ANTHONY Griffin’s mountain men are the NRL’s flat track bullies, and now even that unenviable tag cannot save them.

Prior to Sunday’s 42-14 shellacking at the hands of if the Rabbitohs, Penrith’s dominance over the competition’s bottom eight sides had them still within reach of the NRL’s better half.

The red hot pre-season favourites still sit in ninth spot, but they’re now four points adrift of the eighth-placed Eels and getting colder every which way you slice and dice their season.

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Round 19

Against current top eight sides, the Panthers are 0-7, averaging just over 10 points in attack while conceding 25 a game.

Even with the blowout loss to the Bunnies, Penrith sit 6-2 against their fellow competition stragglers.

The recent run of four-straight wins that had the rest of the NRL looking over their shoulders came against this lot.

Comprehensive thumpings of Wests Tigers (36-2), Newcastle (40-0) and Canterbury (38-0) stretch their bottom eight for and against out to 238-133, a 13-point advantage per game.

But after sobering defeats to the Cowboys without Johnathan Thurston and then a rampant Rabbitohs outfit, their best performances in 2017 look a false currency.

This week they face high-flyers Manly, and are bracing for an onslaught from Daly Cherry-Evans, scorned once more by Queensland selectors.

Finals contenders await on their run home in North Queensland, St George Illawarra, fellow sleeping giants Canberra and Manly again.

The Fox Sports Lab lays bare the next set of worrying figures for Griffin’s misfiring side.

They miss more tackles per game (32.6) than anyone else.

Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover are joined by player-manager Mario Tartak to discuss Benji Marshall, Sam Kasiano and who the NRL’s next super coach might be.

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Their completions (73.56%) are hardly any better, trumping only the Raiders (73.53%) and Cronulla (72.39%).

They concede 7.2 penalties a game, third worst in the NRL.

Manly (7.3) and Melbourne (7.5) infringe more often, but perform far better in the previous two disciplinary categories.

And when the Panthers are no longer beating up on the competition’s also-rans, their fatal flaws are on show for all to see.

Welcome to the Pressure Gauge!

ROOSTERS

Man in demand: Roosters youngster Connor Watson. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Outs: Jayden Nikorima (hamstring, round 18), Sio Siua Taukeiaho (hamstring, Round 18-19), Blake Ferguson, Boyd Cordner, Dylan Napa, Mitchell Pearce (Origin)

It’s a big week for: Connor Watson. He’ll move into the halves to replace Origin star Mitchell Pearce. Having reportedly signed a contract with Wests Tigers from 2018, all eyes are on Watson given the half a million dollar deals being touted for a kid in just his second season of first grade.

In calculations: Mitchell Cornish is the man pushing Watson to replace Mitchell Pearce at the scrumbase, while fringe forwards Lindsay Collins and Chris Smith are also in the frame for call-ups.

Crystal ball: Luke Keary will put his old club to the sword. Three try assists for the Roosters playmaker.

RABBITOHS

Outs: Greg Inglis (ACL, season), Connor Tracey (ACL, season), Siosifa Talakai (knee, indefinite), Robert Jennings (knee, indefinite), Hymel Hunt (thumb, indefinitely)

It’s a big week for: Adam Reynolds. His regular sparring partner in this neighbourhood stoush is right where Reynolds was last year, in NSW Origin camp. With Pearce and the rest of the Roosters stars missing, knocking off their archrivals is the best response Reynolds can give.

In calculations: Prop Dean Britt joined the club last week in a swap for Melbourne-bound Robbie Rochow, but he’s unlikely to squeeze into the NRL squad. Anthony Cherrington and Kyle Turner sit on the fringe.

Crystal ball: Alex Johnston will score a try ... just four short of his tally from the week earlier.

PANTHERS

Matt Moylan is under the pump as one of the youngest skippers in the NRL. Source: Getty Images

Outs: Sam McKendry (knee, indefinite), Peter Wallace (groin, round 19-20), Bryce Cartwright (ankle, round 21-23), Dean Whare (jaw, TBC)

It’s a big week for: Matt Moylan. He put his hand up after the Rabbitohs game for the disastrous result and they’ll need his leadership if they’re to be any chance of knocking off Manly in a mighty vein of form.

