Penrith hunting history in club's 2023 finals mission

Penrith will wear a shirt referencing the club's 2003 title success as they push for a three-peat. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

They've conquered Everest, completed a Top Gun-style do-or-die mission and now Penrith have set their sights set on hunting history.

The Panthers' final-series slogan has become synonymous with their success, with the club adopting a new motto for each of their recent premiership assaults.

Forced out of home and into Queensland amid a raft of late-season injuries in 2021's COVID-affected campaign, Penrith's players were challenged to 'climb Everest' to win that year's trophy.

Last season, references to the Top Gun movie were displayed around the Panthers' dressing sheds, with players referring to a mission being accomplished after each successful game.

This year, the message is simple.

With no side having won three straight titles in the NRL era, Penrith's players have been told by coaches that they are 'hunting history'.

AAP has been told the slogan was first put to players at a camp on the Gold Coast before round 25, with coaching staff coining the phrase during the year and the motto now displayed through the club and on social media.

"This year is all about chasing history," second-rower Liam Martin said. 

"(Three successive title wins) hasn't been done in the modern era. We're just hunting history at the moment. That's the slogan.

"We spoke about (the opportunity) a bit at the start of the year. But a couple of weeks ago we had a camp and spoke about it a bit more in depth."

It's not the only mental messaging Penrith's players will carry into the finals.

Keen to make each series feel like a new campaign, the Panthers will again wear a fresh strip for this year's finals.

Coach Ivan Cleary opted to replace the side's regular look with a 1991 heritage jersey through last year's finals in a nod to the club's maiden premiership-winning side.

This year they will again roll out a fresh jersey, paying homage to the 2003 premiership-winning design with thin red, white and teal lines across the chest.

The 'alternative' jersey has been used twice already this season - in round one against Brisbane and round 11 against the Sydney Roosters - but has otherwise been put on ice for the finals.

Winning the minor premiership allows Penrith first choice of jersey in each finals match.

"It's pretty cool. You always associate 2003 with the Scott Sattler tackle. You always remember it and see so much of it," halfback Nathan Cleary said.

"It's an important thing we have about respecting the past and creating the future."

Cleary said it was important for players to distinguish each campaign as a new one in a bid to keep the team hungry.

"What we've been able to do is great, and we've got a lot of great memories from it. But that's what it is, it's memories," he said.

"We can take lessons. But you can't just rely on what you've done in the past to help in the future.

"You've got to recreate it ... you've got get better. You can't just be content with what's happened."

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