Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has expressed his belief that his team doesn’t deserve their current last-place standing in the NRL ladder, despite a challenging start to the season. Cleary acknowledged the need for his squad to improve their performance over longer periods if they are to regain their footing in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership.
The Panthers’ recent 26-10 defeat to the Manly Sea Eagles marked their sixth loss in eight rounds, leaving them at the bottom of the ladder. Their upcoming clash against the Brisbane Broncos in the Magic Round will be crucial as they seek to reverse their fortunes.
Cleary’s Perspective on the Ladder and Team Performance
When questioned about the Panthers’ position on the ladder, Cleary remarked, “I don’t think so, but I guess it is,” suggesting that the standings may not fully reflect their efforts. “The ladder doesn’t really matter until July or August or something, but I guess it’s a talking point,” he added. Cleary emphasized that with only two wins, their current position was inevitable.
Reflecting on the game against the Sea Eagles, Cleary noted, “We just didn’t play well enough. First half just too many errors and on the back of things like 8-1 penalty count or penalties and six agains, so that’s just far too much possession against us.”
Challenges with Penalties and Game Management
Cleary expressed frustration over the penalties and sin bins that marred the game, which he believes detract from the sport’s appeal. “Yeah, absolutely and that’s just some of the things that we can control,” Cleary said regarding the penalties. He acknowledged that while some issues were within their control, other factors were contributing to their struggles.
When asked about the current enforcement of high tackles and shoulder charges, Cleary agreed with the suggestion of an overcorrection, stating, “I think that’s probably a fair comment.”
Looking Forward: Building on Team Character
Despite the setbacks, Cleary remains confident in his team’s ability to turn the season around. “I don’t think you can question the character of our team,” he stated, highlighting their resilience. “We thought we’d played a lot better last week, but we’re still trying to find what sort of team we are and our combinations and all that.”
Star halfback Nathan Cleary echoed his father’s sentiments, acknowledging the team’s inability to maintain momentum. “Pretty disappointed,” Cleary Jr said. “I think there were definitely periods where it felt like we were gaining some momentum, but we just gave away way too easily through errors and penalties and all the rest of it.”
Path to Improvement and Consistency
Nathan Cleary remains optimistic about the team’s potential, stating, “Well, I’m still super positive about what this group can do because I feel like in every single game we’ve had patches that are like the footy we want to play.” He emphasized the need for consistency, saying, “It’s just they’re just too few and far between at the moment.”
Ivan Cleary concluded by challenging his team to learn from their defeats and strive for longer periods of quality play. “Yeah, absolutely, we want to play better though, that’s what we need to worry about,” he said. “As Nathan said, we’ve got to put bigger periods of good play together. We’ve got to start the game better than we did tonight.”
“But to win NRL games, you have got to play better for longer and we know how to do that. But unfortunately, this team, to this point, we haven’t done that, offered enough. So that’s our challenge.”
The Panthers will need to harness their potential and address their inconsistencies as they prepare for the upcoming matches. Their ability to adapt and improve will be crucial in determining their success in the remainder of the season.
