Before a ball was kicked last year, I only gave the Panthers a slim chance making it three straight titles. I was wrong.

At the start of the 2024 season, I thought they’d have no chance. Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu were going to be two players I thought would be too hard to replace. It just had to come to an end.

But after the first month of the competition, it looks like I’m going to be wrong again.

I was absolutely blown away by their performance against the Roosters last week. No Nathan Cleary, no James Fisher-Harris, no Scott Sorensen and missing Liam Martin for more than half the game. I thought the Roosters were absolute morals, but they were never in the hunt.

I sat on the sideline for the first time in a long time and there was one thing that struck me: how happy the Panthers are as a club. The lower grades were all there watching and their stars all looked rock-hard fit.

It was another superhuman performance from Dylan Edwards. In any other era he would have played many State of Origin matches and internationals. But with so many dominant fullbacks, his opportunities have been limited.

Sunia Turuva celebrates one of his three tries against the Roosters on Thursday night.Credit: Getty

Maybe he can speak with the horses Winx regularly beat up on!

I’ve still got the Broncos as the team to beat this year, even though they’ve had a mixed start to the season. The way it’s looking, we’re heading for another Panthers-Broncos grand final.

QOSHE - Why I was wrong about the Panthers – again - Andrew Johns
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Why I was wrong about the Panthers – again

20 6
04.04.2024

Before a ball was kicked last year, I only gave the Panthers a slim chance making it three straight titles. I was wrong.

At the start of the 2024 season, I thought they’d have no chance. Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu were going to be two players I thought would be too hard to replace. It just had to come to an end.

But after the first month of the competition,........

© The Sydney Morning Herald


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