Unfortunately, this report card is going to be difficult to read for Penrith supporters. Let me tell you it was no fun writing it either.
While I’m going to be as fair as I possibly can the Panthers haven’t given me much to work with so far in 2025.
I can only hope that future report cards improve in every area.
Alright here we go.
Attack
Incredibly this is the best statistic despite the side’s lacklustre start to the season. Even with five-different halves combinations and a spine which has only been full strength once, somehow Penrith have managed to score 132 points and have the ninth best attack. It looked good in round one and at times has really clicked.
Close to the opposition line however it is woeful. There’s too much sideways ball movement, frantic attack, bad passes but from long range it looks dangerous at times.
GRADE: C
Defence
This year Penrith has leaked 170 points which is the 16th worst in the competition. Averaging 24.2 points a game you’re not going to win too many matches when your attack averages only 18.8. The idea is to score more than you let in.
It regularly gets torn apart on the edges, players are shooting out of the line leaving holes while there is simply no resilience on the goal line when an opposition side is attacking 20 metres out. It’s honestly sad to watch this defence crumble like tissue paper every time it’s tested for more than five tackles.
GRADE: F
Player performances
Senior players like Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and Moses Leota are all putting in and trying as hard as they can and at times, they look good. However, it’s obvious that they’re struggling to match their performances of the last five seasons and often look gassed by the end of the match.
Mitch Kenny is tough and tries hard while Paul Alamoti and Thomas Jenkins are punching above their weight from the back.
GRADE: C-
Who needs to lift
Basically, every player has to lift, even the ones who are playing well. If I must single out a couple of players then experienced campaigners like Izack Tago, Isaiah Papali’I and Lindsay Smith can all play better than they have. Tago in the centres has been particularly poor with his defensive reads while Papali’l is making little impact as a starting prop.
Players to watch
Jesse McLean and Luron Patea have to get a start in first grade and soon. They could provide the spark in the backs and forwards the side desperately needs.
Coaching
If anyone can save the situation – Ivan Cleary can. Put simply, Ivan has to dive deep into his bag of tricks and call upon all his experience to lift the team from its current form slump.
Asked post-match after the loss to the Dolphins whether the side could salvage their season after such a poor start.
“Of course we can,” he said. “I have faith in the boys, faith in the team and the club.
“It looks like doom and gloom, but it can change quickly as well.”
And it needs too.
OVERALL GRADE: D
Peter Lang
Peter Lang is an experienced sports writer, who has been covering rugby league for several decades. He first wrote Lang on League for the Weekender in the 1990s, and worked for Panthers on its famous Panthers Magazine for several years.