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  1. maple_69

    Other games

    Wighton retired from Origin. Luai fully deserved to be there in 2021 & didn't deserve to be dropped in 2022, but he does this year. I don't know how NSW can possibly pick Turbo when he hasn't been able to change direction or get out of a jog all year. I still think we could have let Leota go...
  2. maple_69

    Round 9 vs Tigers - Bathurst

    I thought Eisenhuth was fantastic last year but he just looks to have regressed this year and Henry is one of the few prospects banging on the door in Cup. Below looks a lot more threatening and the only risk is in talented but inexperienced kids coming in rather than guys proven to be reserve...
  3. maple_69

    Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

    Agree with the above. We clearly had cash to up the Api offer but chose to stand our ground and then dump it into Leota & Martin. Incredible players but definitely more replaceable. Hopefully the club proves to have made the right bet but its easy to be skeptical at the moment. Egan is the...
  4. maple_69

    Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

    Depends how you view Luai. I don’t see a heap of clubs throwing silly money at him to play the second (or 5th) fiddle role he plays with us. If there are any clubs who looked at what he did in the World Cup and thought hey, this guy could be the focal point of my footy team if I build it...
  5. maple_69

    Round 8 vs Souths

    Could be a different story if we’re talking about the Kenny replacement though. Im not backing Peachey in the first 20 that’s for sure and I’d prefer to go real easy with Luke to make sure his body isn’t pressured while acclimating to first grade. No great options to throw to the wolves as a...
  6. maple_69

    Round 7 v Knights

    None of the options in play are bad. Smith isn’t going to lose a game against the Knights for us so why not give him the experience. Win now and in a year. Seems the shocker last week in Cup has prompted a re-shuffle with the kids going into more important roles. Looks likely Lisati is being...
  7. maple_69

    Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

    When was the last time Penrith prioritised ‘freak’ over tough and smart? From the kids that we let walk (Katoa over Cole) through to the superstars (Critta/Kikau/Leniu over To’o/Martin/Fish) we prioritise attitude, work ethic and game smarts over raw athletic ability pretty much every time.
  8. maple_69

    Round 7 v Knights

    I’m in the camp of rotating through some bench options leading into Origin. Is Salmon the best for that 17 jumper? Maybe. Do we lose anything from looking at what some guys with super high ceilings have for a few games? I don’t think so. Could they improve the 17 for the run in over what a...
  9. maple_69

    Round 6 v Silvertails

    We’ve certainly beaten up on some sides who have blown a tyre but credit to Cleary, last night we pulled that side around masterfully. They identified a few weaknesses and then just slammed into them incessantly, even if it meant playing a very different game than we’re used to. We’re nowhere...
  10. maple_69

    Round 6 v Silvertails

    I’m not saying he doesn’t do a hell of a job on the edge. He’s been close to the best performed edge forward in the game rom the finals to now. What he offers from that position is not what you typically get out of an edge forward though. He hits hard, leads line speed, runs hard, gets through...
  11. maple_69

    Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

    Luai is surely the most replaceable of our core so I could see him moving on if he asks for a payday although he has been very loyal in the past. Cole didn’t sign long term without a role in first grade on offer. I also wonder how much of an impact it has on this squads mentality though. Luai...
  12. maple_69

    Round 6 v Silvertails

    The intent here isn't to get Jenkins into the squad, its to free up the small number of dynamic players we have in the squad to play roles that utilise those abilities at times when they will be most effective, while allowing the harder working players to do the dirty stuff they do so well...
  13. maple_69

    Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

    Jesus those Henry numbers are monstrous as well. Bloke might not be a Sorro/Leniu replacement but he clearly has a monster motor on him. I can definitely see Fish/Leota running smaller minutes and just being able to go for broke with Smith/Henry the likely next up in the middle and being more...
  14. maple_69

    Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

    Interesting. That will take him to 32 towards the end of his contract. He's getting better every year and I'd say this contract will be his prime years if true. We're no doubt investing a fair bit in our middles but its been the foundation of our whole game so I don't mind it. Probably means we...
  15. maple_69

    Round 6 v Silvertails

    I wouldn’t mind seeing Jenkins and Luke on the bench. Kenny plays 25 at dummy half and thats It, option in the middle of guys go down. Fish plays the first and last 25, Leniu plays the middle 30. Martin plays the first 20 at prop and moves to the right edge until 25 to go. Leota the second...
  16. maple_69

    Round 5 v Canberra

    Nice to see us with some attacking fluency even if it was against a side that threw in the towel. Good match practice for our shapes and plays when we come up against a committed, rushing defence. I liked Sorenson/Hosking as our edges. Sorro certainly went to another level moving into the...
  17. maple_69

    Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

    I’ve been underwhelmed by our performances so far as well but who has actually passed us? No side is a true standout this year. Manlys defence is frail, Brisbane were super underwhelming in the last two while the rest of the pre-season contenders have looked as flat as us.
  18. maple_69

    Rumoured & Confirmed Signings - Part 5

    I'd go Edwards next. Luai is the other core member off contract end of next year but I suspect we may leave him until later on. If we're really just not evolving through this season, the club could opt to bank on Cole longer term as a cheaper option to free up some cash from the spine to spend...
  19. maple_69

    Round 4 vs the eels

    Great game, to be honest its kind of refreshing to be in the trenches. We've clearly come back to the pack but we're in it up to our eyeballs. If it takes a very good team like the Eels to complete 40 sets at 95% just to get us in golden point, we're doing ok. Few teams will be able to dish that...
  20. maple_69

    Former Panthers in the NRL

    Makes you wonder. I think we could have opted to not extend Leota in 2021, put some more money into Kikau and re-sign Hopgood for a couple hundred grand. The below side has a few less question marks on it and I'd say would be clear favourites for 2023. In saying that, I'm optimistic taking Kikau...

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