Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary says he and his teammates have been "too nice" to each other after letting their standards slide this NRL season.
The Panthers have been left scrambling for answers after they provisionally slumped to last spot in the wake of their 30-4 Magic Round thumping to the Wests Tigers on Friday.
Coach Ivan Cleary has vowed to speak to his players and staff in the next 24 hours and launch an investigation after admitting they lacked effort and execution during the Suncorp Stadium rout.
Halfback Nathan said the squad, himself included, were guilty of letting things slip on the training paddock and he and his teammates needed to be harder on each other.
"As soon as we step out onto the training paddock, we need to do things right and be honest with each other and hold each other accountable," Cleary said.
"We're probably being too nice to each other early on this year.
"I think everyone is hurting right now and rightly so. No one intends to lose games. It's just not up to scratch."
Cleary said everyone in the playing squad needed to take a hard look at themselves after leaking 60 points over the last fortnight - following their 30-12 defeat to Canberra the week prior.
"The little things you just let go by on the training field," Cleary said.
"It comes down to accountability and responsibility within the team. I've been guilty of that myself, I have to look at my own game."
Cleary said with his side at 2-7, he was finding it hard to contemplate representative duties and wouldn't be drawn on whether he expects to retain his NSW Origin jumper.
After being pre-season fancies, the Panthers find themselves needing to win 10 of their last 15 to make the top eight.
Two years ago, they came from a similar position, winning 11 of their last 15, to finish seventh.
Five-eighth James Maloney, who is also struggling to stay in Blues contention, said he didn't have any answers.
Throughout his career, success has followed Maloney wherever he has gone, reaching a grand final with the Warriors and winning titles with the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla.
And he admitted he had never been in a side in such a dire situation.
"I didn't see any of this coming. I've never been in this position like this. It's new for me," Maloney said.
"I don't have the answers. If I had the answers, we wouldn't be in this situation."
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