Fearless and Finals-Bound: Panthers Roar ‘Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’ in Hunt for History
Earlier this season, even Mitch Kenny had his doubts about the Penrith Panthers’ premiership hopes. A shocking five-game losing streak between rounds two and five had the reigning champions languishing at the bottom of the NRL ladder. For a team chasing an extraordinary fifth straight title, the signs were grim. But as the finals approach, Kenny’s mindset has shifted dramatically. Now, the determined hooker firmly believes the Panthers can beat “anyone, anywhere, any time.”
Despite a remarkable late-season resurgence — a nine-game winning streak that reminded the competition of Penrith’s championship pedigree — the Panthers fell short of the top four, finishing seventh. That means they face a sudden-death path to glory, starting with a daunting trip to Auckland to face the Warriors on Saturday. No team has ever won the title from outside the top four in the NRL era, but Kenny is undeterred.
He argues that the team is used to playing without a true home advantage, with CommBank Stadium serving as a temporary base while Penrith’s new stadium is under construction. “It kind of feels like we’ve been on the road all year,” he said, embracing the underdog mentality.
A pivotal moment in their turnaround came back in Round 16 — ironically against the Warriors in Auckland — when a depleted Penrith side, missing Origin stars, pulled off a gutsy 28-18 win. Kenny, acting captain that night, believes that victory sparked the team’s transformation. “That was the catalyst,” he said. “We just competed hard, held each other accountable, and got back to what makes us great.”
With their backs to the wall, the Panthers are battle-hardened and ready. As Kenny puts it, they have no choice now but to win — and they believe they can.
