'10 | R12 | Sun | Rabbitohs 42-22 Panthers | ANZ

[Kilkenny]

Kilkenny you stunning beauty is the stuff books are written about.Fibro has stated many times he feels less a man when standing beside you.I hear your name is chanted out loudly around the nursing home.Kilkenny Kilkenny

Listen you young whippersnapper, old Kilkenny ain't quite ready for the knackery just yet I've got a few years left in me and unlike Fibroman I actually have a full head of jet black hair (tinged with grey). I may be in urgent need of the full supplemax treatments soon or the missus will surely be looking elsewhere for love but not quite ready for the retirement village and nursing home.

 

[slammingsam]

Souths backrow is by far the best in the comp.
Burgess/Taylor/Lowe...unstopable.

We completed at 88% today - if we do that every week we will blow sides off the park. At halftime we had completed 18-19.

 

[Kilkenny]

Clearly you have a strong back row and the Bunnies were mistake free in the first half which laid the foundation for the victory. The Panthers tried hard and clawed there way back into the contest which is too there credit. They got nothing from Tony Archer when clearly Souths were allowed to infringe the 10 metres for the entire contest which made it difficult for us to get over the advantage line or create opportunities out wide. The Panthers made more metres overall but his is probably slightly deceiving as I agree your forwards dominated where it counted. The wife made the comment before kick off how good a side you have on paper and your clearly do. Well done to the Bunnies, no complaints really, albeit again I thought we could have been given a little more protection from Archer who gave Souths the licence of only have to be back 7 metres instead of ten metres.

 

[Kilkenny]

I am fascinated by the way Tony Archer officiated todays game. He get's back the ten, calls out each and every play for the defence to not move prior to the play the ball but not once, not ever does he actually look to his left or right. Not once. Yes I accept he may say he is relying on his linespersons to advice him about encroaching defence, but they clearly weren't watching either. It's not sour grapes, I am genuinely concerned about how we are only being awarded on average less than 3 penalties per game few of which involve infringing the ten or ruck penalties. Amazing. Truly amazing.

 

[Kilkenny]

To give credit where credit is definitely due, Souths are the real deal.

They have a very solid 17 and have no real weaknesses.

Sandow will always be somewhat of an enigma, but today he was very good and laid a solid platform for the win.

I've always rated Rhys Wesser, he is a sublime attacking talent and he showed that today.

John Sutton another enigma but he saves his best when he plays the panthers and delivered today.

As I've said previously, the Souths fans may be in raptures about there back row, but from an outsiders perspective I thought the win was about they key players in the 1,6,7 and 9. They were the ones who one the Bunnies this game, not the big hits.

 

[Ziggy the God]

Cheers Kilkenny

 

[Kilkenny]

Cheers Kilkenny

I have no axe to grind here. I was disappointed in Tony Archer who I thought was very lenient in allowing Souths infringe inside the ten the entire game but it does not mask the fact Souths have the cattle to compete in this competition.

If the Bunnies can remain relatively injury free and keep there big guns on the paddock they will be there when the whips are cracking, of that I have no doubt.

Do I think the Panthers are capable of beating them. Absolutely, but we will need Petero back and we will also need to be free of injuries and not playing players who are clearly injured.

I actually believe the Bunnies are a real shot at competing in the GF. They have the forwards to do so. Forwards win matches and while not necessary having the best backline they still have a very good one.

 

[Kilkenny]

I might add I would love to see the Bunnies enjoy success this season.

They have earnt it the hard way.

If I had to choose the winner of the NRL outside of my own side I would surely choose the Bunnies.

I may not have enjoyed the rather condescendning attitude of some of there supporters today when we were doomed to defeant but I understand and accept it.

If it is not to be the year of the Panther then for the good of the game I hope it is the year of South Sydney.

 

[Fibroman]

Congratulations to the bunnies. They beat us fair and square. Minibus really needs to consider slotting Bobby Blair in for Purtell. Blair is a really talented player, whereas Purtell is a plodder, but Minibus seems to have this obsession on having plodders in his side. eg. Smith, Cooper, Bell, Purtell, Elford F Puletua. Minibus loves them. They all play 20kg's under their weight. Get Blair and maybe Bateman in the side for a couple of weeks and give them a chance.

 

[Fairfax]

I might add I would love to see the Bunnies enjoy success this season.

They have earnt it the hard way.

Bahwahahaha!!! Asotasi, Crocker, Burgess, Taylor, Best, Wesser, Luke... Doing it the hard way by purchasing more.

 

[abpanther]

Panthers were just terribly flat, Souths deserved the win

 

[Panthers_God]

Panthers showed good spirit fighting for the come back but they didnt quite have enough. Our on-line defence was terrible, probably the worst all season.

Souths really exposed Walsh, he was under pressure all game from the souths defence and he crumbled. There was probably only a handful of attacking kicks and probaby only a couple of bombs. The panthers attack is heavily dependent on these kicks and they just werent there.

I have to also mention Lachlan Coote. He is simply amazing. If he was not there the score wouldve been more like 50-6. Penrith must make it an utmost priority the resign him.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

This game highlighted why I don't rate the Panthers a genuine shot at the title YET.

It's all well and good to score a lot of points against teams like the Warriors, Sharks, Knights, Roosters etc but the top quality teams won't hand over possesion as easily so the attacking kicks won't come as often.

For Penrith to be any sort of force they need their halves to create more for the outside men. The Panthers have the players to score a lot of tries without relying on the kicks, but right now they remind me alot of the Sharks in the late 90's who only really had one play with Healy and Green in the halves, and that was the kick.

 

[pantherz9103]

Agreed that we have a long way to go before being a contender. Most of us just want to see them make the 8 first. We haven't since 2004 and its very important to get a taste of finals again.

 

[abpanther]

I have to say Isaac Luke is in sublime form at the moment, the guy drags 2-3 tacklers with him every run and still offloads, he is a real strong bugger and the heart of that side IMO.

Wade Graham has to come into the side, his passing game is badly needed to ignite our attack, Burns is a solid player but offers nothing in attack.

Jennings still doesn't look right IMO, no matter how much he says it

 

[franklin2323]

lol penrith are woeful

I wouldn't say that. Souths turned up today 34-39 Completion you are always going to struggle. on the other hand we were flat. Prob down to our disrupted preparation more than anything.

the 3 reps comeback from SOO all train. Yet 24 hours later Petero hand is broken form Origin. Players get to the game only 20mins before the game due to a huge accident. Pritchard does his shoulder in the 1st hitup he has.

While Souths deserved the win and played well. These reasons prob were part of our flatness. you don't turn up even 95% in this comp you lose simple us that

 

[Jason Maher]

Damn I wish Isaac Luke was elligible for NSW (well, by the Tonie Carrol/Brad Thorn/Craig Smith/Adrian Lam rule he should be actually)...