Penrith great Luke Priddis has challenged oft-maligned Panthers playmaker Jamie Soward to prove the club’s 2014 NRL dream run wasn’t a fluke.

Priddis knows a thing about Panthers sides punching above their weight, having played hooker in the 2003 Penrith side which went from cellar dwellers to premiers in the space of a season.

The Panthers may have enjoyed proving the sceptics wrong in their run to within one game of this year’s grand final, but Priddis said they needed to find another gear.

He said while some sides would have underestimated them during 2014, the Panthers’ top-four finish would ensure they have a target painted on their back next season.

He said Soward had done well after being cut by St George Illawarra the year before but he needed to find another level.

“Sowie had to have a good year from where he came from last year,” he said.

“He needs to take another step and evolve.

“Hopefully that nucleus of that halves combination, with Matty Moylan at the back making up the spine, that needs to click because they’re not going to fly under the radar anymore.

“They overachieved in a lot of people’s minds last year but they’re not going to have the grace of that next year.”

The Panthers overachieved in 2014 despite a horror injury crisis – with Peter Wallace, Brent Kite, Tyrone Peachey, Bryce Cartwright, Isaac John and Elijah Taylor spending big chunks of the season on the sidelines.

Priddis said that with a bit of luck they should be aiming for an even higher finish next year.

“If those blokes perform, they should have another solid year,” he said.

“It’s going to be a lot harder next year than what it was last year.

“Everyone knows they finished top four this year so they’re going to have a target on them.”