The Panthers are in freefall after plummeting to a hat-trick of losses for the primary time in six years.
South Sydney are nonetheless a great distance from being playoff locks however extra importantly they’re a great distance forward of their 2024 season once they sunk to a second-last positioned end.
The Rabbitohs are actually 3-1 after their 28-18 triumph at Accor Stadium, blowing the premiers away with 5 unanswered tries within the first half.
Penrith have now misplaced three matches on the trot for the primary time since 2019, the newest 12 months that they didn’t at the least make the grand ultimate.
Penrith have to be judged on how they entrance up once they get Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards again on deck however their first month of the season suggests their possibilities of a fifth straight premiership are in critical jeopardy.
1. Rabbitohs crimson sizzling
Even essentially the most optimistic of Rabbitohs followers wouldn’t have dreamt of Wayne Bennett’s second coming delivering such a dominant win over the premiers.
They’re 3-1 now after 4 rounds and though they appeared out of their depth in opposition to a full-strength Sharks facet final week, their victories over the Dolphins, Dragons and Panthers have been constructed on the old school ideas which are embedded within the Bennett playbook.
Souths aren’t flashy like they had been when Bennett took them to the 2021 grand ultimate as a result of they don’t have the identical stage of strikepower of their facet.
However they’re gritty and dedicated, and if you find yourself in opposition to an inferior opposition or a depleted one that’s struggling for type, that’s typically all that you just want.
They get Latrell Mitchell again from his hamstring harm subsequent week, coincidentally in opposition to his previous staff, South Sydney’s bitter rivals within the Roosters.
It’s arduous to see Souths rising from second final in 2024 to being real title contenders however with Bennett bringing his distinctive mix of man administration and a easy recreation plan, you’ll be able to’t rule it out.
2. Panthers plummeting
They had been gallant in defeat final week in Melbourne in opposition to a full-strength Storm facet.
This time they had been as un-Penrith like as a surfer sipping a latte.
Their forwards had been outmuscled, the halves made elementary errors and the surface backs did little else other than making carries out of their very own crimson zone.
“The Panthers are in a frantic, submissive form of temper,” was how their former common supervisor Phil Gould described their capitulation on 9 commentary.
Even Golden Boot winner Isaah Yeo was handing over elementary errors through the first-half give up earlier than they saved some face with three tries to nil within the second time period.
Davvy Moale celebrates after scoring a strive. (Picture by Cameron Spencer/Getty Pictures)
Second-rower Scott Sorensen was dominated out within the eighth minute after he was concussed when he copped an unintended elbow to the pinnacle whereas making a sort out.
Trent Toelau, who began at halfback, failed to complete the match because of a knee harm with Schneider getting his first recreation time of 2025 for Penrith on the identical floor the place he sat on the bench for all the grand ultimate win over Melbourne final October.
And star winger Brian To’o additionally hobbled off with a hamstring harm which can flip Ivan Cleary’s gray hair into extra of a silver shade as he tries to show the staff’s season round.
3. Johnston’s bittersweet comeback
Making his first look since he tore his Achilles tendon in Canberra late final season, Alex Johnstown’s presence on the left wing introduced a way of consolation to Rabbitohs followers.
After the house facet drew first blood within the fifth minute when Keaton Koloamatangi pounced on a Cody Walker grubber, Johnston celebrated his return by ending off a left-edge foray created by his five-eighth.
He appeared to injure his left shoulder within the course of however bravely soldiered on and probably missed a strive he usually would have scored when he was tentative going for the nook amid Daine Laurie’s cowl sort out.
The medicos shut him down at half-time amid fears that he has damaged his scapula with scans on Friday to substantiate the extent of the harm.
Koloamatangi nabbed a second whereas Davvy Moale and Jye Grey made a mockery of Penrith’s as soon as vaunted aim line defence to propel Souths to a 28-0 avalanche by the point the half-time siren sounded.
It wasn’t a case of too little, too late when Penrith registered tries to Liam Martin and Schneider within the first 20 minutes of the second half.
However though the margin was again to 16, time was all the time in opposition to them and Souths performed like they had been defending their lead quite than placing the foot on the throat like a real top-class staff can do.
A late Jack Cole four-pointer on the again of a Peter Mamouzelos sin bin helped Penrith put somewhat bit extra respectability on the ultimate scoreline.
4. Walker repaying Bennett’s religion
In ruling out making a play for Daly Cherry-Evans through the week, Bennett stated Souths had been extra involved with the signature of their very own pensioner playmaker in Cody Walker.
The 35-year-old five-eighth is simply 12 months youthful than DCE however can also be exhibiting no indicators of age. Effectively, not in a damaging approach anyway.
Walker’s knowledge after a decade within the NRL is first fee and though his acceleration off the mark has slowed barely in recent times, he’s nonetheless nearly as good as anybody within the NRL at launching an attacking raid.
Particularly when there’s area on the left with Koloamatangi, Jack Wighton and Johnston offering vastly totally different however equally impactful choices for his or her maestro.
With Manly recruit Jamie Humphreys placing in one other robust exhibiting at halfback, there are inexperienced shoots for Bennett to construct on because the season progresses.
5. Blaize on ice once more
The Eels must be placing in a name to the Panthers to say they are going to fortunately take Blaize Talagi off their palms for a mortgage spell in the event that they don’t want him.
Even with Dylan Edwards and Nathan Cleary out, Ivan Cleary opted to drop Talagi from his game-day line-up after naming him on the interchange bench.
It was an odd selection on condition that Talagi put in an encouraging efficiency in his membership debut within the Spherical 3 loss when he got here on early after Nathan Cleary’s concussion.
The Kick: Penrith’s defence nothing however putrid
It was the hallmark of their 4 consecutive premierships however Penrith’s defence has plummeted off a cliff
They conceded 22 in beating Cronulla in Vegas and nobody raised an eye fixed forehead however then they’d 38 placed on them by the Roosters, 30 by the Storm after which this capitulation to Souths.
Not that defence is solely the area for forwards however James Fisher-Harris might elevate a wry smile, if he does certainly ever not scowl, that his departure within the low season has resulted within the Panthers pack turning into pussycats.
Cleary is again for subsequent Friday’s “house” conflict at CommBank Stadium in opposition to the Cowboys however as nice as he’s, the Panthers will lose 4 on the trot in the event that they dish up one other defensive disasterclass.
