LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy

Panthers prioritise rest in bid to overcome 30 years of history

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary believes his team has the potential to become the first in three decades to win a competition from outside the top four by focusing on health rather than their position on the ladder as they approach the finals.

Despite still having a theoretical chance of breaking into the top four, Penrith's recent stunning defeat to Canberra has seen them drop to seventh place. This outcome means they depend on favorable results from other matches in order to secure a top-four finish.

In light of this situation, Cleary decided to rest 16 players for Thursday night's game against the Bulldogs, designating Matt Eisenhuth to captain a young team at Accor Stadium.

The majority of the main squad is anticipated to return for the upcoming Round 27 match against the Dragons next Saturday.

If Penrith ends up outside the top four, they will need to achieve four consecutive victories in the finals to secure a fifth consecutive premiership. Cleary believes his team can replicate the success of the 1995 Bulldogs.

This isn't the first instance of Cleary using a late-season match to evaluate future talent. He previously rested his key players and turned to Thomas Jenkins, Liam Henry, and several other youngsters during the last round of the 2022 regular season.

Many of those young players have since become regulars in the first-grade squad, and the experienced coach hopes to see similar development from the current group of young athletes.