Penrith Panthers switch that everyone has seemingly missed so far this NRL season
Ivan Cleary continues to show his tactical genius in a move that nobody has seemed to notice.
If you're wondering why Sunia Turuva has made such a hot start to the NRL season for the Penrith Panthers and Brian To'o has been a bit more subdued, it's probably because they've switched sides. Not many have seemed to notice in the NRL world, but the Panthers have pulled a sneaky switch with their wingers this year.
To'o played predominantly on the right wing for the premiers in 2023, while Turuva was on the left. They used that same alignment in the opening round of the 2024 season against the Melbourne Storm, before coach Ivan Cleary switched things up in round two.
For the past three games, To'o has been playing on the left wing and Turuva on the right. And it has paid big dividends for Turuva.
The Panthers score the majority of their tries on the right because that's where Nathan Cleary spends the bulk of his time attacking. Jarome Luai is usually stationed on the left, and has a penchant for stepping back on the inside rather than providing early ball to the men outside him.
To'o scored 21 tries in 2023 when he was playing on the right wing, while Turuva scored 12 on the left wing. But those stats have been switched so far this year, with Turuva nabbing six tries in the first four rounds compared to just two from To'o.
Even with Cleary injured and Brad Schneider taking his place against the Roosters last week, Turuva still cashed in with a hat-trick on the right wing. But strangely, no one seems to have noticed the switch.
Why have the Panthers switched their wingers in 2024?
The tactical play is likely aimed at shoring up the Panthers' defence now that Stephen Crichton has departed for the Bulldogs. Widely regarded as one of the best defensive centres in the NRL, Crichton played on the left for the Panthers with Turuva outside him.
But with Taylan May moving to left centre this year after previously only playing wing in his NRL career, coach Cleary appears to have switched To'o to May's side to help out in defence. To'o has vastly more experience than Turuva and has undoubtedly provided more help to May as he learns the ins-and-outs of defending at centre rather than wing.
With May and Turuva on the left, the Panthers lost the World Club Challenge to St Helens before going down 8-0 to the Storm in the first round of the NRL season. But since switching To'o and Turuva the Panthers have won three games straight, conceding 18 points to the Eels, 12 to the Broncos and 16 to the Roosters.
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The switch is another example of the tactical genius that Ivan Cleary has shown while guiding the Panthers to three-consecutive premierships. It was on full display when hooker Mitch Kenny appeared to find a loophole in the NRL's crackdown on blocking during kicks.
And Dylan Edwards' decision to run into Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to win an obstruction penalty and save a try against the Roosters was no doubt something that came from the coaching staff as well. It's little wonder the Panthers are showing no signs of slowing down as they aim for a fourth premiership in four years.
