Penrith Panthers 2023 NRL Preview & Predictions

<p>The Penrith Panthers enter the 2023 season hunting an unprecedented hattrick of premierships.</p> <p>Ivan Cleary’s men remain the team to beat, but a number of key rivals have significantly strengthened in a bid to close the gap at the top.</p> <p>Not only have those around them strengthened, but the Panthers have lost a number of key men and will once again have to turn to their impeccable junior system to replace them.</p> <p>This means the Penrith Panthers’ predicted team for their season opener against the Broncos will be fairly different to the one that comprehensively dealt with the Eels in last season’s decider.</p> <p>Can the Panthers replace their departing stars and pick up where they left off last season? Does a third premiership in a row await? Or will 2023 be the year someone finally reels them in? Our Penrith Panthers’ preview is below.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Gains</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li><strong><em>Luke Garner (Wests Tigers)</em></strong></li> <li><strong><em>Jack Cogger (Huddersfield Giants)</em></strong></li> <li><strong><em>Zac Hosking (Brisbane Broncos)</em></strong></li> <li><strong><em>Tyrone Peachey (Wests Tigers)</em></strong></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Former Panther Tyrone Peachey has returned to the foot of the mountains in an effort to revive his waning career.</p> <p>It was at Penrith where Peachey made his name and even earned a NSW Origin jersey and he will be hoping Ivan Clearly can help him recapture his glory days.</p> <p>The other notable additions come in the shape of a pair of second rowers. Luke Garner and Zac Hosking have joined from the Tigers and Broncos respectively and will battle Scott Sorensen for the starting spot vacated by Viliame Kikau.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Key Losses</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li><em><strong>Viliame Kikau (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>J’maine Hopgood (Parramatta Eels)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Charlie Staines (Wests Tigers)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Sean O’Sullivan (The Dolphins)</strong></em></li> <li><em><strong>Robert Jennings (The Dolphins)</strong></em></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A couple of key cogs from the Panthers dual premiership juggernaut have been moved on to accommodate the inevitable squeeze of the salary cap.</p> <p>Viliame Kikau has followed former Penrith overlord Gus Gould to the Bulldogs, while livewire hooker Api Koroisau now calls the Tigers home.</p> <p>Up-and-coming forward J’maine Hopgood has been poached by Parra, after impressing in his limited appearances last season and backup no.7 Sean O’Sullivan has relocated to Redcliffe for his shot at being a first-choice halfback.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Player To Watch</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Dylan Edwards</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>No longer the most underrated player in a Penrith side jam packed with superstars, Dylan Edwards blew his cover last season and announced himself as one of the game’s premier fullbacks.</p> <p>He turned in a performance for the ages as his side dismantled the Eels in last season’s GF, winning the Clive Churchill medal in the process.</p> <p>His tireless runs out of trouble and his never-say-die cover defence have made him the backbone of his side and 2023 could very well be the year he starts challenging the likes of James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic as the best No.1 in the game.</p> <p>If Penrith do go back-to-back-to-back, you can expect Dylan Edwards to be one of the main reasons why.</p>

<h3>Penrith Panthers’ Season Prediction</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Predicted finish: <strong>2nd</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s understandable why Penrith are currently the premiership favourites, after all they have won the last two titles in a row.</p> <p>In Nathan Cleary they possess a generational talent and their tackle-busting outside backs can rival most forward packs.</p> <p>One of the main factors threatening a Panthers three-peat is the departures of Kikau and Koroisau.</p> <p>Both are representative players who play in key positions. They were also both integral to the Panther’s lethal attack, having both formed a formidable combination with Nathan Cleary and Jerome Luai.</p> <p>Also after residing on top of the Rugby League mountain for so long how does Ivan Cleary motivate his team for yet another title charge?</p> <p>If anyone can though, it’s Cleary and while his team may not win it all this year, you can expect them to be there or thereabouts come season’s end.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Penrith Panthers’ Predicted Team For Round 1</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ol> <li>Dylan Edwards</li> <li>Brian To'o</li> <li>Stephen Crichton</li> <li>Izack Tago</li> <li>Sunia Turuva</li> <li>Jarome Luai</li> <li>Nathan Cleary</li> <li>Moses Leota</li> <li>Mitch Kenny</li> <li>James Fisher-Harris</li> <li>Scott Sorensen</li> <li>Liam Martin</li> <li>Isaah Yeo</li> <li>Tyrone Peachey</li> <li>Luke Garner</li> <li>Spencer Leniu</li> <li>Jaeman Salmon</li> </ol>