Rd12: 8pm Parra v Manly GAME DAY THREAD at Commbank 23/5/25

[Poupou Escobar]

I really have to give a massive shout out to Riley Smith though, who seems to fly under the radar of most commentary here. He has been enormous for us this season, despite his stature. An absolute energizer bunny.
His service out of dummy half is mostly clinical and speedy. Kick chase he is always there. Pressure on the opposition kicker is 100%, without doing stupid stuff and giving penalties away. Even when he is 1st or 2nd receiver, his service is crisp and quick. He is almost always there in defence.
He deserves far more credit than the discussion here pays to him.
If we haven't already, we need to lock him in long term.

Agreed, he is a valuable member of the team. He still lacks a bit of strength, but he has everything else, including an insane defensive work rate.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

First time since 2018 we haven't led in offloads

Also the first time since 2020 we've scored fewer than 20 points a game.

 

[T-Boon]

Also the first time since 2020 we've scored fewer than 20 points a game.

That should well and truly straighten itself out over the next month with Moses back and the youngsters getting experience with him. Prayers he stays 100% fit out of origin.

 

[T-Boon]

Panthers as a club could well implode. What about Ivan & Nathan Cleary to the Broncos?

 

[JokerEel]

Also the first time since 2020 we've scored fewer than 20 points a game.

Last year after 11 games we had scored 213 this year after 11 we have scored 209.

Both under 20 ppg

Actually in 2020 we were scoring 22ppg after 12 rounds

 

[Joshuatheeel]

But can we afford both him and Walker on the bench?

No

Why not? I reckon we could easily carry him on the bench. We already carry 3 forward's (Walker is a forward)

Looking at last night, Hopgood 50 mins, Walker 37 mins, Matterson 35 mins, Moretti 34 mins, Kelma 28 mins. If required, we could get another 5-10 mins out of each (that's 25 to 50 mins), no problems. While Matto/Kelma, could easily do another 20-30 mins (40 to 80 mins)

We barely have enough mins, for the above forwards.

So carrying Papalii is hardy going to affect our forward rotation, if we lose a player during the game/need more mins from the bench.

 

[Gronk]

Why not? I reckon we could easily carry him on the bench. We already carry 3 forward's (Walker is a forward)

Looking at last night, Hopgood 50 mins, Walker 37 mins, Matterson 35 mins, Moretti 34 mins, Kelma 28 mins. If required, we could get another 5-10 mins out of each (that's 25 to 50 mins), no problems. While Matto/Kelma, could easily do another 20-30 mins (40 to 80 mins)

We barely have enough mins, for the above forwards.

So carrying Papalii is hardy going to affect our forward rotation, if we lose a player during the game/need more mins from the bench.

We are very spoiled that Jnr can play 65m at prop. Walker plays lock, like hiw Dylan Brown might at age 30. Walker doesn’t play that classic middle role however and I worry against big rolling packs that we might be under strength.

Yes, we can squeeze extra out of the others, but is that the answer ?

We play Penrith, Raiders, Broncos Storm in the coming weeks. Not sure if dropping a forward to pick up some spark is what we need. We don’t have a problem scoring tries against good teams, we have a problem stopping them.

Anyway, it’s a good problem to have.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Last year after 11 games we had scored 213 this year after 11 we have scored 209.

Both under 20 ppg

Actually in 2020 we were scoring 22ppg after 12 rounds

Half a season is too small a sample to make any sort of judgement. There’s why the season goes for twice that long. It would be unfair to hold the finals after 12 rounds. Some good teams would miss out and some shit teams haven’t realised they’re shit yet.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

That should well and truly straighten itself out over the next month with Moses back and the youngsters getting experience with him. Prayers he stays 100% fit out of origin.

I expect we’ll be in a different position after 24 games than after only 12. We’ve been fairly unlucky this year, though we are starting to get some luck (e.g. playing Manly with no middle forwards). It all comes out in the wash.

 

[JokerEel]

Half a season is too small a sample to make any sort of judgement. There’s why the season goes for twice that long. It would be unfair to hold the finals after 12 rounds. Some good teams would miss out and some shit teams haven’t realised they’re shit yet.

Didn't you just use..the first time we have scored fewer than 20 points per game since 2020? Small sample size apparently...

 

[Timana]

Why not? I reckon we could easily carry him on the bench. We already carry 3 forward's (Walker is a forward)

Looking at last night, Hopgood 50 mins, Walker 37 mins, Matterson 35 mins, Moretti 34 mins, Kelma 28 mins. If required, we could get another 5-10 mins out of each (that's 25 to 50 mins), no problems. While Matto/Kelma, could easily do another 20-30 mins (40 to 80 mins)

We barely have enough mins, for the above forwards.

So carrying Papalii is hardy going to affect our forward rotation, if we lose a player during the game/need more mins from the bench.

Of joash wasnt on the bench and Doorey was playing who wouldve played centre?

 

[Timana]

I was just watching the team song and everyone knew the words. And there's alot of new faces and we've only won 2 matches before the knights game.

Ryles mustve made them remeber it

I render in yesteryears, they Berkshire pieces of paper with the lyrics on it

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Of joash wasnt on the bench and Doorey was playing who wouldve played centre?

Kelma

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Kelma

 

[the phantom menace]

Exactly, that's why a single game is entertainment, not data.

 

[the phantom menace]

Last year after 11 games we had scored 213 this year after 11 we have scored 209.

Both under 20 ppg

Actually in 2020 we were scoring 22ppg after 12 rounds

Pou making shit up to suit his argument of the day...? Never!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Didn't you just use..the first time we have scored fewer than 20 points per game since 2020? Small sample size apparently...

It is. I don't place much value on half a season's worth of data, but there are obviously merkins here who do. That statistic was for them.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Pou making shit up to suit his argument of the day...? Never!

Well you would've since seen my response to that post and now you just look f**king stupid. No wonder you didn't comment.

 

[Gazzamatta]

The plan last night was to bring Joash on at 9 to provide a break for Riley. This had been planned throughout the week and was very obvious during the on field warm up.
Unfortunately due to Penisinis injury we didn't get to see this. I'm pretty sure Ryles won't abandon his plan next game. It will be amazing if it works out well. He and Walker could provide amazing flexibility from our bench.

 

[the phantom menace]

Well you would've since seen my response to that post and now you just look f**king stupid. No wonder you didn't comment.

Your response to that post was pretty tangential and evasive, to be honest. As Joker had already called you out on that, there was no need to add a response.

You said it was the first time since 2020 we've scored fewer than 20 points a game, and you were wrong on two fronts. QED.