Home Ground: CommBank Stadium Parramatta

Coach: Ivan Cleary

The Penrith Panthers head into the 2026 NRL season aiming to reclaim their premiership crown after their four-year dynasty ended in the 2025 preliminary finals. With a relatively settled squad and minimal high-profile departures compared to previous years, stability is their key asset. 

The Panthers story of 2025 will pretty much go unforgotten in the history books. They were locked at the bottom of the table for a period, much to the celebration of rival fans after such a long run of success and were facing a disastrously long season. Despite their poor start, the Panthers still mounted a strong title defence, with Nathan Cleary at the heart of all they did. Somehow, despite a string of injuries, Cleary managed to play 22 games, often getting the Panthers home in the tight matches with his brilliant game management. They clawed their way back up the table to mount a strong, and somewhat inconceivable run at the finals.

2025 Penrith Panthers recruit Blaize Talagi had some pretty big shoes to fill following the departure of Jarome Luai, and while he didn't reach the heights that his predecessor had hit, the 21-year-old went on to build a formidable combination with Nathan Cleary by season's end. Another preseason between Talagi and Cleary is likely to prove more fruitful than the last, with the latter looking to prove he can win a premiership without his former Blues halves partner in Luai. A motivated Cleary presents a formidable challenge, and with Talagi aiming to establish himself alongside a legendary halfback, the competitive intensity in Penrith is exceptionally high.

Yes, Nathan Cleary will be pivotal to the Panthers - as he always is. But it takes more than one star to win a comp. By his own lofty standards, Dylan Edwards had something of a down year in 2025. If he bounces back, so can Penrith. The unconsuming fullback has the guts minus the flair and carries the experience through successful campaigns alongside capatain Isaiah Yeo.

Coach Ivan Cleary opted to look at the NSW Cup and NRL State Championship winners for recruits and snapped up Tom Ale and Kalani Going from the Warriors. Going comes from the famous Northland family that boasted star All Blacks halfback of the 1970s, Sid Going, while Ale didn't see enough game time at the Warriors to be effective. Word is that new Panthers recruits are training the house down in the Penrith heat. Expect them to play plenty of first grade in 2026. Going is a lock, but also played in the second-row for the Warriors' NSW Cup side throughout the season. While his time could be limited wearing No.13 due to Isaah Yeo, he could feature off the bench as a versatile interchange.

However, the mountain men operate on a challenging schedule that offers limited assistance. Penrith are the only club slated to face each of last season's top-four teams twice, with Cronulla the sole finalist from 2025 they won't have two matches against. Fighting to win back the trophy from Brisbane after four straight premierships between 2021 and 2024, the Panthers are also still without their home stadium as it undergoes redevelopment. In turn, they will take games to Bathurst and Mudgee, while also facing an away match in Darwin against the Dolphins.

PREDICTED SEASON FINISH - 4TH