Billy Slater believes the Panthers can still “really push” for another premiership in the wake of their inspired win over the Warriors.
The reigning champions were without five State of Origin stars for their trip across to Auckland, but managed to walk away with a tough 28-18 victory.
After sitting at the bottom of the NRL ladder not too long ago, Penrith have now surged into the top-eight and once again look like a genuine finals team.
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Before this past Saturday’s game, the Warriors had only dropped three matches all season and had proven a difficult obstacle for many rivals to overcome.
But according to Slater, the win for the Panthers could spark them back towards glory.
Panthers players during the round 16 win Getty
“To go over to New Zealand and play a top-four without five of your lead men, that is an incredible performance and that’s something that can really change a season and it galvanises a group,” he said on Nine’s The Billy Slater Podcast.
“This win can do a lot for a footy team and now they are sitting in the top-eight, they can see the light. Wouldn’t they have some teams looking over their shoulder now?
“If they can remain in the top-eight up until September, they can really push for another premiership – they are a great team.”
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The premiers will be sweating on the fitness of Nathan Cleary after he suffered a groin injury in Blues camp leading up to last Wednesday’s Origin game – but they will be licking their lips looking at the draw.
Penrith face a tough task in round 17 against the ladder-leading Bulldogs, but after that will enjoy a rather soft run home – at least on paper – with games against the Eels, Rabbitohs, Tigers, Titans, Knights and Dragons still to come.
Blaize Talagi of the Panthers celebrates after scoring a try Getty
But as has become the new norm, it only takes a couple of strong performances in this year’s competition to drastically change your spot on the table.
“It’s so tight – four competition points from 15th to sixth,” Slater said.
“If you put a good month of footy together, all of a sudden you’re in the top-eight and you’re playing finals.”
As it stands, the top of the ladder is incredibly settled with six points separating the Warriors (24) in fourth and Broncos (18) in fifth.
From there, it’s a complete logjam with the Sharks and Roosters both locked on 18 with byes in hand, while the Panthers are on 17 points after a bye earlier in the year.
Mark Nawaqanitawase’s Roosters are starting to fire Getty
Manly, St George Illawarra and the injury-ravaged Dolphins are all stuck on 16 points – but the latter of that group still have two byes up their sleeve.
North Queensland sit on 15 points and could quite easily turn things around given the quality of players in their side, while the Knights, Tigers, Eels and Rabbitohs are on 14.
Right now, the Titans are stuck on a lowly 12 points but just a handful of wins could put them back in the hunt for an unlikely finals spot.
With things as close as they are, the difference between making finals and missing out could come down to points differential – or in the case of Penrth, an early-season draw.
