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<\/p>\nPeter Sterling is backing the Panthers to pull themselves out of a post-Origin slump, but says it's unsurprising to see the competition heavyweights have a lull since their season was disrupted.<\/p>\n
Penrith have lost two of six since they were forced to field a severely weaked team against the Wests Tigers, with games against both Parramatta and Brisbane going down to the wire as well.<\/p>\n
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"Origin is so demanding, not just physically, but mentally. And that's something that when you haven't been a part of it often, I think it's something that you do carry after an Origin campaign," he said on Wide World of Sports' Sterlo's Wrap<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n "For NSW players, getting beaten in Game Three too is a little bit different than wrapping up the series with a clean sweep. I don't expect it to be too much of a problem now, but I kind of expected that there would be a little bit of a lull in some shape or form for players and for clubs that did have that represenatation."<\/p>\n The legendary halfback conceded that Jarome Luai "was a little bit off" when he returned for Penrith's 18-12 win over the Broncos<\/a>, after coming through an Origin campaign and then spending a couple of weeks on the sidelines.<\/p>\n The five-eighth missed rounds 18 and 19, as well as the final game of the Origin series, after suffering an injury in that nailbiter against the Eels<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sterling said this weekend is more about getting their game back on track than making a statement in their grand final rematch with Melbourne, particularly when considering the number of injuries in the Panthers squad at the moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n Penrith will be without Nathan Cleary, Brian To'o, Isaah Yeo, James Fisher-Harris and Tyrone May.<\/p>\n "What I see on this weekend, I don't think is going to carry a whole lot of importance for me for what I expect to see further down the track," Sterling said.<\/p>\n "But you want to see good sides now, and you want to see the basis of the game that you're going to take into finals footy."<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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