It seems like only yesterday that Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo were hoisting the Telstra Premiership trophy for a fourth consecutive year, celebrating another Grand Final win at Accor Stadium.
But for the players, it likely feels like long ago.
They’ve been through another grueling pre-season. They don’t get easier no matter how many Premierships you win.
And now, some 12,500 kilometres from home, this mighty record-breaking team – one that will be spoken about for decades to come as one of the greatest in our game’s history – find themselves in Las Vegas of all places, fighting for their first premiership points of the season.
It’s a long way to go for a game of footy. But in many ways, it’s come at the perfect time. While nobody is questioning Penrith’s motivation to turn up year after year and try to get better, the fact there’s something a little bit different in the formula each year probably helps the equation. This year, it’s the challenge of playing so much footy on the road while Penrith Stadium is redeveloped.
Sunday’s clash against the Sharks will be no easy task.
Penrith’s pre-season has been extremely limited, and they all but put up the white flag in the pre-season challenge, unable to give game time to the vast majority of the first grade squad. The Panthers have taken time to get going over the last couple of years, because the first month or two of the competition tends to be almost part of the preparation for what’s to come – the side on the way to the destination versus teams who have already arrived there, having started their legitimate preparations back in November.
One factor few people have spoken about heading into this game is that it was Penrith who bundled Cronulla out of the title race last year, eventually getting on top of them in the Preliminary Final at Accor Stadium. The Sharks surely wouldn’t have spent too much time worrying about that over the summer, but it’s a nice little bit of motivation.
The Sharks will also be after a strong start to the year, but there’s a few factors at play that will ultimately determine the success of their season. New recruit Addin Fonua-Blake could well be what takes Cronulla from a decent regular season side to a Premiership threat, if he finds his best form in the Shire.
But if Cronulla go through a difficult period and the pressure mounts on Nicho Hynes and the halves, I’d have fears about Cronulla’s prospects. Hynes handled the pressure with class last season, but there are plenty of people willing to throw stones. Getting an early win over the best halfback in the game in the shape of Nathan Cleary would be a huge confidence-booster.
The side that wins this contest at Allegiant Stadium will likely be the one that handles the week better. The preparations have been different – with the Sharks choosing to spend much of their week in Los Angeles, while the Panthers headed straight to Vegas. The best method? We might know that at the 80th minute on Sunday.
Whichever side adjusts to the conditions better, and knuckles down to get the job done – erasing the novelty factor of where they are – will win.
I’m worried about Penrith’s lack of serious pre-season for this one, but I know how well they rise to special occasions. Perhaps the right approach is to not treat this as another game, but appreciate the spectacle that it is.
Penrith by a whisker for me.
Tip: Panthers by 6.
Penrith and Cronulla play at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas on Sunday, March 2 at 3.30pm. The game is live on Nine, Fox Sports and Kayo.
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.