Can the Penrith juggernaut continue to steamroll all comers and win yet another title in 2024?
That's the question the league world is asking after the Panthers' stunning comeback to win the NRL title last weekend.
Four straight grand finals, a premiership three-peat - the Panthers are already up there with the greatest teams of all time.
READ MORE: World Cup holders 'completely outplayed' as NZ gets revenge
READ MORE: Bizarre reason this photo was wiped
READ MORE: Pangai Junior's parting swipe at NRL
But if they do conjure up a fourth consecutive title, it will be the longest run since St George's magical era of the 1950s and '60s - and the Panthers already have the Saints in their sights.
Sure, they've lost world-class players Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu - but let's not forget that this time last year critics were ready to write them off after the departure of strike forwards Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau.
And when the Panthers suffered a shock defeat to St Helens in the World Club Challenge and then lost two of their first four premiership games, plenty thought the golden run was over.
But under Ivan Cleary's steady hand, the Panthers regrouped, did a hard reset - and lost just four more games in the entire year.
It's a measure of how good the Panthers are that they played fairly ordinary football for the first 60 minutes of the grand final, looked dead and buried - yet stormed home for a remarkable win.
The big dance was Nathan Cleary's piece de resistance and earned him a place in the game's folklore - it was truly a work of genius for which he will be forever remembered.
The Panthers had many heroes during a year in which they had targets on their backs from start to finish, with rivals desperate to stop the three-peat.
Fullback Dylan Edwards was superb, regularly racking up 200 and even 300 running metres per game.
Wingers Brian To'o and Sunia Turuva were like extra forwards, getting their team out of trouble - and bagged over 30 tries between them to boot.
Centres Izack Tago and Crichton enjoyed their most profitable seasons in the NRL and the latter, off to the Bulldogs, will be sorely missed.
Jarome Luai was at his love him or hate him best, taking the pressure off Cleary in the playmaking stakes.
Up front, big forwards James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota intimidated rival packs with their aggression and back-rowers Liam Martin, Scott Sorensen, Spencer Leinu and Zac Hosking fed off their go-forward.
Hooker Mitch Kenny proved a capable replacement for Koroisau and lock Isaah Yeo was the perfect link man between the forwards and backs, a popular winner of the club's player of the year award.
While they were the best team in the land, the Panthers did have some crucial luck in one area - injuries.
Remarkably, 15 players turned out in 20 or more games, allowing Ivan Cleary to pick basically the same team virtually every week.
If that blessed run of luck continues, the four-peat is a massive chance.
Best player: Without Nathan Cleary, the premiership trophy would be sitting in Broncos headquarters - and the star halfback won the team plenty of other big games as well with his class and vision.
Key signing: The versatile Daine Laurie showed flashes of brilliance at the last-placed Tigers in 2023 and will appreciate playing in this star-studded Panthers outfit next year.
2024 gains: Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers), Brad Schneider (Hull KR), Paul Alamoti (Bulldogs)
2024 losses: Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Spencer Leniu (Roosters), Jaeman Salmon (Bulldogs), Jack Cogger (Knights)
Can the Penrith juggernaut continue to steamroll all comers and win yet another title in 2024?
That's the question the league world is asking after the Panthers' stunning comeback to win the NRL title last weekend.
Four straight grand finals, a premiership three-peat - the Panthers are already up there with the greatest teams of all time.
READ MORE: World Cup holders 'completely outplayed' as NZ gets revenge
READ MORE: Bizarre reason this photo was wiped
READ MORE: Pangai Junior's parting swipe at NRL
But if they do conjure up a fourth consecutive title, it will be the longest run since St George's magical era of the 1950s and '60s - and the Panthers already have the Saints in their sights.
Sure, they've lost world-class players Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu - but let's not forget that this time last year critics were ready to write them off after the departure of strike forwards Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau.
And when the Panthers suffered a shock defeat to St Helens in the World Club Challenge and then lost two of their first four premiership games, plenty thought the golden run was over.
But under Ivan Cleary's steady hand, the Panthers regrouped, did a hard reset - and lost just four more games in the entire year.
It's a measure of how good the Panthers are that they played fairly ordinary football for the first 60 minutes of the grand final, looked dead and buried - yet stormed home for a remarkable win.
The big dance was Nathan Cleary's piece de resistance and earned him a place in the game's folklore - it was truly a work of genius for which he will be forever remembered.
The Panthers had many heroes during a year in which they had targets on their backs from start to finish, with rivals desperate to stop the three-peat.
Fullback Dylan Edwards was superb, regularly racking up 200 and even 300 running metres per game.
Wingers Brian To'o and Sunia Turuva were like extra forwards, getting their team out of trouble - and bagged over 30 tries between them to boot.
Centres Izack Tago and Crichton enjoyed their most profitable seasons in the NRL and the latter, off to the Bulldogs, will be sorely missed.
Jarome Luai was at his love him or hate him best, taking the pressure off Cleary in the playmaking stakes.
Up front, big forwards James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota intimidated rival packs with their aggression and back-rowers Liam Martin, Scott Sorensen, Spencer Leinu and Zac Hosking fed off their go-forward.
Hooker Mitch Kenny proved a capable replacement for Koroisau and lock Isaah Yeo was the perfect link man between the forwards and backs, a popular winner of the club's player of the year award.
While they were the best team in the land, the Panthers did have some crucial luck in one area - injuries.
Remarkably, 15 players turned out in 20 or more games, allowing Ivan Cleary to pick basically the same team virtually every week.
If that blessed run of luck continues, the four-peat is a massive chance.
Best player: Without Nathan Cleary, the premiership trophy would be sitting in Broncos headquarters - and the star halfback won the team plenty of other big games as well with his class and vision.
Key signing: The versatile Daine Laurie showed flashes of brilliance at the last-placed Tigers in 2023 and will appreciate playing in this star-studded Panthers outfit next year.
2024 gains: Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers), Brad Schneider (Hull KR), Paul Alamoti (Bulldogs)
2024 losses: Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Spencer Leniu (Roosters), Jaeman Salmon (Bulldogs), Jack Cogger (Knights)
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