LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Former NRL player Matty Johns has suggested that the decline of the Penrith Panthers in 2025 can be attributed to the departure of Cameron Ciraldo.
The Panthers, who have won four consecutive premierships, are off to their worst start since 2013 with a 1-4 record.
Defense has been a concerning issue for the team, with them conceding 118 points in the first four rounds, more than they did in the first 13 rounds of the 2021 season when their dynasty began.
Ciraldo, who was the defensive coach under Ivan Cleary at Penrith, played a key role in shaping the team's formidable defense.
His reputation as a defensive mastermind led to him being poached by the Bulldogs, where he has helped transform them into one of the top defensive teams in the NRL.
The Bulldogs currently lead the league in defense, having only conceded 58 points in their first five games.
Johns believes that the Panthers are struggling defensively because the current players did not learn under Ciraldo.
He suggests that the leaky defense is a result of a lack of desire and a failure to instill Ciraldo's defensive principles in the new generation of players at Penrith.
"If you're leaking points in defense and you're a team like Penrith - a quality team - if you're leaking points, that's evidence it's desire," Johns said on SEN radio.
The absence of Ciraldo's influence on the defensive structure of the team is evident in their recent performances, according to Johns.
The Panthers have been unable to replicate their previous defensive prowess, which was vital to their success in recent years.
With Ciraldo now at the Bulldogs, it is clear that his impact on the Panthers' defense is sorely missed.