THE real reason Penrith’s five-year plan is so far ahead of schedule is the outrageously unfair draw and the effect of State of Origin on their rivals.

The Panthers have a massive advantage in playing premiership heavyweights the Roosters, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Broncos and Cowboys only once in 26 rounds.

They get the struggling clubs Cronulla, the Knights, Titans and Raiders twice.

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Also in their favour is the fact they don’t have to travel to Brisbane or Townsville.

Injuries aside they are at full strength each week because they have no Origin players.

It makes a huge difference to have an uninterrupted two months during Origin while the showpiece series decimates many of their rivals.

The Panthers play the ­Tigers without Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods and the Dragons without Trent ­Merrin and Brett Morris.

This is not a criticism of the Panthers. They can only play what’s in front of them and deserve to be equal premiership leaders.

Not even their general manager, Phillip Ronald Gould AM, has enough sway at NRL headquarters to have an influence on the draw.

The truth is that coach Ivan Cleary has done a wonderful rebuild in the past two years.

Penrith have emerged as premiership contenders long before even their most ardent fans could have expected or predicted.

It’s just a shame they have done it on an unlevel playing field.

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media_camera Ivan Cleary has done a great job with Penrith.

Penrith’s draw:

Knights (twice)

Raiders (twice)

Titans (twice)

Sharks (twice)

Dragons (twice)

Eels (twice)

Warriors (twice)

Storm (twice)

Bulldogs (twice)

Rabbitohs (once)

Roosters (once)

Sea Eagles (once)

Broncos (once)

Cowboys (once)

Tigers (once)

COACH WITH THE MOST

Who will be Dally M coach of the year?

It’s probably the most open on record and won’t be decided until round 26.

There are a number of top contenders, headed by Cleary.

Even Brad Arthur at the Eels and Mick Potter at the Wests Tigers are hopes if their teams make the finals.

And don’t write off Mary McGregor if the Dragons keep on winning.

STAR’S SEX VIDEO

A REALLY, really damaging video of a State of Origin star in a sexual act is doing the rounds of NRL clubs and could become an even bigger story than Todd Carney.

media_camera Gareth Widdop has been in great form.

WIDDOP IS SEASON’S BEST BUY

MUCH to the disgust of ­Phillip Ronald Gould AM, we revealed our worst signings for 2014 last week, headed by Ben Barba at the Broncos.

This week we reveal our best, just to keep the great man happy.

No club has done better than the Panthers with Jamie Soward, Tyrone Peachey, Peter Wallace and Brent Kite.

Parramatta have done well with Corey Norman, Will ­Hopoate and Nathan Peats. Old Pat Richards on the Wests ­Tigers’ wing has been an absolute revelation.

But no one has made a ­bigger impact than St George Illawarra five-eighth Gareth Widdop, who is my choice as buy of the year.

FORWARD THINKING

IT amazes me the NRL still refuses to allow video referees to make rulings on obvious forward passes. The Bulldogs scored the final try against Manly on Friday from a Tim Brown pass that went at least a metre forward to Michael Ennis before he touched down.

The video refs checked the offside and the grounding but were powerless to act on the most obvious forward pass of the season. It didn’t really ­matter because it didn’t change the result of the game.

But what if exactly the same thing happens in a grand final with the scores level and five minutes remaining?

Surely a bit of common sense should come into the equation.

The video refs can’t just sit there and watch when something as blatant as Friday night’s forward pass was missed by the on-field referees.

Don’t let a forward pass ­decide a grand final before we do something about it.

HIGHLIGHT

THE Sharks’ comeback victory over the Roosters has once and for all silenced the critics who have been death-riding the club since the ASADA investigation. Anyone who thinks this club will just roll over and die, or relocate to Perth or Rockhampton, has underestimated the fighting spirit of the game’s comeback kings.

LOWLIGHT I

Not taking the 500/1 that bookmaker Sportsbet was offering at half-time when the Sharks trailed the Chooks 24-6.

LOWLIGHT II

THE hopelessly lopsided women’s final at Wimbledon. This event used to be must-watch, stay-awake television in the great days of Hingis, Graf, Navratilova, Evert and Venus Williams.

TV DEALS

THE next NRL broadcasting deal should have one strict stipulation — no Thursday night football unless it’s the Easter weekend. If Channel 9 won’t agree to that, I’m sure Channel 10 will. And get rid of the Sunday night grand final and give us back the afternoon kick-off time everyone wants on the October long weekend.