Suggestions the four-peat reigning Premiers are having a ‘gap-year-type season’ have been labelled “rubbish” by one of their most popular and hardest working senior players.
Penrith’s slow start to the season has caught everyone by surprise, and it’s even resulted in pundits and supporters suggesting the side might be taking a year off both mentally and physically from the demanding weekly grind of NRL footy.
The Panthers have been nothing short of mind blowing since 2020, reaching five consecutive Grand Finals and winning four premierships along the way.
But being ‘up’ every single week for five straight seasons can take its toll, which has led to some people questioning whether the Panthers are taking things a little easy this year which has resulted in their sluggish 1-4 start.
Speaking with Extra Time on Tuesday afternoon, Sorensen flat out refuted those claims and said a fifth straight title is very much on the club’s agenda.
“That’s rubbish! Very much so. As blank as you can say it,” he said.
“Things are obviously not ideal at the moment. Everybody enjoys winning… it’s a lot more fun in the winner’s circle, but it’s just the roller coaster of rugby league.”
Sorensen, who missed last Friday’s narrow defeat to the Cowboys at CommBank Stadium, believes his side aren’t icing the opportunities when they are presented with them.
The 32-year-old said many lessons are being learned, which can only be a good thing moving forward.
“You can learn lessons when you’re winning and you obviously can learn lessons when you’re losing too,” Sorensen said.
“I feel we are not too far off. We could be in a lot worse of a position. We’re not getting pumped by 50 or anything like that.
“We just have to keep working hard and look to make those crucial plays. Hopefully that will help us put our best foot forward to turning the tide and getting back into the winner’s circle.”
While the Panthers have dropped four-in-a-row, their average margin of defeat is only 6.5 points per game.
Sorensen, whose been there for all four of Penrith’s recent premierships, strongly believes a win isn’t too far away and it could come as early as Thursday night against the lowly Dolphins.
“Possibly… well I hope so,” he said.
“All this is a good test for everybody – the senior guys and the younger guys. We’re hoping this little bit of adversity can help us for the rest of the season.
“The big thing for us is we have to stay present. It’s really one game at a time. It’s not about losing seven-in-a-row or winning three-in-a-row, it’s about what’s next. It might sound cliché but that’s our focus at the moment.”
Giving the Panthers a monumental boost towards victory tomorrow night in Brisbane is not only the inclusion of Sorensen, who returns after week sidelined with concussion, but also the return of Kangaroos and New South Wales Blues fullback Dylan Edwards.
The 29-year-old Clive Churchill Medallist is back in Ivan Cleary’s line-up following a nasty groin injury that he suffered in Penrith’s Round 2 loss to the Sydney Roosters.
Sorensen said Edwards wearing the number one jersey again is nothing short of “huge” for the Panthers.
“It just gives you confidence,” he said.
“Obviously, the work rate he shows. His consistency week in, week out. Being the leader in the team as well.
“I don’t know how many more wraps I need to give him.
“He’s just so hardworking, he’s so persistent, resilient. It will be nice to have him back.”
One of Edwards’ strengths is his communication skills, and his ability to get a defence in order – something Penrith’s been lacking with livewire Daine Laurie out the back.
“Dyl’s communication is another level, and that communication not only gives myself confidence but the whole team confidence,” Sorensen admitted.
“He’s also our safety net as well. If someone is breaking through, there’s no one better than Dylan back there. I’m sure he’s excited to be playing again.”
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.