Three stats to fix: Panthers

There wasn't much the Panthers got wrong last year as they powered to a second-consecutive Telstra Premiership title, and it's scary to think Ivan Cleary's side could become even more efficient in 2023 with improvements in a couple of areas.  

Penrith will need to revamp their attack following the departure of Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau, while their ability to handle defensive pressure will likely be different in 2023 as well due to losing that experience. 

NRL.com highlights some key areas the Panthers will be keen to address as they look to extend their dynasty this season.  

Reducing ruck infringements

No side was pinged more in the ruck than Penrith in 2022, with 49 infringements which led to penalties. 

While it is possible that at least some of those were deliberate tactical gambles from coach Cleary, who may have liked his side's chances of soaking up prolonged periods of defence better than them trying to stop teams off quick play the balls, it will likely need to improve in 2023 when they won't have the defensive security of Koroisau in the middle of the park.

Particularly through the early rounds as the club adjusts to new combinations, it will be important Penrith avoid putting too much defensive pressure on themselves by giving opposing sides extra ball. 

Popping an offload 

The Panthers had the 12th-lowest offload rate in the NRL last year, averaging just 8.4 per game, and in 2023 they'll be without Kikau, their most-prolific offloader from last season. 

Penrith and the Cowboys (who averaged nine per game), were the only top eight sides who ranked in the bottom half of the competition for offloads in 2022, with the Eels (13.7 average per game) and Raiders (11.6 average per game) leading the charge at the other end of the stat category. 

Given the huge target they will carry with them into each game, the defending premiers will need to evolve their attack again this season, and generating more second-phase play could be the way they do it. 

Kenny's assist game 

The bulk of Penrith's try assists are still going to come from their Origin halves pairing of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, but they will need to see an improvement in attacking output from Mitch Kenny too as he takes over from Koroisau as the first-choice hooker. 

While he did play half the minutes of his dummy-half partner last season, Kenny had just two try assists in 24 games, compared to Koroisau's 12, and he had 11 fewer line-break assists as well. 

It is probably the biggest potential growth area for Kenny this season, and ensuring they have a range of secondary options on attack will be key if Penrith are to continue creating questions which opposing defensive lines don't have answers for.