Ivan Cleary describes it as a “vortex of self pity”.

Penrith’s nadir came midway through the season in Bathurst, against the team that would end up earning the wooden spoon. The four-peat champions went from first to worst, their title defence in tatters as the struggling Knights blew them off Carrington Park.

Sitting in last place at the completion of round 12, there was no telling whether they had hit rock bottom or still had further to fall.

They had no home ground, their remaining marquee men were fatigued, and Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris, Isaiah Iongi and Sunia Turuva were the latest in a long line of players squeezed out by the salary cap. There were excuses everywhere and, perhaps without really realising it, the Panthers were leaning into them.

“I think we had every chance

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