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Find your Sport Nation frequencyFrom 4-peat to 1-4: Panthers in ‘uncharted waters’ after upset loss to Cowboys
Nicholas Quinlan • April 5th, 2025 12:35 pm
The Penrith Panthers find themselves in what their coach Ivan Cleary describes as “uncharted waters” now having lost four games in a row with any chance of winning a fifth consecutive premiership looking incredibly slim.
Last night, Penrith was defeated by the North Queensland Cowboys 18-22 seeing them now slump to 14th on the ladder.
This is the first time since 2019 that they have lost four games in a row and the first time since 2013 that they have won only one game in their first five games.
The game was competitive throughout the 80 minutes with Penrith taking a six-point lead into half time.
But the Cowboys scored two tries within the first ten minutes of the second half and then proceeded to hang on.
The Panthers had looked to have scored the game-tying try in the 75th minute when Paul Alamoti crossed the line.
However, that decision would be overturned by the Bunker who deemed that Alamoti had his foot touch the sideline.
Speaking in the post-game press conference, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary admitted that his team is in a unique position compared to the other six seasons he has coached the team.
“There was lots of good stuff,” Cleary noted.
“But it’s sort of clear that our flow is not there, some of the errors that we’re talking about are uncharacteristic coming from various different players that just wouldn’t usually do that.
“We’re in sort of unchartered waters a little bit.
“We’ve all lost games and that, it’s clearly just the flow you’d like that isn’t quite there.”
However, he reiterated his belief that Penrith is still capable of finding its form.
“Fact is, we feel like we can win every game and probably could of,” Cleary said.
“What may have once come easily is not and we’re making it look hard at the moment.
“I have complete faith in this group and what we can do and what we can achieve.”
The Panthers will look to correct its course to a 5-peat when they play against the Redcliffe Dolphins on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium.
They will be without five-eighth Jack Cole who failed an HIA after suffering a category two concussion.
The Cowboys will travel west to play Rabbitohs on Saturday afternoon in Perth at Optus Stadium.
