NO ‘CRITTA’ COULD LEAVE BITTER TASTE
Penrith got a glimpse of how tough life will be without Stephen Crichton with their shock World Club Challenge defeat to Wigan on Sunday morning.
While it will all be forgotten if the Panthers can secure a fourth straight premiership, their nextman-up ethos will be severely put to the test again this season. Although it would take a brave man to predict the end of their dynasty, there’s no doubt it will be a monumental task to go all the way in 2024.
BACKS
Crichton’s departure leaves a massive hole and Penrith simply don’t have a like-for-like replacement for a man generally considered the best centre in the world.
They’ll miss his game-breaking ability, athleticism and his 193cm frame – none of the Panthers’ backs starting backs are taller than 184cm. Compare that to the Roosters, where 184cm fullback James Tedesco is the shortest of their back five. Taylan May’s return from the knee injury that sidelined him for all of last year is timely. The local junior finished 2022 as the club’s leading tryscorer in his first full season in the NRL. Izack Tago continues to flourish, while Brian To’o and Sunia Turuva are excellent finishers who do plenty of work out of the back field. Former Bulldog Paul Alamoti could thrive in the Panthers system, while winger Jesse McLean gets the chance to graduate from the pathways program into the NRL side.
FORWARDS
This Panthers pack never gives you time to rest. Isaah Yeo, James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota are as formidable a middle combination as any in the NRL. Spencer Leniu is a loss but Lindsay Smith took on increased responsibility off the bench last season, while
Liam Henry gets the chance to own a spot in the 17.
Liam Martin has added an attacking threat to his game to complement his aggressive defensive side. Scott Sorensen and Luke Garner will vie for the other starting-edge role. Now it will be up to Mavrik Geyer and Ativalu Lisati to give them depth.
SPINE
It’s the last dance for
Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary and one of rugby league’s great halves partnerships.
Expect to see Cleary further evolve his game this season, playing more at second receiver to further highlight his attacking threat.
For Luai, it will be about managing the emotion about his final season at Penrith and not overplaying his hand.
They lose some depth with Jack Cogger’s departure for Newcastle, but coach Ivan Cleary has a big opinion of young Jack Cole, who will provide valuable back-up during the State of Origin period.
Taylan May’s 2022 rookie season, where he scored 15 tries in 21 games and averaged 150 running metres on the wing, gave a glimpse of his potential. He shifts into the centres to replace Stephen Crichton this year, where he will get the chance to develop a combination with Brian To’o and Liam Martin on Penrith’s right edge.