After watching the Panthers claim four premierships on the trot, it's a brave person who attempts to predict when their reign of dominance might come to an end.
The jetwinvip.com writers look over the field and pick out the side with the best shot at denying Penrith another piece of history in 2025.
Brad Walter: If the 2024 grand final was played again this week, the Storm would be favourites. Here's why: For much of the 2024 season Melbourne halfback Jahrome Hughes was a virtual one-man band as five-eighth Cameron Munster and fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen spent long stints on the sidelines and hooker Harry Grant struggled through the Origin period. All four played in the grand final loss to Penrith, but it was later revealed that Hughes had been hampered by serious neck and back injuries that forced the 2024 Dally M Medallist out of the Kiwis side for the Pacific Championships. Chief enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona was also suspended but the quintet will be back on deck and ready to make amends. In addition, the Storm have added NSW Origin prop Stefano Utoikamanu to their roster. In contrast, Penrith have lost two of their biggest names in star five-eighth Jarome Luai, Fijian flyer Sunia Turuva (both Wests Tigers) and Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris (Warriors). Eels rookie Blaize Tuilagi is expected to take over the No.6 jersey, while New Zealand second-rower Isaiah Papali'i is their biggest signing - both good recruits but not in the same class as the players they are replacing.
2024 try assist leaders: Jahrome Hughes
Cameron Mee: It may be the boring choice but Melbourne immediately jumps out as the leading team capable of ending the Panthers' reign. The Storm were clear minor premiers in 2024 and while they lacked the firepower to topple Penrith in the decider, they have all the ingredients to go one better next season. Cam Munster will be fully healthy after off-season groin surgery, livewire Sua Faalogo will provide the X-factor that makes life difficult for opposition defences and Dally M Medallist Jahrome Hughes has joined Nathan Cleary as one of the game's elite halves. All they need to do is keep Nelson Asofa-Solomona on the field for the entire finals series and they will have what it takes to lift the premiership trophy on October 5.
Colleen Edwards: The rivalry between the Panthers and Melbourne continues to fester and evolve and in the same way their loss to the Storm in 2020 helped bring forth Penrith beast, the 2024 grand final loss will fuel the fire for Craig Bellamy's team. The all-conquering Panthers have acquired a reputation for going 'scorched earth' on their grand final rivals, with the Eels (2022) and the Broncos (2023) missing the top eight the next year and also parting ways with their coach. The Rabbitohs (2021) were exempt from the troubles in 2022, making the eight the following year and missing the grand final by one game, before dropping out of the finals in 2023. The Storm will break that curse in 2025 with Stefano Utoikamanu and Moses Leo having an impact in their first season at the club and Bellamy again leading his side into the top four.
Corey Rosser: Adding arguably the NRL's best front-rower in Addin Fonua-Blake to a forward pack that already includes names like Briton Nikora, Cameron McInnes and Toby Rudolf will be a game-changer for the Sharks. There's a fair argument to be had that Craig Fitzgibbon's men could have both the best engine room and metre-eating backfield in the comp. They'll need better injury luck and a tougher underbelly than what we saw in 2024, but Cronulla should have the potential to go all the away.
Tom Trbojevic's 2024 try-scoring season
Martin Lenehan: Perennial contenders Melbourne Storm will again be in the mix but the biggest threat to a Panthers' 'high five' could come from Tommy Turbo and the Sea Eagles. Having steadied the ship in 2024 after a couple of disappointing seasons in 2022-23, the boys from Brookvale have the ingredients in place to make a serious charge for their first title since 2011. The aforementioned Trbojevic spearheads a potent backline that includes Lehi Hopoate, Reuben Garrick, Tolu Koula and Jason Saab, while Luke Brooks and Daly Cherry-Evans form a dynamic halves combination capable of turning any game on its head. The Sea Eagles' pack already boasted plenty of size and skill in the shape of Haumole Olakau'atu, Taniela Paseka, Nathan Brown and Josh Aloiai, and the arrival of Jazz Tevaga and Siua Taukei'aho gives them more depth and more variety.
