If the mighty Penrith Panthers go all the way in 2020, that will be a win not only for the club with it’s amazing junior base that enriched the game so much but also for ‘Rugba Leeg’.
As opposed to the Rorters trying to buy another comp or even the Storm.. People will quickly forget about it.
I can see the cloud of smug floating over the foot of the mountains from the balcony of the Coogee Pav
Now I'm not diminishing the excellent work Penrith do with the junior regions they've been handed, but isn't a large junior area basically a lucky quirk of history? A lot like being born into riches, in some ways...
Meanwhile the remaining 1908 clubs have fought each other over tiny historic areas, had gentrification shrink their already small base while competing clubs sprout up out west with massive suburban sprawls geared to breed rugby league families.
Not so different in some ways.
2 clubs taking excellent advantage of the circumstances history has handed them.
Both wealthy in different ways - although I will note with the behemoth pokie club that takes up half of Penrith, the Panthers aren't exactly short on cash despite the battler narrative.
Both strong development systems with the foundations set up by Gould, both clubs responsible for putting a huge number of NRL players through to grade.
I used to give a shit about other fans perception of Penrith, I couldn't understand why they couldn't see what I could. Now I couldn't give a rats arse. Fans of clubs that have had a lot of success get it, those of us who only get a rare sniff of it crave for everyone to share our enthusiasm. It aint gunna happen.
Learn to embrace the hate & jealousy. No one started hating Manly, Melbourne, Broncos & Roosters because they were shit. Games & premierships aren't won by media or fan opinion on TV, Radio, forums or facebook. Come what may on Friday night & there after Panthers fans can be proud of 2020 & those that down play it can go & slurp on a big fat knob.
Someone gets it
No one loves a winner.
You might win 1, and the neutrals will party with you because Roosters and Storm didn't win.
Win 3 or 4 in a decade and see if they still come to the party
