The 2021 Penrith Panthers season is the 55th season in the club's history. Coached by Ivan Cleary and co-captained by Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, the Panthers are competing in the National Rugby League's 2021 Telstra Premiership. After the Panthers round 2 victory against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs the Panthers become the first team in NRL history to win the opening two rounds holding the opposition to nil as well as the first team to hold the opposition to nil in three regular season games in a row. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Bluebet stadium was reduced to a capacity of 14,077 in rounds 1 and 3; after this in round 5 further lifting of restrictions meant that a crowd of 20,890 would be allowed into the stadium. This large crowd, however, was short-lived as Panthers misunderstood the new COVID restrictions, meaning tickets for the hills were oversold. From round 7 onwards the new capacity would be 16,110 until restrictions eased further. After round 12 was completed, the NSW and Queensland state of origin sides were announced for game one, where a record 7 Panthers were selected to represent their state. As a consequence, in round 13 Penrith would have to play without 7 of their stars and 3 debutants for the club. After 27 straight regular season wins and 12 straight to start the season, the win streak was broken, losing 26–6 against rivals the Wests Tigers. Penrith finished second overall at the end of the regular season and went on to play South Sydney in the first week of the finals series. They would go on to lose 10 – 16 but after wins against the Parramatta Eels (8 – 6) and Melbourne Storm (6 – 10) they would set up a rematch against the Rabbitohs. In the grand final Penrith were the eventual Premiers winning 14 – 12, their third title and first since 2003.

Squad

Player transfers A † denotes that the transfer occurred during the 2021 season.

+ Gains Player Signed from Until end of Notes Robert Jennings Wests Tigers Matt Eisenhuth Wests Tigers Jaeman Salmon Parramatta Eels Scott Sorensen Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Paul Momirovski Wests Tigers Eddie Blacker† St. George Illawarra Dragons

+ Losses Player Signed To Until end of Notes James Tamou Wests Tigers Jack Hetherington Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Caleb Aekins Canberra Raiders Zane Tetevano Leeds Rhinos (Super League) Malakai Watene-Zelezniak Retired Josh Mansour South Sydney Rabbitohs Daine Laurie Wests Tigers Dean Whare Catalans Dragons (Super League) Billy Burns† St. George Illawarra Dragons Pat Hollis Released Brayden McGrady Released

Fixtures

Pre-season Date Trial Opponent Venue Score Tries GoalsSaturday, 27 February1 Parramatta EelsPanthers Stadium16 - 6Luai, ClearyCleary (2/2), Burton (0/1)Legend:

Regular season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 13 March1 North Queensland CowboysPanthers Stadium24 – 0Capewell, Edwards, To'o, YeoCleary (4/5)14,077Saturday, 20 March2 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsBankwest Stadium0 – 28Kikau (2), May, Momirovski (2)Cleary (2/3), Crichton (2/2) 5,062Thursday, 25 March3 Melbourne StormBlueBet Stadium12 – 10Staines, CapewellCrichton (2/3)14,077Thursday, 1 April4 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesLottoland6 – 46To'o (2), Leota, Kikau (2), Burton, Capewell, MomirovskiCleary (7/9)6,076Friday, 9 April5 Canberra RaidersBlueBet Stadium30 - 10Staines (2), Burton, Luai, ClearyCleary (5/5)20,890Thursday, 15 April6 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium12 - 20Capewell, Burton, ClearyCleary (3/4) 2 Point FG (1/1)21,224Thursday, 22 April7 Newcastle KnightsBlueBet Stadium24 - 6Crichton, Burton, Edwards, To'o Cleary (4/5)16,110Saturday, 1 May8 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesCarrington Park28 - 16Edwards, To'o, Martin, May, CrichtonCleary (4/5)5,798Friday, 7 May9 Cronulla SharksBlueBet Stadium48 - 0Fisher-Harris, Staines (3), Crichton, Kikau, EisenhuthCleary (8/8)16,110Sunday, 16 May10 Gold Coast TitansSuncorp Stadium48 - 12Cleary (3), Fisher-Harris, Leota, Staines (2), MartinCleary (8/8)43,537*Sunday, 23 May11 South Sydney RabbitohsCaltex Park12 - 56Cleary (2), Viliame Kikau, Kapewell, Burton (3), To'o, CrichtonCleary (10/11)10,824Saturday, 29 May12 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsBlueBet Stadium30 - 4Staines (2), Leniu, Momirovski, Burton, CrichtonCleary (3/6)16,110Friday, 4 June13 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval26 - 6BurtonCrichton (1/1)9,127Friday, 11 June14 Cronulla SharksNetstrata Jubilee Stadium19 - 18Burton (2), TagoCrichton (3/4)5,217Friday, 18 June15 Sydney RoostersBlueBet Stadium38 - 12Crichton, To'o (2), Yeo, Cleary, StainesCleary (5/6)14,406Friday, 2 July16 Parramatta EelsBlueBet Stadium13 - 12May, KoroisauCrichton (2/2), Burton (1/2) FG0* 17Bye Sunday, 18 July18 New Zealand WarriorsSuncorp Stadium16 - 30Kikau (2), To’o, Staines (2), MartinCrichton (3/6)24,894Saturday, 24 July19 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium18 - 12To'o, Staines, CrichtonCrichton (1/1), Burton (1/3), Edwards (1/1) 2 Point FG8,019Saturday, 31 July20 Melbourne StormSuncorp Stadium37 - 10Naden, SorensonBurton (1/2)0Saturday, 7 August21 Sydney RoostersSuncorp Stadium14 - 20Burton (2), MomirovskiBurton (2/2)0Friday, 13 August22 St. George Illawarra DragonsSuncorp Stadium16 - 34Naden (2), Edwards (2), Burton, MomirovskiCleary (5/6)6,653Friday, 20 August23 South Sydney RabbitohsSuncorp Stadium25 - 12Cleary, Crichton, Naden, KoroisauCleary (4/6), (1/1) FG8,848Sunday, 29 August24 Wests TigersMoreton Daily Stadium30 - 16Leota, Pangai Junior, Luai, Kikau, To'oCleary (5/5)5,351Friday, 3 September25 Parramatta EelsCbus Super Stadium6 - 40To'o (3), Pangai Junior, Burton, Koroisau, ClearyCleary (6/7)8,580 Legend: TBA = To be announced Round 10 attendance refers to the total attendance on day 3 of magic round Round 16 was played without crowds due to the June outbreak and lockdown in NSW Round 20 and 21 was played without crowds due to lockdown in QLD

Finals

Bracket

Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 11 SeptemberQualifying Final South Sydney RabbitohsQueensland Country Bank Stadium10 - 16CrichtonCleary (3/3)18,224Saturday, 18 SeptemberSemi Final ParramattaBB Print Stadium8 - 6CapewellCleary (2/2)6,011Saturday, 25 SeptemberPreliminary Final Melbourne StormSuncorp Stadium10 - 6 Crichton, To'oCleary (1/2)29,011Sunday, 3 OctoberGrand Final South Sydney RabbitohsSuncorp Stadium14 - 12Burton, CrichtonCleary (3/3)39,322

Ladder

Other teams In addition to competing in the National Rugby League, the Panthers are also fielding semi-professional teams in the 2021 Jersey Flegg Cup (for players aged under 21) and the New South Wales Rugby League's The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup (NSW Cup).

Representative honours

Domestic PlayerTeamCall-up Ref. HB Nathan Cleary New South Wales 2021 State of Origin FE Jarome Luai LK Isaah Yeo WG Brian To'o SR Liam Martin HK Apisai Koroisau SR Kurt Capewell Queensland

References