The Mole's season review: 'Cocky' Panthers cement 'legendary' status in Jarome Luai swansong

Penrith Panthers: 2023 finish: Premiers 2024 finish: Premiers

They have had their critics over the past few seasons but Penrith's convincing grand final victory over the Storm on Sunday night has erased all doubt - this Panthers team is among the greatest of all time.

Confident, yes, even a bit cocky at times - but when you win four straight titles - becoming the first team since the 1960s to do so - you have earned that right.

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The Storm went into the decider as slight favourites, scored the opening try - but then had no answer to Panther Power.

To win four titles in the salary cap era is a truly amazing feat by Ivan Cleary and his men.

Since winning their first title in 2021, Stephen Crichton, Paul Momirovski, Matt Burton, Api Koroisau, Kurt Capewell, Viliame Kikau, Tyrone May, Spencer Leniu and Brent Naden - half that 18 man squad - have gone.

New faces have come in and they too have been poached by rival clubs looking to end the Panthers' reign.

Yet somehow, using the 'next man up' mentality, the Panthers have kept on winning to become the most successful team since the legendary Dragons team that won 11 straight premierships in the 1950s and '60s.

And remarkably, they did it for much of the season without their band leader and on-field general, Nathan Cleary.

Cleary played a mere 13 of the 27 matches - less than half of the fixtures - due to injury, losing just two games that he started.

The brotherhood between the players made the Panthers even stronger - and the away game at Bluebet Stadium has become the most feared match on the calendar for every rival club.

Dylan Edwards was simply phenomenal at fullback, dethroning Blues skipper James Tedesco with his amazing running that regularly produced 200 and occasionally 300 metres.

Wingers Brian To'o and Sunia Turuva were the main beneficiaries of his running game, bagging 31 tries between them. In the centres, Izack Tago enjoyed his best season while the Panthers discovered a star of the future in Bulldogs discard Paul Alamoti.

The youngster began the season in the NSW Cup but was one of the standouts in the grand final, scoring one and creating another of the Panthers' three tries.

With Cleary spending so much time in the physio's room, massive pressure was placed on five-eighth Jarome Luai - but the classy pivot rose to the occasion, taking over the main playmaking duties with ease.

Isaah Yeo has changed the way locks play football, mixing a high energy running game with passing skills to set the backline alight.

Second-rower Liam Martin's combination of aggression and energy proved one of the Panthers' biggest assets and he was far and away the best player on the field on grand final night.

Luke Garner and Scott Sorensen both shone in the other second row spot while up front, twin towers James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota simply crushed all comers.

Support came in the form of foot soldiers Lindsay Smith, who played all 27 games, veteran Matt Eisenhuth, Mavrik Geyer and the much-improved Liam Henry.

Hooker Mitch Kenny isn't the flashiest dummyhalf but was consistency personified in the middle in defence, playing 24 games and topping the tackle count almost every week.

The hurdles will continue in 2025, with three key members of the grand final team - Turuva (Wests Tigers), Luai (Wests Tigers) and Fisher-Harris (Warriors) - all moving on.

But it would take a brave critic to write the Panthers off as they chase a fifth straight crown, with plenty of fine young players ready to step up into what is now a truly legendary team.

Best player: Dylan Edwards' statistics were stunning as he averaged over 200 running metres a game - as well as proving a safe last line of defence.

Needs to lift: Moses Leota has been a rock throughout the Panthers' reign - but with Fisher-Harris moving on he is going to have to take it up a notch to keep the Panthers a force up front.

Best signing: Isaiah Papali'i struggled in his time at the Tigers but if he can find his Parramatta form of a couple of seasons ago, he'll prove a great buy.

2025 gains: Isaiah Papali'i (Wests Tigers), Blaize Talagi (Eels)

2025 losses: Sunia Turuva (Wests Tigers), Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers), James Fisher-Harris (Warriors), Isaiah Iongi (Eels), Tyrone Peachey (retired)