Reporter Brent Read has declared the Panthers won’t win a fifth straight premiership, believing their decision to rest 16 players in their loss to the Bulldogs was merely a “Hail Mary”.
The Panthers sit in seventh spot on the ladder on 31 competition points, three behind the Broncos, Sharks and Warriors who are all on 34 points.
It means the Panthers can’t finish any higher than seventh and will have to win three straight finals games away from home in order to reach what would be their sixth straight grand final.
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“Penrith cannot win it,” Read said on NRL 360 on Monday night.
“They rested 16 players but to me that’s just a Hail Mary.
“They know they’re on life support.”
But veteran journalist Phil Rothfield had a different view, and felt the Panthers would be dangerous now that they have fresh legs.
“The thing you’re forgetting Ready is, whether you like it or not, Ivan has freshened them up,” Rothfield said.
“They’ve got to go bang, bang, bang, bang and win four straight to win the title.”
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Read believes it’s a task that’s in the too hard basket, even for a club that’s won four straight premierships.
“I think it’s beyond them,” Read added.
“I don’t think they can do it.
“Not four at that time of the year, in that competition, all on the road.
“No, they cannot win it.”
Read has also written off the third placed Bulldogs, who guaranteed themselves of a top four finish with their win over the Panthers.
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“How can the Dogs win it, the way they’re going at the moment?” Read asked.
“They’re not playing well enough.”
Read said the competition is now a two-horse race between minor premiers the Raiders and the second placed Storm, who were runners-up last season.
“For me, (the Raiders and the Storm are) the obvious two standout sides,” Read said.
“I think the rest of them, you can just about put a line through them.
“Might as well not turn up.”
