MATTY JOHNS REVEALS HIS PICK FOR THE BIGGEST THREAT TO PENRITH
After a slight slip-up in Round One, the Penrith Panthers have looked impeccable throughout the start of the 2024 season and are the consensus favourite to win a fourth-straight premiership.
The Panthers’ ruthlessness in attack, combined with a disciplined approach in defence has led the reigning premiers to a 3-1 start and wins against some of the competition’s heavyweights.
After already knocking over the Brisbane Broncos, Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels in convincing fashion, a Grand Final appearance seems like an all but forgone conclusion for the Panthers in 2024.
With the Panthers already firming as the best team in the competition, SEN’s Matty Johns revealed the one team he sees as the biggest threat to Penrith.
“I still think it’s Brisbane,” Johns told SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“Brisbane, I really like what they did against the Cowboys, (Reece) Walsh will come back, (Payne) Haas will come back, (Patrick) Carrigan is just flying.
“Adam Reynolds, you see the difference when he’s in the side.
“I think they’re the biggest threat.”
Although Johns remains bullish on the Broncos, he also admitted the Warriors can contend for a premiership but will need to fix up one area of their game.
“The Warriors can win the comp in my opinion,” Johns added.
“I’ll tell you what’s strange about them, every single game this year with the Warriors has been a carbon copy, the only difference (is a) couple of times they’ve hung on and got the win.
“Each game they’ve been rampant in the first 30 minutes, just blowing the opposition away, however, at the end of that 30 minutes, as far as dominance it could be 18, 20 nil, but they’re only six nil up.
“Then you see the opposition come back into the game and it ends up being a tight finish, every single game has been the same.
“There’s a little problem in the mid part of their match of the Warriors.”
The Broncos will have their premiership credentials tested this Thursday when they face the Melbourne Storm whilst the Warriors go against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
