2017 R3 - Panthers 12-14 Roosters @ Pepper

[Rhyno]

Roosters by 6

 

[RWB]

Hard to split the packs for mine, Penrith will get more creativity out of theirs where as Roosters have a slight advantage in yardage.

Benches are equally matched, these two teams run deeper in their rosters than any other teams in the comp IMO and the benches reflect this.

Roosters have a pretty clear advantage in the halves, although when you factor in Moylan it becomes less obvious. I thought Moyan covered up a lot of the halves deficiencies in the Tigers game last week. For a halfback Cleary isn't on the ball enough. He has 66 touches for the season compared to someone like Mitchell Pearce who will touch the ball 50-60 times a game. That will come with experience and time no doubt, it's not a question of his ability but it is something the Panthers have to carry whilst he continues to develop and something that needs to be factored into the discussion when comparing the 2 sides.

Penrith have a pretty clear advantage in the three-quarters, the left edge defensive combo (Keary-Mitchell-Tupou) have 2 games together under their belt and the right edge defensive combo (Pearce-Manu-SKD) have 0 games together under their belt. Someone like Whare could have an absolute field day and end up being the deciding factor.

I feel the expereince in the spine gives the Roosters the slight advantage, plus we seem to love playing at Penrith Stadium although we lost last year if I remember correctly our win percentage at the ground is just under 70% which is incredible for an away venue.

I'd love to say we'll have a clearer idea of where the teams are at by the end of this round but performances in the opening 5 rounds are so volatile you can't say with any certainty to percentage of their ability any team is playing at.

All I know is both teams play a good brand of footy so here's hoping the rain stays away!

 

[mxlegend99]

Penrith have a pretty clear advantage in the three-quarters, the left edge defensive combo (Keary-Mitchell-Tupou) have 2 games together under their belt and the right edge defensive combo (Pearce-Manu-SKD) have 0 games together under their belt. Someone like Whare could have an absolute field day and end up being the deciding factor.

If experience as combinations is your criteria...

Peachey/Edwards have one game experience together.
Whare/Blake have a couple of games, but only 2 games with these halves and both are at their best at centre. So one is weskened on the wing.

DWZ may come in. But it means Edwards drops out and theres a brand new combination with whoever goes left wing.

I dont think either teams 3/4s have an advantage as far as defensive combos go. Both will have defensive issues.

 

[Hawkins]

Penrith in a close one

 

[Buzzard Breath]

A good test for us thankfully at home. Early form this far in the year can be deceiving. If we play committed like last week and our pack plays as physical as last week, throw in a touch of class for Moylan then we are a good chance of getting the chocolates.
If the round 1 team turns up then forget it.

 

[Todd Hoffman]

Panthers just. Though I have confidence in tipping them.

 

[Tommy Smith]

We look amazing on paper and have been lethal in attack. But there's still plenty of rust.

Panthers by 10.

This reminds me of our rnd 1 clash with Souths in 2013. They got the better of us as the more settled team but come finals time we were a well oiled machine with a ridiculous amount of talent.

I can see us taking a similar path in 2017. But it starts with a loss on Saturday.

 

[Doomednow]

Who knows.

 

[pantherz9103]

People are talking up the Roosters this season more than is really warranted in my view. I'm not saying they'll struggle like last year (I've tipped them for top 6) but people tipping them as title contenders just because of how good they were in 2013-15 and thinking they'll return to that level, seem to forget they lost RTS, Maloney and Jennings and it wasn't just injuries and off field demeanours that contributed to their poor season last year. They look a good team but still need to justify this by beating better teams than Titans and Dogs. I don't think Penrith should have ever been premiership favourites either because we're still a young and developing team.

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

Panthers, easy. They found their groove again on the weekend, and they should carry on with it while the Rorters have been hot and cold for both rounds

 

[TheFrog]

I feel the expereince in the spine gives the Roosters the slight advantage, plus we seem to love playing at Penrith Stadium although we lost last year if I remember correctly our win percentage at the ground is just under 70% which is incredible for an away venue.

Roosters at Penrith last 20 games W10 L10. 50% (goes back to 1991)
Since 1967 Played 43 Won 25 Lost 18 58.14%

58% is very good since the Panthers have a win % at Penrith of 51.68%. The dominance occurred in the period prior to 1984 when there was a streak of 9 Roosters wins in a row.

 

[roostersrule2]

Roosters are the better team on paper but moylan literally makes everyone outside him look good

Penrith are a very talented team & with mansour and DWZ to come back still

Too bad Moylan makes himself look like shit.

 

[Clifferd]

Too bad Moylan makes himself look like shit.

Is that fear I read ?

 

[mxlegend99]

Too bad Moylan makes himself look like shit.

Yeah setting up try after try makes him look terrible. They're only worth 4 points if he scores them....

 

[PANTHERMIKE]

Too bad Moylan makes himself look like shit.

If only he enjoyed stickin the pin in little doggies... Now that would make you look like shit...

 

[Tommy Smith]

Massive boost for Penrith with Cartwright out.

I was looking forward to seeing Keary, Cordner and Mitchell run his way.

 

[mxlegend99]

Massive boost for Penrith with Cartwright out.

I was looking forward to seeing Keary, Cordner and Mitchell run his way.

James Fisher Harris missed 5 tackles last week and had 5 ineffective tackles. He can hit harder than Cartwright. But some of his attempts were incredibly lazy aswell.

Rewatched the game last night and some of his attempts were terrible. Chris Lawrence broke a tackle attempt easily to make decent metres.

Probably due to a lack of match fitness and having to play bigger minutes than expected. But there are plenty of targets who will miss tackles.

DWZ is confirmed to be in. He will be lacking match fitness... that's one good target. JFH is another. Send your big guys at our young halves and they will miss a couple. Bomb Moylan and send your big guys at him... snapping him in half might rattle him for a bit.

 

[Pennies]

Massive boost for Penrith with Cartwright out.

I was looking forward to seeing Keary, Cordner and Mitchell run his way.

Strengthens their defence now. Cartwright & Martin missed too many tackles week 1. With JFH there I noticed last week Martin wasn't 2nd guessing himself at times like he did in R1 with Cartwright next to him.

Penrith by 4.

 

[krappo]

Sticking with the chookies for this one

 

[roostersrule2]

Yeah setting up try after try makes him look terrible. They're only worth 4 points if he scores them....

Letting in try after try doesn't help