2025

[Munky]

Played more games than any other team in the NRL. Gotta catch up to you eventually.

Physio and conditioning at the Panthers have done a remarkable job during our golden era. We always seem to get our players back when we need them. Gonna need to work overtime this year.

We were the youngest team in the comp for most of the golden run IIRC.

Father time is undefeated.

I'm interested to see if To'o and Dyl will be fit and firing for the majority of games.

Even Cam Smith's blood pact with the devil ran out eventually.

 

[martielang]

Pretty sure I heard To'o is out for LV as well.

 

[snickers007]

Pretty sure I heard To'o is out for LV as well.

Surely we wouldn't have released Jesse McLean for the All Stars game is Bizza is out

 

[Chins]

Surely we wouldn't have released Jesse McLean for the All Stars game is Bizza is out

Our club normally let's cultural decisions to the players so maybe not

 

[Iamback]

We were the youngest team in the comp for most of the golden run IIRC.

Father time is undefeated.

I'm interested to see if To'o and Dyl will be fit and firing for the majority of games.

Even Cam Smith's blood pact with the devil ran out eventually.

We likely run out with a top 17 with 3 teenagers in the backline.

So the side isn't that old, Just need to be smarter and not play Martin for full 80 mins

 

[Iamback]

Our club normally let's cultural decisions to the players so maybe not

In that case Laurie and Casey would be in the side

 

[Chins]

In that case Laurie and Casey would be in the side

This is true

 

[snickers007]

So the side isn't that old, Just need to be smarter and not play Martin for full 80 mins

I quite like this. Garner and Papi to start, Marto off the bench either on the edge or middle depending on the circumstances.

Although knowing Marto he'd probably do just as much damage to his body in a 30min stint off the bench as he would playing 80.

 

[Iamback]

I quite like this. Garner and Papi to start, Marto off the bench either on the edge or middle depending on the circumstances.

Although knowing Marto he'd probably do just as much damage to his body in a 30min stint off the bench as he would playing 80.

Smith and Henry can play 80 if needed. No reason they can't do longer stints.

Even Patea is 20 so plenty of youth and young legs to use

 

[Iamback]

This is true

Nico and Fogarty played last night and not for All Stars tells me it was a club or NRL directive for Vegas teams

 

[Whino]

I have done this in the past and I thought it would be worth having a look at the stats.
Last year compared to this year. A small sample size for this year though.

Much has been made about the right side defence. For comparison. The right side has let in 10 tries. The left 9.
Last year it was 21 on the left 41 on the right.

NRL Try Location Analysis 2024 | NRL Stats

Discover the key NRL trends and insights with our comprehensive Try Location Analysis for NRL 2023.

www.statsinsider.com.au

All stats are from NRL.com

Points 2024 6th best (24 a game) 2025 5th best (24 a game)

Tries 2024 6th best (4 avg) 2025 5th best (4 avg)

Possession 2024 1st 2025 8th

Set Completion: 2024 3rd best with 81% 2025 13th 76%

Supports. 2024 and 2025 still 1st

Line engaged 2024 1st 2025 2nd

Post contact metres 2024 1st (584 a game) 2025 8th (528)

Tackle breaks 2024 1st (40 a game) 2025 11th (28 a game)

Decoys 3rd in 2024 and still 3rd 2025

All run metres 2024 1st (1869 a game) 2025 4th best (1714)

Dummy half runs 2024 10th 2025 17th.

Try Assists 2024 6th best 2025 5th best

Line break assists 2024 7th (3.4 a game) 2025 2nd best (4.8 a game)

Tackles made 2024 2nd most (347 a game) 2025 4th most (362 a game)

Missed tackles 2024 8th (32 a game) 2025 4th worst (35.8 game)

Ineffective tackles 2024 5th worst (14.5 a game) 2025 14 (11 a game)

Errors 2024 8th (10 a game) 2025 2nd worst (13 a game)

Penalties conceded 2024 3rd worst (5.8 a game) 2025 8th (5.6 a game)

Handling errors 2024 7th worst (9 a game) 2025 5th worst (10 a game)

This is a small sample size. And with Edwards and To'o missing games, and with the departure of Turuva. Stats like Tackle breaks will be down, as will run metres. Particularly when you are turning the ball over more. Cleary has missed games this year too, but he missed games last year.

Attack is at similar levels to last season. With a slight improvement in some areas.

Set completions have worsened with errors seeing an up tick. Penalties conceded remain roughly the same, as do handling errors.
I haven't found a stat for 6 agains.

Missed tackles have worsened, but ineffective tackles have improved.

