Panthers coach Ivan Cleary was quizzed on whether the majority of his first grade side would return after enjoying a week\u2019s rest in Round 26.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, we\u2019ve got a plan. So we will just see how it goes,\u201d he said with a wry smile after going down to the Bulldogs 28-4.<\/a><\/p>\n Cleary shocked the NRL world when his teamlist was unveiled on Tuesday, with 16 stars sidelined and Brad Schneider the only remaining player from Round 25 named.<\/p>\n FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer ><\/a><\/p>\n Penrith\u2019s chances of making the top four were reduced to zero after a golden point loss to the Raiders, so Cleary made what many believed to be a bizarre call.<\/p>\n The Panthers will lock in a seventh-placed finish should the Roosters lose to the Storm, but could slump to eighth if Trent Robinson\u2019s side win both remaining games and Penrith lose in Round 27.<\/p>\n Cleary\u2019s latest response hints his decision could hinge on the result of the Tricolours\u2019 clash with Melbourne.<\/p>\n Against the Bulldogs on Thursday night John Fonua, David Fale, Zac Lipowicz and Billy Phillips made their NRL debuts while Dias and Riley Price enjoyed club debuts.<\/p>\n Without their top talent, Cleary was of the belief his team\u2019s performance was something to be proud of.<\/p>\n Ivan Cleary’s wry smile in his post-match press conference.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n \u201cI thought the boys did really well, I sort of threw them in the deep end really. They were coming off a five-day turnaround most of those boys,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I didn\u2019t think a lot went our way either. Particularly that period where we lost Zac (Lipowicz)… I thought we handled that really well.<\/p>\n \u201cJust right to the end really, defensively in particular. Just kept turning up for each other, and doing the very best they could.<\/p>\n \u201cVery proud, it was a good week for our club.\u201d<\/p>\n Cleary also explained this week\u2019s jersey presentations were a special moment for the club.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing through the debut presentations the other day, just the stories that were coming out which we already sort of know,\u201d Cleary said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut when you hear them again, it\u2019s just amazing how everyone has their own story and the sort of guys you are talking about, have probably had false starts here and there.<\/p>\n Reynolds suffers fresh injury setback | 00:31<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n RUN HOME: Resting chaos not over as top four decided; who gets last finals spot<\/a><\/p>\n