The Penrith Panthers have made the bombshell move to rest a staggering 16 of their best players for Thursday night’s match against the Bulldogs, as debate among footy fans erupts over Ivan Cleary’s decision.
After successive golden-point defeats to Melbourne and Canberra left the Panthers needing a miracle to claim a top-four finish, Cleary has chosen to make 16 changes to the side that fell to the Raiders in Mudgee last Friday night.
With players including Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Moses Leota and Brian To’o rested, coach Cleary has sat out a whopping 1,943 games of NRL experience for Thursday’s game at Accor Stadium.
Brad Schneider, who was named on the bench but did not take the field against Canberra, is the sole survivor and will play halfback in a team that includes four NRL debutants and will start as $8 outsiders.
Austin Dias and Riley Price, the son of Bulldogs great Steve Price, will make their Panthers debuts in a side to be captained by lock Matt Eisenhuth.
Co-captain Nathan Cleary will also be rested as his coach and father Ivan prepares for the finals.
The Panthers are resting a staggering 16 players for Thursday’s match against the Bulldogs
Players including Nathan Cleary (pictured), Moses Leota and Brian To’o will be rested
The premiers have played a lot of football in recent years, and many Panthers fans believe the decision to rest so many players is clever.
‘Brilliant. Win 4 games to win the competition. This is a plan to do that. That’s why his team has won 4 in a row. Ivan is brain not ego,’ posted one X user.
‘It’s absolutely brilliant. Give the stars a rest and rob Dogs fans of genuine revenge. Too good,’ posted another.
Others believed Penrith were lowering the integrity of the competition with the move.
One fan posted: ‘The most appalling arrogant tantrum. Not befitting of a multi premiership side. How embarrassing for our game.’
Another wrote: ‘This should not be allowed. Fine the Panthers $250k for bringing the game into disrepute. There needs to be a cap on resting uninjured players.’
Fox Footy journalist Paul Crawley pointed out that the Panthers were not breaking any rules.
‘The Panthers in the last two weeks, despite going down, have pushed the two leading contenders right to the wire,’ he said.
Brian To’o will also be rested as Ivan Cleary prepares for the finals
Debate has raged online over the controversial move from the Panthers
‘They know regardless of where they finish, they’ve got the firepower if they’re fresh to win the comp. And the fact is, right, those two losses, they would need everything to go their way now to finish top four. They go into the finals with their guns fresh.’
The NRL is investigating a betting plunge on the Bulldogs on Monday afternoon before the Panthers had announced their plan to rest so many players.
The side, which started as $2.30 outsiders became short-priced favourites by the late afternoon.
Penrith team: 1. Daine Laurie, 2. Jesse McLean, 3. John Fonua, 4. David Fale, 5. Paul Alamoti, 6. Jack Cole, 7. Brad Schneider, 8. Luron Patea, 9. Luke Sommerton, 10. Austin Dias+, 11. Zac Lipowicz, 12. Mavrik Geyer, 13. Matt Eisenhuth (capt). Interchange: 14. Soni Luke, 15. Preston Riki, 16. Riley Price+, 17. Billy Phillips.
Players out: Blaize Talagi, Brian To’o, Casey McLean, Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Isaiah Papali’i, Izack Tago, Liam Henry, Liam Martin, Lindsay Smith, Luke Garner, Mitch Kenny, Moses Leota, Nathan Cleary, Scott Sorensen, Thomas Jenkins
