Panthers coach Ivan Cleary couldn't resist a playful jab at his highly regarded left edge following Penrith's unexpected defeat to the Bulldogs.
The left side, featuring five-eighth Blaize Talagi along with standout players Casey McLean and Tom Jenkins, struggled defensively against the Bulldogs' attack at Accor Stadium.
Talagi, in particular, faced challenges, missing six tackles, while the entire left edge faltered as the Bulldogs' right side managed to achieve four line breaks.
McLean and Jenkins had entered the match riding a wave of impressive form, even generating considerable Origin chatter, which Cleary noted during his post-game press conference.
In response to a question about his left edge's performance, Cleary humorously stated, "Yeah, maybe they're getting ready for origin camp."
He continued, "A couple of boys went back a couple of pegs, but as I've mentioned, they're young and it's just a good part of the experience for them."
The comments highlight both the potential and growing pains of young talent in high-pressure situations, as they look to bounce back from this setback.