Jarome Luai mentioned that Penrith could only “giggle” at critics who doubted their premiership chances before a dominant qualifying-final win marked Nathan Cleary’s return from a shoulder injury. With Cleary leading the charge in a 30-10 victory over the Sydney Roosters, the Panthers are now just one win away from competing for a historic fourth consecutive title.

Their disciplined performance came after questions arose about their form following Cleary’s absence, during which they suffered a loss to Canberra and a narrow win over Gold Coast. Despite this, Luai remained confident, stating the team never doubted their ability to hit top form when needed.

“We’re a confident side, and when the big moment comes, we’re ready,” Luai said. “People were questioning us, but now they’ll be watching their backs. We just find it amusing. You can’t count us out, even when we’re down.”

Cleary, after his first game back since aggravating a pre-season shoulder injury, acknowledged his frustration with recurring injuries. The 26-year-old star, who missed part of the season with a hamstring issue, expressed his desire to make up for lost time and lead the Panthers to another premiership.

Cleary admitted feeling “embarrassed” by his bad luck with injuries but focused on staying positive and supporting the team while sidelined. He emphasized the need to keep pushing forward, stating, “There’s more ahead, and I’ve got to keep working hard.”

The Panthers’ next opponent in the preliminary final will be determined in a week, and the match could be Cleary’s last with Luai. With Luai set to join Wests Tigers after the season, the duo’s successful partnership, which has led to three consecutive titles, will come to an end.

Reflecting on their time together, Cleary said, “We’ve played together since we were 16. It’ll be sad when it ends, but that time isn’t here yet.”