Tries conceded is the biggest concern. As some of the stats mentioned above don't take into effect tries from kicks.
21 is the 3rd worst in the NRL. By comparison we conceded 73 tries last year. At an average of 2.7 a match. 4.2 this year.
Defence must improve substantially for us to have any hope this season. The talent is there but is the hunger?
In 2003 we had a team that didn't care if they conceded 30 points they would score 32. Unfortunately we don't have the attacking flair to match that team.

As others have mentioned. If we can be bit more miserly in defence and up our points we should jag a few more wins.
If not we need to control field possession. Cut down on the errors, six agains and penalties. I am not confident we can defend back-to back sets off our line anymore. The less opposition attacking play in our 20 the better. Giving away six away agains off our line, isn't, so far, a tactic this side can get away with like previous years.

If anyone is interested I will have a look at the stats again around round 10. Hopefully things will improve by then.

 

[ColdWetPanther]

I have done this in the past and I thought it would be worth having a look at the stats.
Last year compared to this year. A small sample size for this year though.

Much has been made about the right side defence. For comparison. The right side has let in 10 tries. The left 9.
Last year it was 21 on the left 41 on the right.

NRL Try Location Analysis 2024 | NRL Stats

Discover the key NRL trends and insights with our comprehensive Try Location Analysis for NRL 2023.

www.statsinsider.com.au

All stats are from NRL.com

Points 2024 6th best (24 a game) 2025 5th best (24 a game)

Tries 2024 6th best (4 avg) 2025 5th best (4 avg)

Possession 2024 1st 2025 8th

Set Completion: 2024 3rd best with 81% 2025 13th 76%

Supports. 2024 and 2025 still 1st

Line engaged 2024 1st 2025 2nd

Post contact metres 2024 1st (584 a game) 2025 8th (528)

Tackle breaks 2024 1st (40 a game) 2025 11th (28 a game)

Decoys 3rd in 2024 and still 3rd 2025

All run metres 2024 1st (1869 a game) 2025 4th best (1714)

Dummy half runs 2024 10th 2025 17th.

Try Assists 2024 6th best 2025 5th best

Line break assists 2024 7th (3.4 a game) 2025 2nd best (4.8 a game)

Tackles made 2024 2nd most (347 a game) 2025 4th most (362 a game)

Missed tackles 2024 8th (32 a game) 2025 4th worst (35.8 game)

Ineffective tackles 2024 5th worst (14.5 a game) 2025 14 (11 a game)

Errors 2024 8th (10 a game) 2025 2nd worst (13 a game)

Penalties conceded 2024 3rd worst (5.8 a game) 2025 8th (5.6 a game)

Handling errors 2024 7th worst (9 a game) 2025 5th worst (10 a game)

This is a small sample size. And with Edwards and To'o missing games, and with the departure of Turuva. Stats like Tackle breaks will be down, as will run metres. Particularly when you are turning the ball over more. Cleary has missed games this year too, but he missed games last year.

Attack is at similar levels to last season. With a slight improvement in some areas.

Set completions have worsened with errors seeing an up tick. Penalties conceded remain roughly the same, as do handling errors.
I haven't found a stat for 6 agains.

Missed tackles have worsened, but ineffective tackles have improved.

Tries conceded is the biggest concern. As some of the stats mentioned above don't take into effect tries from kicks.
21 is the 3rd worst in the NRL. By comparison we conceded 73 tries last year. At an average of 2.7 a match. 4.2 this year.
Defence must improve substantially for us to have any hope this season. The talent is there but is the hunger?
In 2003 we had a team that didn't care if they conceded 30 points they would score 32. Unfortunately we don't have the attacking flair to match that team.

As others have mentioned. If we can be bit more miserly in defence and up our points we should jag a few more wins.
If not we need to control field possession. Cut down on the errors, six agains and penalties. I am not confident we can defend back-to back sets off our line anymore. The less opposition attacking play in our 20 the better. Giving away six away agains off our line, isn't, so far, a tactic this side can get away with like previous years.

If anyone is interested I will have a look at the stats again around round 10. Hopefully things will improve by then.

Thanks for this analysis. I would have thought decoys and supports would have been well down, so encouraging they are still at high levels. It’s a team that knows how to win going through the motions and being out enthused. Need to ramp it up over the next few weeks.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Thanks for this analysis. I would have thought decoys and supports would have been well down, so encouraging they are still at high levels. It’s a team that knows how to win going through the motions and being out enthused. Need to ramp it up over the next few weeks.A

I know I'm being little miss Alice in Wonderland here, but I honestly believe things aren't as grim as some think. Call me the eternal optimist but I believe things will improve markedly over the next month.

