Panthers Face Tough Test Against Rabbitohs Amid Injury Crisis
The Penrith Panthers remain strong contenders for another NRL title, but the four-time defending premiers are looking vulnerable heading into Thursday’s clash with South Sydney, who will likely target their inexperienced halves.
Already missing star fullback Dylan Edwards due to injury, Penrith’s woes deepened when Nathan Cleary was forced off early in their grand final rematch against the Storm. His departure saw Blaize Talagi make his club debut alongside Jack Cole, and while the young duo showed promise and sparked a late fightback, they are still finding their rhythm. Brad Schneider is another option at halfback for Thursday’s match.
The Panthers have won just one of their first three games and sit just behind the Rabbitohs on the ladder. South Sydney’s forwards are expected to apply plenty of pressure on Penrith’s young playmakers, much like they did in their dominant performance against the Dragons two weeks ago.
“When we’re at our best, we can take on any team,” said Rabbitohs lock Tallis Duncan.
“We’re focusing on them as a team, not who’s missing. But we definitely want to be physical and take the challenge to them. Putting pressure on the halves is key because we know how much they control the game.”
Panthers’ System Keeps Them Dangerous
Despite being without Cleary, Edwards, and Jarome Luai—who joined the Wests Tigers—the Panthers’ system remains so strong that they are still favourites to bounce back.
“They’ve won four comps in a row, so they’re not going to stay down for long,” said Rabbitohs utility Jayden Sullivan.
“They’re the premiers for a reason. It takes a full squad to achieve that, and they’ve mastered the ‘next man up’ mentality. Losing Cleary last week and still pushing hard shows how resilient they are.”
Rabbitohs Look to Bounce Back
The Rabbitohs head into this clash off the back of their first loss of the season but take confidence from avoiding a blowout against the Sharks, who looked poised to run up a big score on Saturday.
“We take confidence from that,” said prop Davvy Moale after Monday’s light training session.
“In the past, we might have given up and let the score get out of hand, but we kept fighting.”
With both teams eager to get back on track, Thursday’s clash promises to be a fierce battle between the reigning champions and a hungry Rabbitohs side looking to make a statement.
