Nathan Cleary will need to be at his magical best if Penrith are any hope of overcoming a nightmare 2026 schedule.
The NRL released its draw for next season on Friday, and it is not good news for the Panthers and their supporters.
Last year’s preliminary finalists face a gruelling first six weeks with games against premiers the Broncos in Brisbane, followed by Cronulla, the Roosters, Parramatta, Melbourne, and the Bulldogs.
The Panthers then travel to Darwin in round seven for a clash against the Dolphins.
They face the Broncos, Storm, Roosters, Bulldogs, Raiders and Warriors – all finalists last season – twice.
Another hurdle for Penrith is that they will be on the road for most of the year, with home games in Bathurst and Mudgee, two trips to Brisbane, and one to each of the Gold Coast, North Queensland, Melbourne, and Auckland.
Penrith are the big losers when it comes to the 2026 NRL draw.Credit: Getty Images
Cleary was inspirational for the Panthers last season, dragging them off the bottom of the ladder midway through the year to within 80 minutes of chasing a fifth straight title. Should Cleary remain fit, expect the western Sydney club to push deep into next September.
If there is one consolation, the Panthers will be spared playing at their makeshift home ground at CommBank Stadium at 6pm on a Friday, a timeslot that failed to draw fans and was a financial disaster for the club last season.
