EXCLUSIVE: Penrith Panthers' grand final quest is 'too hard' says Andrew Johns
A sixth-consecutive appearance in the grand final is one the Penrith Panthers are hopeful to achieve but Andrew Johns believes it is could be too far out of reach.
It has not been the smoothest of seasons for the four-time premiership winners as they battled from the bottom of the table to contesting for a spot inside the eight.
With seven matches to go until the finals series kicks off and the season now flipped back in their favour, the Panthers are set for a tough fight back to the top.
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The Canberra Raiders currently sit first on the table followed by the Bulldogs, Storm and Warriors, while Penrith is in sixth at the beginning of round 21.
However, the Panthers do not have the easiest schedule leading into the finals.
Isaiah Papalii and Isaah Yeo of the Panthers celebrate victory. Getty
In the five games prior to the finals series, Penrith will face three teams in the top four. The Panthers will then face the Dragons in the final week of the regular season.
But those weeks will not be one the club can play at any level below a semi-final paced game, according to Johns.
"Really, out of eight weeks footy, they will have one so-called easy game against the Dragons but the rest are at semi final intensity," he said on Nine's Freddy and the Eighth.
"(They'll) go into sudden death footy where they have to win four games in a row. It is too hard for them.
"They've played a lot of footy (but) Liam Martin is busted, I don't know how Nathan's (Cleary) groin and that is. But it is a bridge too far this year for the Panthers."
Penrith great Brad Fittler noted that the team will benefit from the return of several key stars, who have been rested due to representative commitments and injury concerns.
"I think the good sign is they are winning at home and they have managed to all have a rest," Fittler added.
"Nathan, Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o have all had a rest and they still managed to win those games.
"They won all their games over Origin and made 16 points over six games and two byes.
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"A lot of the teams that are in the top, Canterbury, the Raiders, the Warriors... geez, they haven't had much experience playing in finals," he continued.
"You've got three teams who haven't been in the top four for a long time."
Nathan Cleary of the Panthers and team mates look on after loss. Getty
Johns could not see the Raiders losing their ladder position in the coming weeks and expects they will face the Warriors in the first qualification final.
As for the bottom half of the eight, the eighth Immortal said the Sharks will finish seventh overall while the Roosters will be at risk of missing the cut.
"There is four teams going for that seventh and eighth position. It is Manly, the Sharks, the Dolphins and the Roosters," Johns said.
"The Sharks is easy, they will finish seventh so then you've got Manly, the Dolphins and the Roosters.
"The Roosters for and against [169] is horrible which means even though they are on the same amount of points as the Dolphins [who have a for and against of eight] they are really two points below.
"If the Roosters lose [to the Storm on Thursday], they are no chance of making that eighth position."
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