It’s around this time of the year where the NRL Premiership race really starts to heat up. It’s also around this time that I look at four unlikely players who I believe will play a key role in a Panthers four-peat premiership charge.
This year, after careful consideration, I’ve picked Trent Toelau, Casey McLean, Liam Henry and Daine Laurie, who barring injury, will all play their part in helping the Panthers bring home yet another premiership in October.
Toelau at 26 years-old, has worked extremely hard over the last couple of years to carve out a career in the NRL.
The talented half has been used as a hooker in first grade to great effect over the last couple of weeks. His footwork and sharp darts from dummy half have allowed coach Ivan Cleary to move regular number nine Mitch Kenny to lock whenever he comes on. Toelau has speed, especially over the first 10-20 metres.
Toelau can also play five-eighth or half in case there is an injury during the game to either Jarome Laui or Nathan Cleary. The fact that he can now play hooker, is just another string to his already impressive bow.
18-year-old Casey McLean is still basically a teenager playing in the toughest rugby league competition in the world.
McLean has had a meteoric rise in 2024. He was playing SG Ball (U/19) last year before quickly moving up the ranks, a couple of weeks in both Jersey Flegg (U/21) and NSW Cup and he now has a permanent spot in the centres.
With Taylan May gone and Paul Alamoti injured, it’s basically his to lose.
Tall, strong and a powerful runner with a good step, McLean can also play wing at a pinch and just wait until he fills out that 187cm (6ft ’2) frame.
Meanwhile Liam Henry, the hulking 23-year-old prop from Blayney is not disappointing anyone with this strong charges and brutal defence.
He is an important interchange weapon whenever he comes on and he’s deceptively fit for a big 105 kg front rower. Henry has already played a full 80 minute game against the Dragons earlier in the season and his ability to bend the defensive line when he comes on is effective.
Finally, the returning Daine Laurie is proving to be a most handy acquisition. Laurie who was filling in for injured fullback Dyan Edwards until last weekend, is playing the best football of his career and putting up numbers second only to ‘Pickles’ himself.
Re-signed until the end of 2025, Laurie is playing so well because he’s back where he belongs after an ill-fated three-year stint with the Wests Tigers.
The fact he can also play five-eighth at a pinch as well as wing and fullback, make him a most valuable cog in the Panthers machine. The kid is happy back at Penrith and that happiness is being reflected in his sizzling on-field performances.
So, there you have it, this year’s ‘Fantastic Four’.
A late bloomer, a teenager, a tough kid from a country town and a returning player. One way or another, these players could hold the key to another Panthers premiership.
Now how good a story would that make if…sorry…when it happens!
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.