Panthers quartert that must step up

Rugby league is a 17-man game these days - and that's something Ivan Cleary will be reminding the Panthers bench in the lead-up to Sunday's grand final.For as magnificent as the Panthers' starting 13 were in the demolition of the Storm last Friday night, the four players from the bench were somewhat underwhelming.Of Jack Cogger, Lindsay Smith, Luke Garner and Spencer Leniu, only the latter provided the Panthers with any real spark when he took the field. A tower of strength all season, Leniu made 10 bruising runs for 105 metres.Smith was down on his usual high impact game, producing 73 metres from 11 runs and Garner had just four runs for 43 metres.Cogger was barely noticed, but he played only the final 22 minutes after replacing Jarome Luai and the game was already done and dusted by that stage.To beat the in-form Broncos, the Panthers are going to need far greater contributions from the four men on the bench.Their role will be to lift the team with their enthusiasm and drive - and the Panthers will be well on the way to the cherished three-peat if they manage to do that.