Early this season was always going to be difficult. Hopefully the team with Edwards and Scotty too hotty will improve and get the much needed win.

This is without injuries of course, because we don't have the depth we once did.

 

[Whino]

Recap after 10 rounds.
Over a third of the way through the season.
The first 2025 averages were done after round 5.

Much has been made about the right side defence in the past. For comparison. After 10 rounds the left side has let in 20. The right 17.

Last year it was 21 on the left 41 on the right.


Defence
We conceded 140 points from the first 5 rounds. Average 28 points a game.
106 points from the next 5 rounds. Average 21.2 a game.
It was 19 a game before we played the Cows.
Despite the improvements in defence. I am still of the mindset the more ball we control the less we concede. Lapses have hurt us.


All stats are from NRL.com

Points 2024 6th best (24 a game) Round 5 5th best (24 a game)
After round 10. Still 5th.

Tries 2024 6th best (4 avg) Round 5 5th best (4 avg)
After round 10 6th. (4vg)

Possession 2024 1st Round 5 8th
After round 10 Now improved to 4th. 1% behind the 1st placed Dogs.

Set Completion: 2024 3rd best with 81% Round 5 13th 76%
After round 10 Now 10th. 78% slight improvement. The closer we get to 80% the better. The benchmark of last year. Warriors lead on 83%. The Knights have the worst with 72%

Supports. 2024 and Round 5 still 1st
After round 10 Now 2nd.

Line engaged 2024 1st Round 5 2nd
After round 10 Still 2nd.

Post contact metres 2024 1st (584 a game) Round 5 8th (528)
After round 10 Improved to 3rd (559)

Tackle breaks 2024 1st (40 a game) Round 5 11th (28 a game)
After round 10 Now 7th (30 a game)

Decoys 3rd in 2024 and still 3rd Round 5
After round 10 4th

All run metres 2024 1st (1869 a game) Round 5 4th best (1714)
After round 10 Improved to 2nd (1735)

Dummy half runs 2024 10th Round 5 17th.
After round 10 Improved to 14th

Try Assists 2024 6th best Round 5 5th best
After round 10 Dropped to 8th

Line break assists 2024 7th (3.4 a game) Round 5 2nd best (4.8 a game)
After round 10 Dropped to 7th (3.8)

Tackles made 2024 2nd most (347 a game) Round 5 4th most (362 a game)
After round 10 2nd (359 avg)

Missed tackles 2024 8th (32 a game)Round 5 4th worst (35.8 game)
After round 10 3rd worst (but improved to 34.1 a game)

Ineffective tackles 2024 5th worst (14.5 a game) Round 5 14 (11 a game)
After round 10 16th (12 a game) 2nd best in the league. A good improvement.

Errors 2024 8th (10 a game) Round 5 2nd worst (13 a game)
After round 10 Still 2nd worse (improved to 12 a game) Storm are 3rd worst.
Bulldogs and Warriors are the best. About 9 a game.

Penalties conceded 2024 3rd worst (5.8 a game) Round 5 8th (5.6 a game)
After round 10 8th (5.5 a game)

Handling errors 2024 7th worst (9 a game) Round 5 5th worst (10 a game)
After round 10 4th worse (9.9 a game)

As others have mentioned. If we can be bit more miserly in defence and up our points we should jag a few more wins

That happened.


What has improved? Well, 2 more wins and a draw since the stats were looked at by me.
From a visual perspective we have looked better over the past month in longer stages. Still frustrating in other stages. We can turn it on when we want to, and seem disinterested other times.

Set completions are up a couple of %. Defence, Possessions, Post contact metres, Run metres. Dummy half runs, Ineffective tackles have all seen improvements from earlier in the year. As fitness builds up that is good to see.
Tackle breaks is also up. Remember though Edwards and To'o missed games.

There has been an reduction in errors from 13 a game to 12. But teams around us have also improved. Leaving us as still the 2nd worst in the league. 2 more errors a game compared to last year.

Our upcoming opponents the Knights have the worst errors in the league. Their 2 worst offenders are Ponga and Marzhew, a staggering 37 errors between them. The 2nd and 3rd worst by any player in the league. Both likely missing next week. However, Gagai and Schiller have 29 errors between them.


Now we enter the tricky period. Origin.
Best case we jag a few vital wins and come through this tricky period relatively injury free. Hopefully after round 19 we can continue on our above improvements and come home with a wet sail.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Recap after 10 rounds.
Over a third of the way through the season.
The first 2025 averages were done after round 5.

