The Penrith Panthers are striving for a sixth consecutive grand final appearance, but rugby league legend Andrew Johns cautions that this may be too ambitious. The four-time premiership winners have faced a tumultuous season, battling their way from near the bottom of the standings up to a position contending for the top eight. With just seven matches remaining before the finals, the Panthers aim for a dramatic resurgence, yet their schedule poses significant challenges.
As the season enters round 21, the Panthers are currently placed sixth, while the Canberra Raiders lead the table, followed by the Bulldogs, Storm, and Warriors. The path to the finals becomes particularly daunting as they will face three of the top four teams, including a decisive matchup against the Dragons on the last weekend of the regular season.
According to Johns, the Panthers cannot afford to treat any of these upcoming matches lightly. He emphasises that with only one seemingly straightforward matchup against the Dragons, the rest of their fixtures will demand semi-final intensity, laying the ground for an uphill battle in the finals—essentially needing to win four consecutive games to remain in contention.
In light of the recent challenges, concerns have arisen regarding the wellbeing of key players such as Liam Martin and Nathan Cleary. Meanwhile, fellow Penrith icon Brad Fittler remains optimistic, highlighting the potential benefits of having essential players returning from injury or rest. Notably, the Panthers were able to secure victories during the Origin period despite several stars being unavailable, accumulating 16 points across six games and benefiting from two byes.
Fittler also points out that many teams currently in contention, such as the Bulldogs, Raiders, and Warriors, lack extensive finals experience, which could play to Penrith’s advantage. He notes that this could be a decisive factor, especially with three of these teams unfamiliar with high-stakes playoff scenarios.
Johns anticipates that the Raiders will maintain their strong position and predicts a face-off against the Warriors in the first qualifying final. Looking at the lower end of the finals race, he suggests that the Sharks are likely to secure the seventh spot, creating a competitive scenario for the eighth position among teams including the Roosters, Dolphins, and Manly.
With the looming clash against the Storm, Johns warns that if the Roosters falter, they risk missing out on the finals entirely. Thus, the competition remains fierce as teams scramble to secure their places in the top eight as the season progresses.