When you’re on the hunt for a fourth consecutive Premiership and your competitors are trying to bring you down, you look for that little extra edge. The thing perhaps nobody is expecting.
And more and more I’m convinced that the x-factor for Penrith’s title run this year is Jarome Luai.
The Tigers-bound superstar has been the perfect partner in crime for Nathan Cleary these past few years, but there appears to be more to his game this season.
And it’s part of a plan, too.
Luai has been spending more time at first receiver, especially against the Knights last week. It’s allowing Nathan Cleary more freedom while shaking things up in terms of what the opposition expects.
Cleary will continue to receive the attention and the plaudits, and deservedly so, but it will be Luai – in my view – who becomes crucial when the Finals arrive in September.
Last week the Panthers were good without being spectacular against a persistent and desperate Knights side. They responded well to the adversity thrown at them and when the game got to 14-all, you just knew that it would be a magic play from Cleary to put Penrith back in front.
It’s almost rinse and repeat at the moment, as the Panthers go through what’s become a usual routine on their final path to September.
This Friday night’s clash against the Eels is the perfect match to really put the foot down and get some confidence, and give newcomers to the team like Casey McLean the chance to really bed down their game ahead of things getting serious.
Parramatta were impressive against the Warriors last Friday night. When Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard came down the tunnel laughing and joking to each other, I just had this feeling the Eels were relaxed enough to spring an upset, and that they did.
Despite that effort, it’s hard to imagine them getting close to Penrith here. The only danger could be the Panthers having one eye on the mouth-watering showdown with Melbourne next Thursday night, which could well decide the Minor Premiership.
But Ivan Cleary’s side has rarely got ahead of itself these past three or four years, so you imagine they’ll be well prepared for this clash at CommBank Stadium – their home next season.
These clashes aren’t always blowouts of course, and there’s always a bit of extra passion in a clash between two western Sydney rivals. Even earlier this year, the Panthers only got home 26-18 against their closest neighbours – and we know this corresponding clash at CommBank last year delivered an absolute belter.
But we’re at that point of the season where a team coming second last really struggles to get up for games, especially in back to back weeks. They nab wins along the way, but the lure of the off-season catches them.
It tends to result in blowout scorelines when they come up against a team well in contention for the Finals.
I tipped the Panthers by 30 last week but the Knights surprised me, hanging in far longer than I thought they would (perhaps on the back of a couple of dicey Bunker decisions).
So let’s reload and go with the same prediction, though with a little bit of trepidation – knowing just how much the Eels would love to spring an upset and potentially ruin Penrith’s Minor Premiership chase.
Tip: Panthers by 30.
Penrith and Parramatta play at CommBank Stadium on Friday, August 9 at 8pm. The match is live on Fox League and Nine.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.