2025 R24 Thu - Penrith 18-22* Melbourne @ CommBank

[Fangs]

It was a disgraceful decision and an embarrassment to our great game.

Can't change it now. Have to move on.

 

[Dogs Of War]

It shows how much Penrith miss Yeo in attack. They dominated the first 40 and should have been 20 up.
Melbourne minus so many players I know who I would put my money on next game.

I think that was my take out of the game as well. Penrith when on top should have rammed a few more points home. Lot of credit to Melbourne for holding on.

Reminds me of the second time the Dogs played the Broncos. We should have never lost but being only 18-0 up when we should have had more on the board is what let them have a sniff.

 

[Someguy]

Is the new trend in the nrl to cry like a b***h after a loss

first Payton last week accusing Moses of taking a dive

than in a post match interview tonight Cleary says Grant definitely has good acting skills

the acting skills only work if the bunker can confirm an infringement. Martin and Tago were convincing with their milking attempts but bunker couldn’t find anything

 

[Someguy]

I’m hoping the NRL can explain why their was no penalty was given when the Penrith dummy half threw the ball into loitering Storm player. I’m hoping it’s a change to the rule to bring common sense and discourage loitering but guessing it’s more the ref forgot the rule

 

[Apey]

On the Leota penalty, he's allowed to position himself there. The rule was to prevent a specific formation where the attacking players would stand tight at the ruck to deny the markers a clear path. Grant had a clear path to Cleary and chose to go the long way. I could even see the case that Leota stepped the way he did to help Grant take that inside lane and Grant took advantage of it.

He moved towards Grant. It doesn't really matter which way Grant chose to run. Once you move towards the defender, it's over, you're in the wrong. Grant can take any path he likes.

No doubt Grant absolutely played for it. That's what he does. He wouldn't have got away with it or the challenge would have likely been successful if Leota didn't move at all.

As for going the long way, you can't block a kick from the side. You need to get in front of the kicker asap and do your best to close down the angle they have to work with. Same premise as being the last defender as a goalkeeper in soccer.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

It was the league version of underarm bowling.

The game should be played again.

 

[Vic Mackey]

I know it's a tall poppy situation but Nathan Cleary wouldn't be in the top 20 worst divers in the comp. The shit he cops is silly

Certainly wouldnt call Nate a diver, he does seem to have the 'not allowed to be tackled' tag from the refs though. Not as bad as Ponga but hes next in line.

 

[Captain Apollo]

'Why put them there?' The NRL warning Penrith failed to heed

Penrith captain Nathan Cleary says Storm captain Harry Grant "played for" a penalty as Cleary slotted a potentially game-winning field goal only for referee Ashley Klein to call it back late in their NRL showdown.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Chins]

Certainly wouldnt call Nate a diver, he does seem to have the 'not allowed to be tackled' tag from the refs though. Not as bad as Ponga but hes next in line.

He puts a little extra sauce on when he gets hit after kicking.

Mitchy Moses is the worst diver by far

 

[Big Pete]

He moved towards Grant. It doesn't really matter which way Grant chose to run. Once you move towards the defender, it's over, you're in the wrong. Grant can take any path he likes.

No doubt Grant absolutely played for it. That's what he does. He wouldn't have got away with it or the challenge would have likely been successful if Leota didn't move at all.

As for going the long way, you can't block a kick from the side. You need to get in front of the kicker asap and do your best to close down the angle they have to work with. Same premise as being the last defender as a goalkeeper in soccer.

This is the problem right here. See I think Grant made a beeline towards Leota so it wouldn't have mattered if he stayed still, the Storm would have argued that Grant was denied an opportunity because he couldn't divert between Leota.

I can live with the call, but the NRL needs to explain what Leota was supposed to do in that situation. Was he meant to run a decoy? If Grant runs into him then do they consider it a defensive decision? Or if a field goal takes place you simply cannot have any players between the play the ball and the kicker?

