Cleary sees Panthers opportunity in tight competition
Tom Wark |
Being at the bottom looking up is an unusual feeling for Penrith, having won the last four NRL premierships.
But coach Ivan Cleary says the NRL is as close as he can recall in 2025 and will still present plenty of opportunities for his side to get into the top eight.
On Sunday the last-placed Panthers take on Parramatta, who have lifted themselves out of bottom spot with consecutive wins over Newcastle and Manly.
Despite having just three wins and a draw from 11 matches, the Panthers are only three points behind eighth-placed Brisbane.
That sort of unpredictability gives Cleary added belief Penrith can right the ship.
“(This season is) about as even as I can remember and that’s what the game wants,” Cleary said on Wednesday.
“In that sense it also gives you a lot of hope that you can get a few and get yourself going.
“Put some weeks together, consistency, then you’re right back in the mix.”
Cleary has named all five of Penrith’s Origin players in the team for Sunday’s game at CommBank Stadium.
He will wait and see whether the toll of Wednesday night’s Origin match forces some changes to his side but did say he was hoping the returnees would provide a boost to the flagging club after their NSW camp experience.
“I really think that’s a real opportunity for us,” Cleary said.
“I can only imagine there’d be nothing like it, just the energy and the build up, it would be pretty cool.
“I definitely hope there’s a flow-on effect for us after that.”
Cleary has rested his Origin call-ups in recent years but says differences this year may provide opportunities for those players to get more club minutes in the Origin period.
“There’s different circumstances, we had a bye before Origin so all those boys had a rest which we haven’t had before,” Cleary said.
“Each year brings new challenges depending on how you’re going, where the games are played, what day they’re on, all that kind of stuff.”
Penrith have been forced to play home games at Parramatta’s Commbank Stadium in 2025 while their home ground is redeveloped but are yet to win at their temporary base.
This week they host regular stadium tenants the Eels and Cleary was looking forward to the clash of the two western Sydney powerhouses.
However, the Panthers coach did concede that having to leave their Penrith fortress seems to have had an effect on his side’s home fortunes.
“It seems like it by results, but it is what it is,” Cleary said.
“That’s (Commbank Stadium) our home ground and we play anywhere, anytime that’s in front of us.”
AAP
