Penrith’s Finals Fate Sealed: Ivan Cleary Weighs Radical Move to Rest Sixteen Stars
The Penrith Panthers, one of rugby league’s most consistent and dominant forces in recent seasons, are suddenly facing a very different end to their 2025 regular campaign. For years, they have been the benchmark of the National Rugby League (NRL), setting standards with their fitness, skill, and resilience. Yet this year, the tide has turned in unexpected fashion. With results going against them in key moments, their top-four dream has now officially vanished. That brutal reality has sparked reports of a shocking response from their coach Ivan Cleary — one that is raising eyebrows across the league.
According to whispers coming out of Penrith, Cleary is seriously considering the almost unthinkable: resting a staggering sixteen players in their final round clash. The move would essentially mean fielding an understrength team made up largely of fringe first-graders and rookies, while the club’s biggest names are given the weekend off. Such a decision has sent shockwaves through the NRL community, not just because of its scale, but because of what it reveals about Penrith’s current predicament.
From Contenders to Chasers
This situation is jarring when contrasted against Penrith’s recent history. Over the last several seasons, the Panthers have been kings of the mountain — literally and figuratively — sitting atop the ladder, reaching grand finals, and collecting premiership silverware. Their ability to finish strong and claim top-four positions has been a hallmark of their dominance.
But in 2025, the script is different. A mixture of untimely injuries, inconsistent form, and a series of tight losses have left them outside of the elite four. No matter how they finish the regular season now, they cannot leapfrog back into that bracket. This means they will enter the finals from a less favorable position, forced to battle through sudden-death matches with no second chances. For a team accustomed to starting September with momentum, this is a harsh reality check.
Cleary’s Calculated Gamble
So why would Cleary even consider resting almost an entire team? The answer lies in the delicate balance between momentum and preservation. With the top four out of reach, the result of their last match becomes largely symbolic. Winning might restore some pride, but it does little to alter their ladder position. Losing with a reserve-grade side, on the other hand, allows their stars to recharge ahead of the do-or-die battles of finals footy.
Cleary is known for his calm, long-game thinking. This reported decision would fit his coaching persona: less about appearances, more about positioning his side for the challenges ahead. Sixteen players resting may look extreme, even bizarre, but if it ensures his squad enters the finals fresh, he may view the trade-off as worth it.
The Risks Involved
However, the gamble is not without serious risks. Momentum matters deeply in rugby league. Teams that limp into the finals often struggle to find the intensity required for knockout games. If Penrith fields an inexperienced lineup and suffers a heavy defeat in their last match, that psychological bruise could linger. It might also strip away any rhythm or cohesion the team has managed to build in recent weeks.
Another concern is the optics. Fans pay their hard-earned money to see their heroes play. Season ticket holders and traveling supporters who show up expecting to cheer on stars like Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, or Brian To’o could feel shortchanged if those players are suddenly rested. Rival clubs too might raise questions of fairness, especially if Penrith’s understrength side influences ladder outcomes for other teams still fighting for positions.
There is also the practical worry: when players are rested, they miss competitive match fitness. Training sessions cannot fully replicate the speed, pressure, and physicality of an NRL contest. Returning after a week off, players might lack sharpness — something finals football rarely forgives.
A Rare and Radical Precedent
Resting one or two stars before finals is fairly common across sports. Coaches often protect players from niggling injuries or suspension risks when their ladder spot is secure. But resting sixteen at once? That is virtually unheard of in the modern NRL. The closest comparisons come from overseas leagues like the NBA, where coaches sometimes rotate entire starting fives when playoff positions are locked. But even then, the outcry from fans and media is significant.
In rugby league, the scale of Cleary’s possible move makes it borderline radical. It is less a tactical tweak and more a full-blown reshaping of team strategy for that week. If he goes through with it, this could become one of the most debated coaching calls of the year.
Fans and Analysts Split
Already, reactions are pouring in. Among Penrith supporters, the mood is divided. Some believe Cleary has earned the right to make bold calls, given his record of success and premiership-winning pedigree. They argue that player welfare should come first, and that a refreshed squad is more likely to deliver in September.
Others are furious. For those who planned to attend the last home game, the idea of seeing an almost unrecognizable side feels like betrayal. On social media, many are voicing their frustration, saying fans deserve to see the strongest possible team every week, regardless of ladder implications.
Analysts too are split. Some praise the forward-thinking approach, labeling it smart load management. Others call it reckless, warning that finals football is no place for a team that hasn’t maintained competitive rhythm. Former players turned commentators have weighed in as well, some admiring Cleary’s courage, others cautioning that overthinking could cost Penrith dearly.
The Bigger Picture
Beyond immediate debate, this moment also underscores a wider truth about the Panthers’ 2025 campaign: their era of dominance is facing its first serious challenge in years. No longer untouchable, they must now fight from the bottom half of the top eight, proving their resilience once more.
Cleary’s decision, whichever way it goes, highlights the fine margins of elite sport. Do you chase every win, no matter how small the impact, or do you sacrifice a battle to prepare for the war? Only the finals will answer that.
The Season-Defining Gamble
Ultimately, the choice to potentially rest sixteen players will be judged not on the round itself, but on what follows. If Penrith storm through the finals, using their extra freshness to overpower rivals, Cleary will be hailed as a master strategist. His gamble will be remembered as brave and visionary.
But if the Panthers stumble early, bowing out of finals in straight sets, critics will be ruthless. They will argue that resting so many players disrupted the team’s chemistry, robbed them of sharpness, and ultimately cost them their season.
That is the knife-edge on which the Panthers now balance. After years of dominance, they find themselves in a new role: not the hunted, but the hunters. And in this unusual chase, Ivan Cleary seems ready to make one of the strangest, boldest, and most controversial calls of his coaching career.
