It’s the query on each fan’s lips — who’s the best NRL workforce?
The Panthers are on the cusp of constructing rugby league historical past, and can face the Broncos of their fourth straight grand remaining on Sunday.
Ivan Cleary’s males have dominated the competitors for the final 4 years and are staking a declare for title of the GOAT rugby league workforce.
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However, the triple premiership-winning Eels workforce from 1981 are the one workforce since 1973 to do the three-peat.
Meanwhile, the Broncos within the 90s have been a pressure to be reckoned with and the ‘Green Machine’ Raiders additionally struck concern in to the hearts of opponents.
More not too long ago the Storm and Roosters have carried out battle in over a decade of excellence.
But can the Panthers leapfrog each workforce to take the title as rugby league’s finest ever workforce?
Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down the very best groups of the final 50 years and the place the Panthers are positioned among the many greats!
PARRAMATTA EELS — 1981 to 1986
The final rugby league workforce in Australia to win three straight premierships, taking house the title from 1981 to 1883.
The legendary Jack Gibson first coached the aspect in 81, earlier than six of the aspect went on to tour Britain and France.
Ray Price, Peter Sterling, Steve Ella, Brett Kenny, John Muggleton and Eric Grothe all travelled overseas earlier than returning and dominating the competitors.
Over their six 12 months span, Parramatta gained 4 premierships and featured in 5 grand finals, with John Monie taking the reigns from 1984 onwards.
They boasted a powerful win proportion of 70.3 over the interval, while additionally conceding just one.88 tries per sport.
The Eels are undoubtedly among the best groups of the during the last 50 seasons and because it stands are the one to document the elusive three-peat.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS — 1984 to 1988
Another aspect who shared the spoils with the Eels within the 80s, profitable again to again premierships in 84 and 85 earlier than one other in 88.
The Bulldogs additionally went all the way down to the Eels in 86, led by the influential Warren Ryan earlier than Phil Gould took the reigns in 88.
Famously donned the ‘Dogs of War’, this Bulldogs workforce was an outfit to be feared, with Terry Lamb main the way in which.
Steve Folkes additionally performed a vital function within the premierships, however tragically handed whereas coaching at his house in 2018.
The Bulldogs have been probably the most feared groups of the 80s and rusted-on Bulldogs followers have constantly yearned for the toughness of this era to nonetheless be current of their present aspect.
They boasted a 67.94 win proportion throughout their 131 video games.
CANBERRA RAIDERS — 1987 to 1994
The Raiders have been based in 1981 earlier than getting in to grow to be one of many sport’s most influential groups.
Canberra have been crammed with legendary figures like Glenn Lazarus, Laurie Daley and Mal Meninga and gained their first premiership in 1989.
Their first season of this era got here below Wayne Bennett and Don Furner, making the grand remaining earlier than Tim Sheens took over.
The now sacked Tigers coach went on to steer the Raiders to 3 premierships and 4 extra grand finals appearances.
Across the eight seasons, Canberra performed a complete of 201 video games and gained 65.17 per cent of their video games.
They additionally scored a powerful 23.26 factors per sport and have been probably the most feared sides in rugby league historical past.
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BRISBANE BRONCOS — 1992 to 2000
The Broncos have been probably the most dominant groups of the 90s and gained titles within the remaining 12 months of the ARL competitors and first 12 months of the NRL in 1998.
Across the nine-year span, Brisbane gained 5 premierships and gained every grand remaining they featured in.
Boastings a whopping 71.3 win proportion, the Broncos have been probably the most harmful groups of the period.
With rugby league’s finest coach on the helm, Brisbane turned rugby league’s glamour membership after being established in 1988.
This aspect additionally featured a few of the largest names to grace a rugby league subject in Allan Langer, Darren Lockyer and Gorden Tallis.
Kevin Walters, who’s at the moment the Broncos coach, additionally performed a vital function within the aspect’s success, enjoying 237 video games from 1990 to 2000.
MANLY SEA EAGLES — 1995 to 1997
In the center of the Broncos’ dominance, the Sea Eagles loved a three-year spell of success, profitable a premiership and making three straight grand finals.
With legendary Bob ‘Bozo’ Fulton as coach, Manly have been a pressure to be reckoned with a scored a powerful 25.56 factors per sport.
They additionally gained 80 per cent of their video games by way of the trio of years, the second most of any workforce on this listing.
Across this era Cliff Lyons, Geoff Toovey, Steve Menzies and co ran riot in a dominant three-year barrage.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS — 2000 to 2004
Across these 5 seasons the Roosters solely managed one premiership, profitable in 2022 below Ricky Stuart.
However, the Tricolours featured in 4 grand finals — 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
The early 2000s Roosters gained 64.75 per cent of their video games through the interval and boasted a few of the largest names in rugby league on the time.
Anthony Minichiello, who went on to grow to be a membership nice, featured on the win within the 2002 grand remaining.
Meanwhile, Brad Fittler and Craig Win partnered within the halves, whereas Justin Hodges performed within the centres alongside Shannon Hegarty.
Throw within the combine legendary forwards Craig Fitzgibbon and Luke Ricketson and the Roosters have been an extremely harmful workforce.
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MELBOURNE STORM — 2006 to 2020
The longest interval on this listing. The Storm’s dominance comes with an enormous asterisk after they have been discovered to have cheated the wage cap.