Much has been made about the right side defence in the past. For comparison. After 10 rounds the left side has let in 20. The right 17.

Last year it was 21 on the left 41 on the right.


Defence
We conceded 140 points from the first 5 rounds. Average 28 points a game.
106 points from the next 5 rounds. Average 21.2 a game.
It was 19 a game before we played the Cows.
Despite the improvements in defence. I am still of the mindset the more ball we control the less we concede. Lapses have hurt us.


All stats are from NRL.com

Points 2024 6th best (24 a game) Round 5 5th best (24 a game)
After round 10. Still 5th.

Tries 2024 6th best (4 avg) Round 5 5th best (4 avg)
After round 10 6th. (4vg)

Possession 2024 1st Round 5 8th
After round 10 Now improved to 4th. 1% behind the 1st placed Dogs.

Set Completion: 2024 3rd best with 81% Round 5 13th 76%
After round 10 Now 10th. 78% slight improvement. The closer we get to 80% the better. The benchmark of last year. Warriors lead on 83%. The Knights have the worst with 72%

Supports. 2024 and Round 5 still 1st
After round 10 Now 2nd.

Line engaged 2024 1st Round 5 2nd
After round 10 Still 2nd.

Post contact metres 2024 1st (584 a game) Round 5 8th (528)
After round 10 Improved to 3rd (559)

Tackle breaks 2024 1st (40 a game) Round 5 11th (28 a game)
After round 10 Now 7th (30 a game)

Decoys 3rd in 2024 and still 3rd Round 5
After round 10 4th

All run metres 2024 1st (1869 a game) Round 5 4th best (1714)
After round 10 Improved to 2nd (1735)

Dummy half runs 2024 10th Round 5 17th.
After round 10 Improved to 14th

Try Assists 2024 6th best Round 5 5th best
After round 10 Dropped to 8th

Line break assists 2024 7th (3.4 a game) Round 5 2nd best (4.8 a game)
After round 10 Dropped to 7th (3.8)

Tackles made 2024 2nd most (347 a game) Round 5 4th most (362 a game)
After round 10 2nd (359 avg)

Missed tackles 2024 8th (32 a game)Round 5 4th worst (35.8 game)
After round 10 3rd worst (but improved to 34.1 a game)

Ineffective tackles 2024 5th worst (14.5 a game) Round 5 14 (11 a game)
After round 10 16th (12 a game) 2nd best in the league. A good improvement.

Errors 2024 8th (10 a game) Round 5 2nd worst (13 a game)
After round 10 Still 2nd worse (improved to 12 a game) Storm are 3rd worst.
Bulldogs and Warriors are the best. About 9 a game.

Penalties conceded 2024 3rd worst (5.8 a game) Round 5 8th (5.6 a game)
After round 10 8th (5.5 a game)

Handling errors 2024 7th worst (9 a game) Round 5 5th worst (10 a game)
After round 10 4th worse (9.9 a game)



That happened.


What has improved? Well, 2 more wins and a draw since the stats were looked at by me.
From a visual perspective we have looked better over the past month in longer stages. Still frustrating in other stages. We can turn it on when we want to, and seem disinterested other times.

Set completions are up a couple of %. Defence, Possessions, Post contact metres, Run metres. Dummy half runs, Ineffective tackles have all seen improvements from earlier in the year. As fitness builds up that is good to see.
Tackle breaks is also up. Remember though Edwards and To'o missed games.

There has been an reduction in errors from 13 a game to 12. But teams around us have also improved. Leaving us as still the 2nd worst in the league. 2 more errors a game compared to last year.

Our upcoming opponents the Knights have the worst errors in the league. Their 2 worst offenders are Ponga and Marzhew, a staggering 37 errors between them. The 2nd and 3rd worst by any player in the league. Both likely missing next week. However, Gagai and Schiller have 29 errors between them.


Now we enter the tricky period. Origin.
Best case we jag a few vital wins and come through this tricky period relatively injury free. Hopefully after round 19 we can continue on our above improvements and come home with a wet sail.

You put heaps of work into these stats. Well done you.

 

[Whino]

You put heaps of work into these stats. Well done you.

Thanks.
It is not complete but there is enough meat in there for us fans to look into.

 

[Oldpanther86]

Recap after 10 rounds.
Over a third of the way through the season.
The first 2025 averages were done after round 5.

Much has been made about the right side defence in the past. For comparison. After 10 rounds the left side has let in 20. The right 17.

Last year it was 21 on the left 41 on the right.


