The Panthers have an opportunity to become the first team to win three premierships in-a-row in the NRL era — and Fox League’s Greg Alexander has explained exactly why Penrith could lift the trophy again.
Ivan Cleary’s side have played in three consecutive grand finals, reigning supreme in 2021 and 2022, beating the Rabbitohs and Eels respectively.
Parramatta were the last team to do the three-peat, starting their incredible run of form in 1981, leaving Newtown and the Manly in their wake twice.
Alexander, who won a premiership with the Panthers in 1991, believes the playing group’s “attitude” won’t be an issue coming into the 2023 season.
“I think this group of players, and I haven’t come across a group like them, they don’t rest on their laurels,” Alexander said.
“For those 27 years between the Broncos in 1992 and 1993 and the Sydney Roosters in 2018 and 2019, every year the premiers would come into the season as the favourites.
“And at some stage through the year, generally at the back-end, that one per cent of drive and motivation was missing.
“I think these players are always looking to improve, they work hard, so I don’t think it will be attitude that will see them fail, if they do, it will be some other reason.
“Injuries could hurt them, but as they are right now and before the season gets underway it is always about who is missing.
“But if you can put that aside and they are two very influential players over the last couple of years, but they are up to win the competition again.”
Whenever teams have success, clubs come knocking for their off-contract players and the Panthers have lost two key men this year — Viliame Kikau and Apisai Koroisau.
Koroisau’s presence will be sorely missed in the middle of the park, while Kikau’s damaging ability on the left edge has left a gaping hole.
Fox League’s Cooper Cronk called for gun five-eighth Jarome Luai to stand up in his absence and form a partnership with off-season recruit Luke Garner.
The fact Viliame Kikau had nine tries and 10 assist last year and was part of that best left edge (in the comp)... Jarome Luai is going to have to have an outstanding ball-playing year for them to make up those statistics that Kikau brought,” Cronk said.
“Kikau’s presence led to a lot of tries, a big physical guy that was hard to stop.
“Now not having that presence there, Luai’s ball-playing and creativity and craft is going to have to improve for those tries to continue to come.
“I don’t see them changing, I see the same style of play, but can Luai take his game to another level?
“So that work ethic and not resting on your laurels that Brandy was talking about, that’s something Jarome Luai needs to attack this year.”