From 2006 to 2009, Melbourne have been stripped of two premiers and three minor premierships with the NRL handing down mammoth sanctions.
Craig Bellamy’s outfit have been additionally just about worn out of the 2010 season however got here again with a bang.
The subsequent 12 months, the Storm gained the minor premiership and it solely took one other 12 months to life the trophy in 2012.
They additionally gained premierships in 2017 and 2020, beating the Cowboys and Panthers respectively.
Throughout the interval the Storm boasted arguably the competitors’s finest ever trio in Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk earlier than Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes joined the fold for 2020.
While the Storm have been discovered to have cheated to start their 15 years of dominance, they nonetheless have been the competitors benchmark for years.
MANLY SEA EAGLES — 2007 to 2013
In the center of the Storm’s robust interval, the Sea Eagles did have a seven-year interval the place they have been spectacular.
Manly gained two premierships in 2008 and 2011, while additionally that includes in 4 complete grand finals below Des Hasler and Geoff Toovey for the ultimate two seasons of the interval.
The Sea Eagles gained 65.05 per cent of their video games throughout this era, to go along with 23.42 factors per sport.
Current skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was an integral determine within the second premiership inside these years.
Meanwhile, figures equivalent to Matt Orford, Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart additionally performed a vital function.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS — 2013 to 2019
The Roosters have been one of many groups to beat by way of the 2010s and completed this era off with a bang.
During the seven-year stretch, Trent Robinson’s aspect made three grand finals and gained every of them in 2013, 2018 and 2019.
In the center of this era was additionally a fifteenth positioned end, earlier than the Roosters bounced again tremendously to achieve the finals and end second after the common season.
Rugby league followers will perpetually bear in mind Cooper Cronk’s valiant efforts within the 2019 grand remaining to down the Raiders, enjoying with a busted shoulder.
Meanwhile, Anthony Minichiello led the Tricolours in 2013 flanked by Daniel Tupou, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend and Sonny Bill-Williams.
Not to say the halves pairing of James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce.
Fast ahead to 2018 and various acquainted faces have been current, whereas Luke Keary and Mitchell Aubusson have been the halves.
The Roosters gained 64.86 per cent of their video games on this interval, which is spectacular contemplating the season wherein they solely struck at 25 per cent.
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PENRITH PANTHERS — 2020 to 2023
So, the place does the present Panthers outfit sit within the leaderboard of rugby league’s biggest groups?
Ivan Cleary’s aspect have already got two premierships below their belt and are gunning for the three-peat.
They have additionally featured in 4 straight grand finals with a win proportion solely the Sea Eagles 95-97 aspect come near.
The Panthers have gained a staggering 83.65 per cent of their video games throughout their dominant 4 years and in addition rating probably the most factors per sport of any of those groups, tallying 26.52 per 80 minutes.
But to be the very best you additionally must hold opponents out — and by chance additionally they have the second finest defence, leaking solely 12.67 factors per sport.
So what do the Panthers must do to place one of many sport’s largest inquiries to mattress?
Win on Sunday, in response to legendary halfback Cooper Cronk.
“They are absolutely equal with any of those teams across the 50 years,” he stated to foxsports.com.au.
“But in my humble opinion, if they win they go beyond. They are the greatest team… I think in today’s current climate and the way the salary cap works, their defensive record has been astronomical.
“Their players have moved on and to cut it short, if they win they are the best team in this 50 year period for me.”
Legendary winger Brent Tate was additionally requested on the Fox League podcast the place the Panthers sat within the NRL period in the event that they have been to win on Sunday.
“I think (they will be the best). I think from the stats, if they are to go on and win three and be in four grand finals,” Tate stated.
“It’s pretty incredible and you look at the players they have lost too. Apisai Koroisau, who is a wonderful hooker, and still playing in the finals.
“It’s a sign of a great side and Melbourne were like that, the Panthers are now replicating that.
“If they get the job done we can look back quite easily and say they are the best team of the NRL era.”
Panthers legend Greg Alexander additionally echoed the pair’s opinion and put the give attention to coach Ivan Cleary.
“I think (a win) would, yes,” Greg Alexander stated to foxsports.com.au.
“The coach deserves a lot of credit too, to be able to bring new players in (and keep winning)… it’s been the same thing that has made Craig Bellamy the great coach that he is, amongst others things, his ability to bring players in that just get the job done.
“It’s certainly helped a few careers being part of the Penrith system over the past few years.”
After returning to the membership forward of the 2019 season, the Panthers endured a tricky 12 months and landed simply exterior the highest eight.
But the following 4 years? Cleary can take full credit score in response to backrower Scott Sorensen.
“Two words. Ivan Cleary,” Sorensen stated to foxsports.com.au.
“The way he’s built the culture and the team here and the buy-in from all the boys. It starts from the top and I feel like it’s as simple as that.”
“I feel like every year is a new year and everyone asks what the motivation is and what keeps you guys going, well we want to win the comp. Last year was last year and the year before that was the year before that.
“We got a bunch of new faces this year so it was a new challenge.
“Now we are heading into a new challenge on Sunday as well so that’s exciting, that’s motivating and that’s more than enough motivation to try and lift the trophy on Sunday.
“There’s no non-hunger whatsoever, you know what I mean? We want to win the comp and it’s no different to any other team.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
