Panthers coach Ivan Cleary prioritizes health, resting 16 players for upcoming match against Bulldogs.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary believes his team has the potential to become the first in three decades to win a competition from outside the top four by focusing on health rather than their position on the ladder as they approach the finals.
Despite still having a theoretical chance of breaking into the top four, Penrith's recent stunning defeat to Canberra has seen them drop to seventh place. This outcome means they depend on favorable results from other matches in order to secure a top-four finish.
In light of this situation, Cleary decided to rest 16 players for Thursday night's game against the Bulldogs, designating Matt Eisenhuth to captain a young team at Accor Stadium.