The Panthers are drawing motivation from last year’s NRL finals exit after the Reece Walsh-inspired Broncos snapped their stunning grand final streak. And the players insist the disappointment of 2025 is fuelling their quest for a fifth premiership in six years.
Walsh was outstanding in last year’s finals series and won the Clive Churchill Medal after one of the great grand final performances in Brisbane’s win over Melbourne. The Broncos No.1 was also instrumental to his side’s preliminary final victory over the Panthers, which denied Ivan Cleary’s side a sixth-straight grand final appearance since 2020.
Panthers players are fuelled by their preliminary final loss to Reece Walsh (R) and the Broncos in 2025 as they chase another NRL premiership this year. Pic: Getty
Penrith’s players admit it was hard watching from home as Walsh led his club to a first premiership in 19 years. And Panthers forward Liam Martin says the lack of activity on the players’ chat group pointed to a squad determined to erase their bitter disappointment in 2026.
“(It was) just dead silence,” Martin said. “I think everyone sort of had the same feeling of just being pretty bitter. Not regrets, but just watching and wishing it was us. It was different, having been there for a number of years, and then to watch it as a fan was a bit bitter.”
Fullback Dylan Edwards added: “I didn’t like watching it. I’d rather be there. It just timed that I had a weekend up on the Central Coast after the season, so I watched the first half there and second half in the car coming back. It was a bit different, but it was a pretty good game to be fair.”
Panthers players hungry to erase 2025 finals demons
The motivation for Penrith in previous seasons has been around defending their title after four-straight premierships from 2021. This year it’s very different for Ivan Cleary’s squad, who are determined to erase the demons of their preliminary final defeat to Brisbane 12 months ago.
“That loss certainly burned desire within us,” Martin said. “That feeling of being so close but letting it slip, wasn’t good fun. It’s addictive, that feeling of success. It’s what we have here and we keep driving one another and we just want to keep getting better.”
Liam Martin (L) and Dylan Edwards (R) are desperate to erase the demons of 2025 and claim another NRL premiership with the Panthers this year. Pic: Getty
Casey McLean added: “Obviously it was a tough pill to swallow last year. A different team putting up the trophy is a weird thing to happen. But it also just showed the greed of wanting to win was still there. And that wasn’t just for myself.”
Penrith can book another prelim appearance with victory over the Roosters in Sunday’s qualifying final at CommBank Stadium. And with eight of Penrith’s 19-man squad yet to win a premiership, there’s no lack of motivation for coach Cleary’s side.
with AAP