Mole’s season review: Major Cleary fear looms after Panthers ‘fell apart without him’
It’s going to be a very long, hot summer for the Penrith Panthers as they have recurring nightmares of the grand final that got away.
When the Knights were reduced to 12 men following that horrible tackle on Nathan Cleary just before half time in the preliminary final on Sunday, the Panthers had a spot in the big dance at their mercy.
The Panthers have missed out on their second straight grand final appearance. Getty Images
Raging hot favourites against a Newcastle team a player down, it seemed impossible that Penrith – the team with ice in their veins in big games – could lose.
But the Panthers’ attack - missing their maestro halfback - couldn’t get into gear on the day and somehow failed to even score a point against a team missing a man in more than 40 minutes of football.
The Knights dug in, scored two tries of their own… and the rest is history.
It all looked so promising. The Panthers won the minor premiership in fine style, scored more points than any other team over the season and seemed destined to take on the Roosters in the grand final.
But it wasn’t to be and a combination of injuries, bad luck and poor execution in the qualifying final proved their undoing.
Big wins in the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg grand finals last weekend suggest that the Panthers will remain a powerhouse for years to come despite this setback.
Once again, rival clubs have picked at the club’s salary cap bones, but Penrith have escaped better than in recent years, losing only two regular top liners - forwards Scott Sorensen and Liam Henry (both Perth Bears).
That means the team that dominated much of the 2026 season is relatively intact - and will be boosted by the young up-and-comers.
The nagging question that will dog the Panthers throughout the off season will be Cleary’s recovery.
His broken leg was so severe that it is likely to require several more surgeries, with a minimum of six months until he is fit to play again.
And worse case scenario, there have been players who have suffered similar compound fractures who have never fully recovered, or become a shadow of what they once were.
The Panthers stood arm in arm before the preliminary final. Getty Images
The Panthers will be praying Cleary heals completely and quickly, but have plenty of other match-winners in their ranks.
Fullback Dylan Edwards remains one of the most dangerous ball runners in the league and enjoyed another prosperous season in 2026.
Wingers Tom Jenkins and Brian To’o were superb, bagging a phenomenal 46 tries between them. Jenkins, with 30 tries, shattered records throughout the season and goes down as one of the most improved players in the game this year.
Centre Casey McLean continues to develop but the other centre spot proved something of a problem with Paul Alamoti, Luke Garner, Blaize Talagi and Izack Tago all tried there with mixed success.
Jack Cogger proved a capable fill-in when Cleary was injured or on Origin duty and Talagi and Cole filled the five-eighth role for much of the season.
Isaah Yeo was a tower of strength at lock, leading the forwards and distributing the ball out wide to the dangerous backline.
After a slow start, Liam Martin shone in the big games and Sorensen, Garner and Isaiah Papali’i were always a handful in the second row.
Up front, Lindsay Smith enjoyed his best season, Moses Leota was steady as ever and Liam Henry was strong - what a pity he is moving on.
Hooker Mitch Kenny was rock solid in defence but only managed nine games due to injury, with the consistent Freddy Lussick playing most of the season at hooker.
Ivan Cleary will use the off season to reflect on just what went so badly wrong against the Knights - and could use a couple of players to add to the club’s depth come November 1.
Best player: Nathan Cleary showed how vital he is to the Penrith game plan when he went off in the final game in agony… the Panthers fell to pieces without him. His game management is second to none.
Biggest disappointment: Alamoti has been a shining light for the Panthers in recent years but managed just four tries in 21 games - he will want a better haul in 2027.
Key signing: n/a
2027 gains: None to date
2027 losses: Scott Sorensen (Perth Bears), Liam Henry (Perth Bears) and Jack Cole (Perth Bears)
