'Not over yet': Panthers insist premiership reign is only paused

The Panthers will not be competing in the NRL Grand Final for the first time since 2019. However, coach Ivan Cleary believes the four-time champions might be in a better position to make a comeback than they were to maintain their dominance.

Penrith's impressive streak of four consecutive premierships, achieved through five grand final appearances, has seemingly come to an end after the Broncos clinched a tight 16-14 victory on Sunday. Despite this setback, Cleary and his team are adamant that this loss does not signify the conclusion of what many consider the best team in recent history.

As their reign concludes, the Panthers will enter the next season largely intact, a notable change from previous years. They have seen significant departures including Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris, Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau, Api Koroisau, and Matt Burton, all from the championship-winning squads of 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

This year, the Panthers found themselves at the bottom of the premiership ladder after 12 rounds. They will need to break historical norms by becoming the first team in the NRL era to win the championship from outside the Top 4 after finishing in seventh place.