Ivan Cleary admits Penrith are learning to adapt in 'uncharted waters' amid recent slump
Ivan Cleary admitted the Penrith Panthers are learning to adapt in "uncharted waters" as the reigning premiers nightmare start to the season continues.
The four-time premiership winners were stunned by a fierce Cowboys outfit on Friday, falling short 22-18 in a thriller at CommBank Stadium.
The defeat saw Penrith sink to the bottom four on the ladder. It's the first time they have been in such position at the start of the season since 2013.
READ MORE: Hopes fade for Bears return as Perth plans ditched
READ MORE: Lucky cross breaks Tillies' rocky start to the season
READ MORE: Djokovic leads fight against 'unfair pay ratios'
Penrith had the upper hand with possession but struggled to convert their momentum into points as minor errors continued to interfere with their success.
Panthers players react during the round five NRL match between Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys. Getty
Cleary's men finished with 16 errors, six conceded penalties and one sin bin, while three stars will also await their fate with the match review committee for high tackles.
"We're in unchartered waters, to some extent," Cleary said post-match.
"Six years ago we were (in this position) but a lot of these players haven't been there."
Players like Cleary's star halfback son Nathan were still in high school during the 2013 season while young centre Casey McLean was seven-years-old and in primary school.
"It is sort of new for me too, to come from where we've been," said the premiership-winning coach.
"We've worked really hard over a long period of time to develop a winning culture at the Panthers. Winning cultures, they drill down on stuff that you can control."
Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
The Panthers were without Dylan Edwards and Scott Sorensen during the match, who were both out with injury.
But the team could be without hooker Mitch Kenny next week against the Dolphins after he went down with a shoulder injury.
Kenny managed to play through his shoulder concern, but the injury setback is one Cleary insists his team can continue to push through.
"I couldn't care less about the season slipping away," Cleary said.
"I have complete faith in this group and what we can do, what we can achieve.
"Clearly the flow you'd like just isn't quite there," he continued.
"Some of the errors that we're talking about are uncharacteristic, coming from various different players that usually wouldn't do that."
