2020 QF1 (1 v 4) - Panthers 29-28 Roosters @ Panthers

[Valheru]

I disagree here, because it diminishes the actual work successful clubs do.
It's how people claim Roosters don't develop players, despite putting huge numbers of players through grades and rep football over the years. "Someone else would have done it anyway"

Panthers are becoming very good at turning that junior pipeline into first graders and winners. They had lapsed badly in the previous years, with some of their best and brightest poorly handled and eventually winning comps at Easts and Cronulla. It looks like they've learned from that experience.

You only have to look at how clubs like Broncos, St George, Gold Coast and Canterbury have handled their young players over the last 5 years to see that stardom isn't guaranteed. Imagine Lomax coming through the Roosters system!

Yeah so I am more talking about a junior in the pure sense of the word, where they first started paying footy.

Cleary not the best example as he did go through the whole way with Penrith.

The work clubs do from say 15 onward is what is really important and as you say we do it as well as anyone.

 

[Mr Spock!]

A GF replay of this game would be the best result.
Maximum drama.

Most neutrals would hope for Panthers v Raiders GF so neither Roosters nor Melbourne are anywhere near another premiership.

But Roosters v Penrith would be the most exciting by far. So many great stories and angles.

Nah the ultimate would be Souths v Easts.

 

[myrrh ken]

You can afford to be smug when you've managed to beat even a single top 8 team

Or not conceded 60

 

[adamkungl]

Or not conceded 60

thats why Penrith are smugger

 

[Valheru]

Or not conceded 60

Mate we just want to ensure we break the curse on route to an historic 3 peat.

Peak smugness

 

[Mr Spock!]

My point was referring to how the size of respective areas have developed over the years.
Souths once had the boundaries redrawn to benefit them over Easts, and later another block of clubs was lost from East to South. Additionally Souths have benefited from the death of neighbouring clubs and absorbed their areas.
When Norths fell out of top grade, you could argue that their region should have been split between Easts and Manly - but still it stands.

Ultimately in the professional era none of this matters a whole lot and players come from far and wide. Large junior areas are for the most part a quirk of history and luck - the teams that came about in the expansion eras of the NSWRL represented much larger regions than the originals - which is why all of the originals have since fallen over, merged, rebranded. Souths try to claim purity but they've chased more fans out west. The teams in the ARL expansion era are bigger regions again.

Panthers can hold the size of the junior area over us, but it's not really any more of an achievement than having a wealthy board as a result of happening to be based in the richest part of town. What you do with the tools available is the achievement, and both clubs are currently succeeding in that area.

Must be why Souths Jr's let Easts Jr's play in their comp for years until Easts started poaching souths jrs.

Did that ever get resolved?

Great to see Newtown Jr's still playing in the souths Jr's too.

 

[84 Baby]

Most neutrals would hope for Panthers v Raiders GF so neither Roosters nor Melbourne are anywhere near another premiership.

I’m confused. Don’t most neutrals want Parramatta in the GF? The lovable, scrappy underdog? The feel good story for all of 2020?
I thought it’d only be the Smuggies fans who wouldn’t want the Eels to not only make the GF but win it over all other teams?

 

[This Year?]

Smug V Smugger. Who cares.

Get it right. It's:

Smug v Arrogance.

Wot a humdinger.

 

[roofromoz]

We have a much better fullback, better wingers, better centres, the game's best half, the game's best front row, a better backrow and bench; but apart from that I reckon Penrith are within a chance.

Congrats Penrith and their fans on an amazing season btw. What a decade you have ahead of you.

P.S. Geez you merkins had a soft draw in the back half of the year! Ripe for the picking

VERY soft. 15 in a row soft.

 

[mozza91]

At least the Roosters have the right to be smug. Penrith have had a great season but it’ll mean bugger all if they shit the bed during the finals.

 

[soc123_au]

At least the Roosters have the right to be smug. Penrith have had a great season but it’ll mean bugger all if they shit the bed during the finals.

The JJ means something regardless of what happens from here. I guess your team would had to have won one to understand.

 

[SBD82]

Its a actually quite smart.

We also run Berkeley sports in Wollongong.

Jesus.

What a shithole.

 

[mozza91]

The JJ means something regardless of what happens from here. I guess your team would had to have won one to understand.

Yeah people still talk about the Dragons amazing 2009 season.

 

[Mr Spock!]

At least the Roosters have the right to be smug. Penrith have had a great season but it’ll mean bugger all if they shit the bed during the finals.

Yeah I'm so reminded of souths 89 team. Won the mp then came across 2 hot teams in Balmain and Canberra and went out in straight sets.

Can see that happening here.

 

[SBD82]

Yeah people still talk about the Dragons amazing 2009 season.

 

[soc123_au]

Yeah people still talk about the Dragons amazing 2009 season.

You just did.

Of course the premiership is what we all want, but I'd rather the JJ than the spoon.

 

[typicalfan]

If the Panthers win the comp do the Tigers get an assist for letting Cleary go?

 

[The_Frog]

Penrith have had a great season but it’ll mean bugger all if they shit the bed during the finals.

Isn't that true of every team that make the finals every year?

 

[mozza91]

Isn't that true of every team that make the finals every year?

Absolutely it is. However, Penrith fans have developed such an air of fart smelling superiority they need to be reminded of it.

Can’t say I blame them either. If the Knights ever come good again I’ll be the smuggest prick on the planet.

 

[BradParkerTheGoat]

Game of the round. Can't wait.

Winner to play Melbourne in GF.

Oh great... so another roosters/storm grand final....
I couldnt get enough of the last one... lets have another yawnfest.