 

[Apey]

This is the problem right here. See I think Grant made a beeline towards Leota so it wouldn't have mattered if he stayed still, the Storm would have argued that Grant was denied an opportunity because he couldn't divert between Leota.

I can live with the call, but the NRL needs to explain what Leota was supposed to do in that situation. Was he meant to run a decoy? If Grant runs into him then do they consider it a defensive decision? Or if a field goal takes place you simply cannot have any players between the play the ball and the kicker?

Well running a decoy isn't the answer either:


For anyone saying it's about 'taking up a position' - these two examples would suggest otherwise to me.

Everyone forgot about this one because it's two irrelevant teams and not PANTHERS! but there was literally two instances of it in this single GP game.

 

[Big Pete]

'Why do they need to be there?': Annesley stands firm on blockers

NRL head of football elite competitions Graham Annesley has declared referees won't hesitate to penalise teams that use blockers in front of field goal kickers throughout the final weeks of the season.

www.nrl.com

Even listening to Annesley explain that call against Newcastle and Cronulla it doesn't sound like a black and white rule. Rather it's up to the opinion of the officials and if you have players infront of the kicker you're always going to run that risk.

I remember when they first brought the rule in Penrith were milking penalties on clearing kicks - I wonder if some of the better teams will be looking to do that in the coming weeks?

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Annesley is an idiot. Some kind of failed cop, should be lent to union for a year.

I’ve met sock puppets with better eyesight.

 

[PANTHERMIKE]

Dive or not, if the merkin doesn't move into Harry's path there's no chance for him to act up.

I just find it hysterical that it's Cleary of all people crying about someone diving. Throws himself to the ground anytime someone is in the same postcode when he kicks. Two absolute bullshit penalties last week.

You obviously didn't hear him say the penalty wasn't why they lost the game.. You dumb merkin.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

$300 a ticket to see the wallabies belt the Irish and Scottish rovers. Annesley should take over the officiating there.

The rugby union equivalent of being blind and taking a leak on king Wally’s statue at Lang Park.

A rite of passage for us travelling blues fans @blue bags.

 

[Black Panther]

the acting skills only work if the bunker can confirm an infringement. Martin and Tago were convincing with their milking attempts but bunker couldn’t find anything

Martin was clipped in the head and Tago was hit around the eye region, hardly milking you useless wanker. Your Footy IQ is pretty low.

 

[Ring Gids]

I know it's a tall poppy situation but Nathan Cleary wouldn't be in the top 20 worst divers in the comp. The shit he cops is silly

Well and truly in the top echelon of divers. Combined with the fact that the refs then give him every possibly call, and he is easily the most protected/penalty “winning” player in the NRL. Of course he’s also a 4 time premiership winner, so I doubt he cares.

 

[Saxon]

You obviously didn't hear him say the penalty wasn't why they lost the game.. You dumb merkin.

I probably didn't, I gave up after a couple of minutes of listening to a whiney bitch cry.

And if he did say that, then he's dumber than I thought. If they hadn't been penalised the field goal would have been given and they almost certainly would have won.

 

[Saxon]

Saxon he knew he wasn't going to make an attempt to stop that field go so he did the next big thing milk it and the whole f**king NRL establishment fell for it, anyway it worked out fine for the Storm. Everyone with half a brain can see it was an act.

I think he was legitimately trying, but no doubt he took the opportunity with both hands. Absolutely. But if Moses doesn't break the rules he doesn't get penalised so I have no sympathy.
What did you think of the panther's dummy half being allowed to deliberately pass the ball into a defensive player on the ground?

 

[Lyrebird01]

Is the new trend in the nrl to cry like a b***h after a loss

first Payton last week accusing Moses of taking a dive

than in a post match interview tonight Cleary says Grant definitely has good acting skills

I’m surprised that Moses isn’t in Hollywood. What a waste of talent that is being in the NRL.