Defence
We conceded 140 points from the first 5 rounds. Average 28 points a game.
106 points from the next 5 rounds. Average 21.2 a game.
It was 19 a game before we played the Cows.
Despite the improvements in defence. I am still of the mindset the more ball we control the less we concede. Lapses have hurt us.


All stats are from NRL.com

Points 2024 6th best (24 a game) Round 5 5th best (24 a game)
After round 10. Still 5th.

Tries 2024 6th best (4 avg) Round 5 5th best (4 avg)
After round 10 6th. (4vg)

Possession 2024 1st Round 5 8th
After round 10 Now improved to 4th. 1% behind the 1st placed Dogs.

Set Completion: 2024 3rd best with 81% Round 5 13th 76%
After round 10 Now 10th. 78% slight improvement. The closer we get to 80% the better. The benchmark of last year. Warriors lead on 83%. The Knights have the worst with 72%

Supports. 2024 and Round 5 still 1st
After round 10 Now 2nd.

Line engaged 2024 1st Round 5 2nd
After round 10 Still 2nd.

Post contact metres 2024 1st (584 a game) Round 5 8th (528)
After round 10 Improved to 3rd (559)

Tackle breaks 2024 1st (40 a game) Round 5 11th (28 a game)
After round 10 Now 7th (30 a game)

Decoys 3rd in 2024 and still 3rd Round 5
After round 10 4th

All run metres 2024 1st (1869 a game) Round 5 4th best (1714)
After round 10 Improved to 2nd (1735)

Dummy half runs 2024 10th Round 5 17th.
After round 10 Improved to 14th

Try Assists 2024 6th best Round 5 5th best
After round 10 Dropped to 8th

Line break assists 2024 7th (3.4 a game) Round 5 2nd best (4.8 a game)
After round 10 Dropped to 7th (3.8)

Tackles made 2024 2nd most (347 a game) Round 5 4th most (362 a game)
After round 10 2nd (359 avg)

Missed tackles 2024 8th (32 a game)Round 5 4th worst (35.8 game)
After round 10 3rd worst (but improved to 34.1 a game)

Ineffective tackles 2024 5th worst (14.5 a game) Round 5 14 (11 a game)
After round 10 16th (12 a game) 2nd best in the league. A good improvement.

Errors 2024 8th (10 a game) Round 5 2nd worst (13 a game)
After round 10 Still 2nd worse (improved to 12 a game) Storm are 3rd worst.
Bulldogs and Warriors are the best. About 9 a game.

Penalties conceded 2024 3rd worst (5.8 a game) Round 5 8th (5.6 a game)
After round 10 8th (5.5 a game)

Handling errors 2024 7th worst (9 a game) Round 5 5th worst (10 a game)
After round 10 4th worse (9.9 a game)



That happened.


What has improved? Well, 2 more wins and a draw since the stats were looked at by me.
From a visual perspective we have looked better over the past month in longer stages. Still frustrating in other stages. We can turn it on when we want to, and seem disinterested other times.

Set completions are up a couple of %. Defence, Possessions, Post contact metres, Run metres. Dummy half runs, Ineffective tackles have all seen improvements from earlier in the year. As fitness builds up that is good to see.
Tackle breaks is also up. Remember though Edwards and To'o missed games.

There has been an reduction in errors from 13 a game to 12. But teams around us have also improved. Leaving us as still the 2nd worst in the league. 2 more errors a game compared to last year.

Our upcoming opponents the Knights have the worst errors in the league. Their 2 worst offenders are Ponga and Marzhew, a staggering 37 errors between them. The 2nd and 3rd worst by any player in the league. Both likely missing next week. However, Gagai and Schiller have 29 errors between them.


Now we enter the tricky period. Origin.
Best case we jag a few vital wins and come through this tricky period relatively injury free. Hopefully after round 19 we can continue on our above improvements and come home with a wet sail.

You put a lot of work into this full credit to the boys.

Seems to support the lack of pre season being an issue.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

You put a lot of work into this full credit to the boys.

Seems to support the lack of pre season being an issue.

This year (after 5 years) of rep games after season ended and surgeries. It finally came back and bit us on the bottom...Ouch.

 

[Oldpanther86]

This year (after 5 years) of rep games after season ended and surgeries. It finally came back and bit us on the bottom...Ouch.

It's the one thing I dislike about rep football. More teams with a shorter season for the nrl with post season rep games would be better and allow a proper pre season.

 

[BossleyPanther]

Prior to the knights game our for and against was pretty good, a win would have been 1 point away from 8. So now that we are here do we think we can make the 8 still? It's pretty much panic stations right now in my opinion regarding our depths and I am hoping management looks at this season and see we need to fill some holes.