Beersquad match report
ANOTHER HOME GAME, ANOTHER HUGE WIN
I think a trend is starting to develop here. Absolute world beaters at home, but absolutely terrible on the road. It continued last night, at home.
The team in the firing line this time were the Cowboys. Unlike previous years, they actually went into this game with quite a few wins under the belt, and holding a spot in top 8, on the verge of history - the first team from North Queensland to make an appearance in the finals.
However, the scoreline at the end of 80 minutes told the story. Panthers 56, Cowboys 6.
I don't know if it's the cold mountain air, or the buzz of the home crowd, but it seems as if they really do lift at Penrith, and just blitz the opposition. The last 3 home games have amassed 170 points, which means on average we have been putting over 60 on anyone who dares ventures west.
However, whatever it is, it is something that disappears when we are away from Penrith. We seem to get a terrible dose of stage fright, or we don't have the crowd to feed off, and we get lapped.
Next week is an away game against our fiercest of rivals - Parramatta. Hopefully it's a trend we can snap. We need to win both games to stave off the Dragons from getting that much appreciated 4th spot, which comes with a home final.
I for one do not want to go down to Wollongong again this year if it can be helped.
But back to the Cowboys match. Campbell, well, was on fire. It seemed as if it was truly a one man show, but support roles were coming in thick and fast. Pritchard's first game back truly showed why he will be big in the coming years. Our forward pack, led by Marty Lang and Joel Clinton, actually resembled human wrecking balls. Waterhouse re-captured his 2003 form, and Wesser did likewise. His last of his three tries turned the clock back.
The finals are fast approaching. The last two games will not be easy. But play like that, and it will definitely give us good reason to be confident of at least having a decent shot of defending our title.
