Liam Martin describes it as a "bitter experience" watching last year's grand final from his couch at home.
Dylan Edwards left town and viewed the second half of Brisbane's comeback win from a car, while Moses Leota can't even remember if he tuned in.
Penrith's group chat also laid dormant, perhaps the only rugby league one in Australia not lighting up as Reece Walsh conjured up one of the great performances against Melbourne.
"(It was) just dead silence," Martin said.
"I think everyone sort of had the same feeling of just being pretty bitter. Not regrets, but just watching and wishing it was us.
“It was different, having been there for a number of years, and then to watch it as a fan was a bit bitter."
Almost one year on from their preliminary-final exit to Brisbane, the Panthers are ready to let the disappointment of 2025 fuel them through this month's finals series.
For five straight seasons between 2020 and 2024, the likes of Martin, Edwards and Leota have been a fixture of rugby league's biggest day with the Panthers.
Until last year, knocked out in the dying minutes by the Broncos and having their four-year premiership run ended.
"I didn't like watching it. I'd rather be there," Edwards said.
"It just timed that I had a weekend up on the Central Coast after the season, so I watched the first half there and second half in the car coming back.
"It was a bit different, but it was a pretty good game to be fair."
For much of their dynasty, Penrith have been keen to make each season different.
They put a full stop on each grand-final victory, before launching into the next campaign.
But for this season there has always been some thought of a continuation of 2025 and a desire to win back the title.
"That loss certainly burned desire within us," Martin said.
"That feeling of being so close but letting it slip, wasn’t good fun.
“It's addictive, that feeling of success. It’s what we have here and we keep driving one another and we just want to keep getting better."
That feeling also extended to the younger brigade, with eight of Penrith's 19-man squad for Sunday's qualifying final against the Sydney Roosters yet to win a title.
The minor premiers feel fresher this year after having to come from the bottom of the ladder midway through 2025 and go the long way in the finals.
"Obviously it was a tough pill to swallow last year," young centre Casey McLean said.
"A different team putting up the trophy is a weird thing to happen.
"But it also just showed the greed of wanting to win was still there. And that wasn't just for myself.
"It's always the goal at the end of the year. People say they'll eventually give it up, they won't want to do it any more. But that won't be the case here."
