The Penrith Panthers dynasty could be under serious danger, after the team hit a five-year low in their loss to the Rabbitohs.
Having won the last four NRL titles, the Panthers have become known for their dominant abilities, but this was nowhere to be seen Thursday as they were blitzed in the first half 28-0.
Despite an attempted comeback rallying 18 points, the team still dropped their third straight game, a feat not seen since the days before their first title of the current run.
Panthers hit five-year low in loss to Rabbitohs
Penrith's loss to the Rabbitohs was their third loss in a row, something the team has not done in 2,035 days.
The last time the Panthers lost three-straight was in August of 2019, when they fell to the Broncos, Cowboys, and Roosters in three of their last four games.
Of course, this current version of the team was nowhere near full strength, missing the talents of Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, and losing Brian To'o and Scott Sorensen during the contest, but a 1-3 record was not the way the reigning champs envisioned the start to a fifth-straight premiership campaign.
"I was trying to work out what I was going to say. It was just one of those games," coach Ivan Cleary said after the game.
"We made errors, couldn't defend them, compounded them and found new ways to make them. We just haven't got any rhythm in the way we are playing.
"I have to take responsibility for how we're playing to this point. The spirit is still there, which is good, but it's a bit hard and we haven't got any rhythm in our game.
"We're gonna need to find it pretty soon. The first half was just comical at some points."
The team will now hope to bounce back by next Friday, when they take on the North Queensland Cowboys in what has suddenly become a crucial fixture for the flailing outfit.