LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In an unexpected move, the Penrith Panthers will rest up to 16 players for their upcoming match against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on Thursday evening, including co-captain and star halfback Nathan Cleary.
Currently positioned seventh, the Panthers have secured a place in the top eight for the 2025 NRL Finals. However, in their quest for a fifth consecutive premiership, maintaining momentum is crucial as they can't afford to lose any matches during the finals.
With their top-four ambitions slipping away-requiring wins in their next two games along with favorable results elsewhere-the team is opting for extensive player rest, as reported by Danny Weidler.
Although the entire roster of rested players is yet to be announced, the club previously chose not to play Brad Schneider, Paul Alamoti, and Matthew Eisenhuth in the NSW Cup last week, hinting they might be called up for this match.
Resting players ahead of the finals is a familiar strategy for Penrith, and it is likely that State of Origin representatives like Brian To'o, Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin, and Isaah Yeo will also sit out.
Cleary confirmed his absence, stating, "I won't be playing this week, I just had a chat to the performance staff and thought it'd be the best thing for me," as reported by 100% Footy.
Facing what is likely to be a second-tier Penrith squad, reports from Zero Tackle suggest that the Bulldogs will also be without back-rower Harry Hayes, with rumors circulating that Matt Burton might also be a late scratch.