we are geelong the penrith panthers, the greatest team of all?!
The Penrith Panthers laid their claim as the greatest Rugby League team in the past 50 years with their fourth consecutive premiership, defeating the Melbourne Storm 14 to 6 at Accor Stadium back in October 2024. The Panthers continued to defy the odds in an era of football where the salary cap normally decimates the likelihood of prolonged periods of utter domination. In their fifth grand final in as many years, the Mountain Men finally got their revenge on a Melbourne Storm team most so called experts tipped to extinguish their dreams as four time premiers.
The amazing part of all the success of the Penrith Panthers is the number of players have lost to rival clubs during the past four years since their 2021 Grand Final win against the South Sydney Rabbitohs during the COVID-19 affected season. 11 of the 18 Panthers who played in that Grand Final winning squad are no longer plying their trade for the Mountain Men. With each passing season since, the Penrith Panthers manage to fill these gaps left by departing players and are still as successful as ever!
You could field a team with ex-Panthers and it would be an extremely competitive team. Could it knocked the four time reigning premiers? Perhaps! Let’s dissect the possible XVII man squad and only dream of such a match up. There may be some players out of position but I’m sure you get the gist!
THE EX-PENNY PANTHERS POSSIBLE TEAM 2020-2024
Fullback: Stephen Crichton (2021, 2022, and 2023 Premiership Winner)
Winger: Sunia Turuva (2023 and 2024 Premiership Winner)
Centre: Paul Momirovski (2021 Premiership Winner)
Centre: Matt Burton (2021 Premiership Winner)
Winger: Charlie Staines (2022 Premiership Winner)
Five-Eighth: Jarome Luai (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Premiership Winner)
Halfback: Jack Cogger (2023 Premiership Winner)
Prop: Spencer Leniu (2021, 2022, and 2023 Premiership Winner)
Hooker: Apisai Koroisau (2021 and 2022 Premiership Winner)
Prop: James Fisher-Harris (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Premiership Winner)
Second Row: Villiame Kikau (2021 and 2022 Premiership Winner)
Second Row: Kurt Capewell (2021 Premiership Winner)
Lock: Jaeman Salmon (2022 Premiership Winner)
Interchange: James Tamou (2020 NRL Grand Final Runner-Up)*
Interchange: Tyrone Peachey (2023 and 2024 Premiership Squad Member)
Interchange: Tyrone May (2021 Premiership Winner)
Interchange: Zac Hocking (2023 Premiership Squad Member)
*James Tamou was the captain of the Penrith Panthers during the Covid affected 2020 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm
The only thing going against this squad is their lack of middle forwards off the interchange bench but it will still be quite the competitive contest. Can you imagine losing the wealth of talent in this team and still be a force in the NRL for as long as the Penrith Panthers have been? It’s crazy to think that this is even possible!
So, is 2025 the year that the Penrith Panthers start to slide? Will the huge losses of Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris to the Wests Tigers and New Zealand Warriors respectively be too difficult to replace? Can Nathan Cleary reach a new higher level in his game and complete his absolute domination of the NRL? One thing is for certain, I wouldn’t be betting against the Penrith Panthers in season 2025 just yet. If the last five years have already shown, the Penrith Panthers have the insane ability to defy the odds, and the so-called experts opinions, to keep winning. I wouldn't be surprised if the Penny Panthers are at the pointy end of the 2025 NRL season once more. In an era of increasing salary caps and longer than ever NRL seasons, the Penrith Panthers are the greatest Australian football team in any football code since the St. George Dragons won their 11 consecutive premierships between 1956-1966. I honestly don’t think any NRL team will match what the Penrith Panthers have achieved since their 2020 Grand Final loss to the Melbourne Storm. A fifth consecutive premiership will cement their place as one of the greatest Australian sporting teams ever!
As a Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs fan from the age of 4, I hope their run comes to an end. As a football fan, let us just sit back and enjoy the ride while it lasts. We may never see it again!
