In our final season preview, we look at the Panthers.

Ins: Apisai Koroisau (Sea Eagles), Dean Blore, Shawn Blore, Stephen Crichton, Braydon McGrady (upgraded from development contracts), Kurt Capewell (Sharks), Zane Tetevano (Roosters)

Outs: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Sione Katoa (Bulldogs), Tim Grant, Sam McKendry (retired), Wayde Egan (Warriors), Tyrell Fuimaono (Dragons), Hame Sele, Frank Winterstein, Paea Pua, Nick Lui-Toso (unsigned)

2019 Season

The Panthers boasted a side in 2019 that should have comfortably made the finals. Maloney and Cleary are Origin-winning halves while Ivan Cleary's return was seen as the final piece in the Premiership puzzle.

Unfortunately for fans at the foot of the mountains, they did not. In fact they finished two wins outside of the top 8, which is right where their performances warranted.

Young stars like Naden and To'o emerged so it was certainly not all bad, but 2019 will be remembered as the season that got away. Maloney had his usual second/third year drop away in form and signed elsewhere.

Predicted Best Playerย Viliame Kikau

You'd be crazy not to pick the NSW Origin halfback right? Well, call me crazy as I'm going with the Fijian wrecking ball to be the best performed member of the Panthers in 2020.

He was borderline unstoppable in 2019 despite a few injury concerns. Seven tries and 65 tackle breaks in just 18 games shows just how hard he was to tackle. 120 metres per game isn't exactly terrible either.

I'm expecting his influence to rise this year. As shown in the 9's, he is as quick as he is frightening. I feel sorry for right hand defences who have to try and contain this monster all year.

He'll break lines at will, he'll bash in attack and defence and ultimately be crowned the Panthers best at the end of the season.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Viliame Kikau of the Panthers makes a break leading to a try scored by Waqa Blake of the Panthers during the NRL Semi Final match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Penrith Panthers at Allianz Stadium on September 14, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Predicted Top Scorerย Brian To'o

Young winger Brian To'o was a real highlight for the Panthers in 2019. His 9 tries in 15 NRL games in his rookie season have fans excited for what he can produce in the upcoming season.

The 21 year-old local junior soared high in both attack and defence and will be a real target for Nathan Cleary and co this season.

I'm looking forward to seeing the youngster after another NRL pre-season. He'll see plenty of ball down that Panthers right edge and will battle it out with his wing partner Josh Mansour for the top try scorers gong.

To'o will just pip his far more experienced partner and score 14 tries.

Recruitment Impact

With respect to the number nine options at Penrith last year, they really didn't live up to expectations. New signing Apisai Koroisau is an automatic fix in the role.

Returning to the Panthers, the electric hooker is set to completely revamp the Panthers routes of attack. He is one of the best running dummy halves in the competition and one of the best signings of the season.

Also joining the Panthers ranks are bench forwards Tetevano and Capewell. Capewell especially adds plenty of experience and utility value. He can literally play anywhere.

2020 Final Position: 11th

The Panthers are one of the more difficult teams to predict this season. On paper they have a first choice Origin halfback, arguably the most destructive wide running forward in the game. Josh Mansour is still an elite winger.

There's rep quality all across the park here and I absolutely love the Koroisau pick up.

That said, there are huge holes in this side. Losing James Maloney is massive. Although young Jarome Luai is a brilliant, raw talent, he's just that, raw. He's certainly no Maloney.

The club also lost former Origin prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, which really hurts their pack.

I like the look of Liam Martin but the forward pack, outside of Tamou and Kikau of course, really doesn't scream title-challengers.

They're without their first choice fullback for two-or-so months after Dylan Edwards was injured, and the centre pairing of Naden and Whare is solid if not spectacular.

Another club with two many weaknesses and questions to predict a finals footy finish.

They'll be one of the more exciting teams this season but that won't translate to enough wins to play knock out football.

1 COMMENT

  1. Capewell doesnโ€™t look like a good buy so far? Heโ€™s hardly even done any training. Just an injury on top of an injury. Looked a good buy, but we will see.
    I wasnโ€™t to confident in the forwards or the backs. The backline looks thin , with Whare, Mansour still there. Canโ€™t wait to see Staines come into first grade sometime soon. Burton will also come into first grade
    The weakened forward pack more than held their own against a full strength Parramatta pack in the final trial.
    They will be weakened again to start the season. Without Leniu, Capewell, Edwards etc. Still , I think you underestimate the likes of Martin, Burns, Kenny . Good up & coming forwards.

  2. Like soufths, Dud players, Dud coach, Dud imports, Dud blowin Local juniors. Say goodbye to 2020. ClownOfParkes๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคฃ

    Roosters by 89

  7. Panthers will start the year strong and fade out to the bottom of the ladder as usual
    Clown of the divide will become a suffering fool like the jealous guy

  8. On the eve of the 2020 NRL season, the Penrith Panthers have announced the signing of highly-touted forward Lindsay Smith on a two-year deal.
    # A piece from a story about yet another local junior from Penrith. Another potential future star player whoโ€™s come through the Panthers system.
    Lucky they re-signed him, before the Import Nuggets needed some more players. The only way the Nuggets get great up & coming players. Sign them from other areas!