Season Preview: 3rd – Penrith Panthers

The eyes of the rugby league world will be on the foot of the mountains in 2017 to see if this Penrith Panthers side can live up to its undoubted potential.

Although delivering a little late, the much hyped five-year plan seems to have come to fruition with players like Cartwright, and Cleary developing to form what now looks like a potential premiership winning side.

James Tamou’s inclusion helps complete a formidable forward pack, capable of laying down a platform for the likes of Moylan and Cleary to run riot.

With news that Josh Mansour’s injury may not be as bad as first thought, the Panthers are set to have all hands on deck in the early rounds and launch what could be a special season.

Weakness: Lack of creativity at nine

With all due respect to Peter Wallace and Mitch Rein, neither man rivals the likes of Cameron Smith or Michael Ennis in terms of creativity from the hooking role.

Wallace will work his hands to the bone, give you 50+ tackles and will hardly put a foot wrong, but he’s unlikely to bust defences open with dazzling runs either.

Mitch Rein is more known for his defensive exploits than catching out tired markers.

If Moylan, and the young halves fail to fire, they may need a hand creatively from their number nines. Wallace, as a former long-time halfback has the ability, but has looked far better since switching to the number nine and focusing on direction his side around.

Strength: Forwards double edge attack

The Panthers forwards have both the ability to smash and bash their way over the top and through opposition defences, or dazzle them into submission.

Bryce Cartwright is arguably the best ball-playing forward in the game, with an offload that is almost unrivalled, and the attacking abilities of a half.

If he can fix his defence and limit overplaying his hand, he will be a sure thing for rep selection for the majority of the next decade.

Trent Merrin is one of the best in the game, and has become a leader as well as a battering ram. James Tamou adds size, experience and aggression to an already scary pack.

Best Player: Matt Moylan

Despite the insistence on Moylan’s doubters to heavily scrutinise a comparison once made to Darren Lockyer, Moylan is now the main man out west for the Panthers.

18 try assists and five line breaks, to go with his four tries, highlights his attacking abilities and importance to the side.

Picked in the halves for the Blues, Moylan is neck and neck with Boyd and Tedesco in terms of the competition’s best attacking number ones.

Now 25 years of age and with rep experience, the Panthers will look to Moylan to lead them as they look to deliver on their incredible potential.

Pressure On: Nathan Cleary

Young Nathan Cleary has an amazing 2016 after being introduced to the side in round 13.

His abilities, and calmness and composure well beyond his years and experience, combined to create a downright brilliant halves partnership with Bryce Cartwright.

Set to be partnered by fellow youngster Te Maire Martin, the pressure will be on Cleary to reproduce what he did in 2016, and then some.

A player of huge talent yet a player with only 15 games to his name, and a player yet to turn 20, it is a huge ask to guide your side to a premiership in just your second season, no matter how talented.

Prediction: 3rd

This is a huge call, but I don’t seem to be alone in predicting a brilliant season for the Penrith side, with them favourite to capture the title in some betting markets.

Although I certainly don’t have as premiership favourites, there is really no reason this side can’t produce something quite incredible in 2017.

Bryce Cartwright is a freak of a player, while Nathan Cleary looks to have the ability and mental toughness of a player with 100 games experience under his belt.

Josh Mansour is the game’s best winger, and is only likely to miss weeks instead of months following an injury in the four-nations tournament.

Trent Merrin and James Tamou lead a quality pack that can both bash or dazzle its way to victory.

If Moylan, Cleary and Te Maire Martin can fire, there is absolutely no stopping the Panthers juggernaut.