going through it now.

"To hold that standard and continually find that success during this three-year period is phenomenal because they've lost a couple... of good players each year."

Penrith is the only team in the NRL era to win three consecutive grand finals.

No team has won four in a row since the famous St George side that claimed 11 straight from 1956.

Slater isn't discounting the Panthers' chances this year.

"They are a champion club, I think they've earned that tag, and you would be a brave man to back against them continuing their run," he said.

"The one question mark I do have is you continue to lose quality, and eventually quality will fall out of your game.

"I don't doubt that the fabric of their game and the foundation of their game will still be there. I don't doubt the hunger will be at less of a level.

"But when you take the quality out, and all of a sudden you're not finishing like you were a year ago. There is more pressure on the Nathan Clearys and Dylan Edwards."

Penrith opens its 2024 campaign against Melbourne on Friday week.

Source: wwos.nine.com.au

Cheeky for Slater to be talking about player losses due to the salary cap. Love him as a player and he seems to be doing well as a coach, but this is one area he should stay well away from…

 

[ColdWetPanther]

The points made by Billy Slater are valid points.

It will be interesting to see how we overcome the losses of key influential players, match winners.

American economist Herb Stein once made the observation ‘if something cannot go on forever, it will stop’. This has become known as Stein’s Law. It is influential because many economic theories are based on the past repeating.

Billy’s observation is Stein’s Law in a rugby league context; you can’t continue to lose good players and expect to win the comp every year.

Note though that neither Billy or anyone else we have seen write a similar article has come out and said Penrith can’t win the comp this year given the loss of players.

 

[Kilkenny]

Critter always delivered in big games but Api is still our biggest loss over this period imo

I tend to think along the lines of what Billy Slater was alluding too in terms of the sheer turnover of talent, not just the high earners. It is a huge challenge.

 

[ColdWetPanther]

I tend to think along the lines of what Billy Slater was alluding too in terms of the sheer turnover of talent, not just the high earners. It is a huge challenge.

Is four in a row a bridge too far then Kilkenny?

 

[Chins get the wins]

Is four in a row a bridge too far then Kilkenny?

Melbourne cheated the cap and have never won 2 in a row. The Roosters openly cheat and have never got 3

 

[Kilkenny]

Is four in a row a bridge too far then Kilkenny?

I’m not one to make bold predictions

I do but I think this season will be our toughest challenge and if we do win it will be our greatest achievement.

I think this season critical to see the younger players develop into NRL quality players and also see future stars emerge.

 

[Kilkenny]

Melbourne cheated the cap and have never won 2 in a row. The Roosters openly cheat and have never got 3

Ancient history mate doesn’t mean much.

 

[Kilkenny]

Is four in a row a bridge too far then Kilkenny?

If we are to seriously challenge for four in a row, some or all of our supposed young guns really need to make the step up in 2024.

There is a whole host of them no need for me to list them here. Not just for depth but actually forcing there way into our top 17 by outstanding form inNSW Cup. That is key.

 

[MugaB]

Cheeky for Slater to be talking about player losses due to the salary cap. Love him as a player and he seems to be doing well as a coach, but this is one area he should stay well away from…

Sail away sail away sail away billy

 

[Chins get the wins]

Ancient history mate doesn’t mean much.

Means the f**king world mate. This is the best rugby league side in history

 

[MugaB]

Melbourne cheated the cap and have never won 2 in a row. The Roosters openly cheat and have never got 3

Careful chins, ive been banned for saying such things, albiet i was back months later reading from the same gospel

 

[Kilkenny]

Means the f**king world mate. This is the best rugby league side in history

This thread is the Panthers2024 thread?

New season, different challenges, all other sides optimistic there fortunes may improve.

Great to have the footy back, looking forward to it immensely.

Tough start to the season, which may be a good thing.

 

[Copperhead]

Peter Lang reporting Preston Riki has been promoted to top 30 and Billy Scott taking his development spot. I have huge raps on Riki, he just needs a sustained run without injury.

 

[Iamback]

Peter Lang reporting Preston Riki has been promoted to top 30 and Billy Scott taking his development spot. I have huge raps on Riki, he just needs a sustained run without injury.

Billy Scott would solve some bench balance issues too

 

[Luke Bowden]

Peter Lang reporting Preston Riki has been promoted to top 30 and Billy Scott taking his development spot. I have huge raps on Riki, he just needs a sustained run without injury.

He could be anything

 

[jane the pain]

Billy Scott would solve some bench balance issues too

What position does Billy play?