In calculations: James Fisher-Harris is likely to return from a hamstring injury, while Peter Wallace is still a week or so away. Tyrone Peachey will move into the backline if Dean Whare isn’t fit to play.

Crystal ball: Josh Mansour will join the long list of freak tryscorers with a flying effort in the corner.

SEA EAGLES

Outs: Billy Bainbridge (shoulder, indefinite), Jorge Taufua (knee, season), Curtis Sironen (shoulder, round 26), Jake Trbojevic (Origin)

It’s a big week for: Daly Cherry-Evans. Snubbed for Origin III despite some outstanding form this season, all DCE can do is put in another starring performance for the Sea Eagles to show Queensland what they’re missing out on.

In calculations: Shaun Lane could get the nod to replace Jake Trbojevic up front.

Crystal ball: Daly Cherry-Evans will put on a clinic ... again. Three try assists for the spurned halfback.

STORM



Outs: Christian Welch (ACL, season), Vincent Leuluai (shoulder, round 19-21), Brandon Smith (wrist, round 26-finals), Billy Slater, Will Chambers, Cameron Munster, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Tim Glasby (Origin)

It’s a big week for: Slade Griffin. With Cam Smith on Origin duty and young Brandon Smith out injured, it will be Griffin shouldering the bulk of the hooking job. Eighty minutes is a fair ask, Kenny Bromwich will also be needed to pitch in.

In calculations: Craig Bellamy will have to reconfigure his entire spine now with Cameron Munster called up for his Origin debut. It’s a headache we wouldn’t wish on anyone, but at least both Cheyse Blair and Jordan McLean are due back from injury, while Nate Myles is set for his club debut.

Crystal ball: Brodie Croft will give us another example of why the Storm are so confident of replacing Cooper Cronk next year — the kid is the real deal.

EELS

Outs: Josh Hoffman (knee, round 20), Kirisome Auva’a (hamstring, round 18), Frank Pritchard (foot, round 20), Peni Terepo (pectoral, round 20), Isaac De Gois (concussion, Indefinite), Kaysa Pritchard (knee, season), Beau Scott (bicep, season)

It’s a big week for: Semi Radradra. He goes directly up against fellow Fijian flyer Suliasi Vunivalu on the wing and this will be a mouth-watering battle. Who will score best try of the night?

In calculations: Siosaia Vave played reserve grade at the weekend but could well force his way back onto Brad Arthur’s bench with Peni Terepo and Frank Pritchard still out for a fortnight.

Crystal ball: Mitchell Moses will carve up the young Storm side and lead the Eels to a big victory.

BULLDOGS

Another Bulldogs season is fast slipping away from Des Hasler. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Outs: Greg Eastwood (knee, round 21-22), James Graham (neck, round 20-21), Brett Morris, Josh Jackson, David Klemmer (Origin)

It’s a big week for: Des Hasler. The Bulldogs’ attack still looks abysmal a lot of the time. It was bad against Parramatta last week and while the halves cop a lot of the flak, the coach is ultimately carrying the can for the overall performance. Against a lowly Newcastle, the Bulldogs can at least curry some favour with fans.

In calculations: Kerrod Holland and Brenko Lee will battle it out for the wing spot left vacant by Brett Morris.

Crystal ball: Canterbury will produce their biggest score of the year.

KNIGHTS

Outs: Rory Kostjasyn (throat, indefinite), Dylan Pythian (knee, indefinite), Broadie Smith (shoulder, unknown), David Bhana (knee, season), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (unclear, indefinite), Luke Yates (shoulder, TBC), Josh Starling (back, indefinite), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (hamstring, round 19-20), Ken Sio (shoulder, TBC), Dane Gagai (Origin)

It’s a big week for: Trent Hodkinson. The one time NSW half is going up against his former club. Not only that, the veteran playmaker could only have a few games left to convince the Knights he’s worth keeping around after 2017. He got the call up last week but failed to do anything with it, if another chance comes it’s likely going to be his last if he blows it.

In calculations: Shaun Kenny-Dowall is still unfit to make his club debut.

Crystal ball: Going on last week, Newcastle will be lucky to score a try.