2020 season

[Thirsty Panther]

I rather us not be fancied by the "experts".

A couple of years ago they had us winning the premiership and we played like busteds.

This way if we go bad its as expected but if we go well all the better.

 

[franklin2323]

I rather us not be fancied by the "experts".

A couple of years ago they had us winning the premiership and we played like busteds.

This way if we go bad its as expected but if we go well all the better.

yeah rarely favs win.

We have a high ceiling that in itself is exciting more so then being the favourites

 

[Crashtest]

Makes sense. We didn’t make the 8 last year and have lost Maloney and now Edwards is out for a few months. It is also unclear how our juniors will kick on in their second season (Naden, Crichton, Leniu). They are just taking a low risk approach in ranking us.

I hope they are wrong, but it is a sensible, albeit sobering assessment. Now, if the youngsters improve in their second year and Burton or Luai deliver anything like their potential, we could be a contender. A big ‘If’ though.....

Yeah your right. If i take my rose coloured Panthers glasses off for a second, its the safe prediction for the experts to not include us in their top 8 with the reasons you mentioned.

But as a biased Panthers fan, there is so much more to be positive about compared to last season. I actually think we improve with Aekins at 1 instead Edwards (and if he doesn't take the opportunity, then Crichton or Burton as a replacement). Plus I think Nathan will surprise a lot of people this season stepping up as the dominant play maker, Api is such a massive upgrade at hooker, Luai/Burton to improve our defence and penalty count with Maloney gone, JFH to go to another level, and Yeo hopefully gets to play the season uninjured. Plus Naden has learnt to pass, Hetherington may have grown a brain in the offseason, and the likes of Crichton, Martin, To'o, Burns, Leniu and Kenny to have massive improvement after their first preseason with the first grade squad. And Tetevano will help toughen up our forward pack, and Capewell is an excellent addition to the bench.

Damn, I think I put my Panthers glasses back on...

 

[Westernised Panther]

I rather us not be fancied by the "experts".

A couple of years ago they had us winning the premiership and we played like busteds.

This way if we go bad its as expected but if we go well all the better.

Plus we’ll never forget what Phil Gould’s ladder prediction for us was, back in 2003.......

 

[Crashtest]

Plus we’ll never forget what Phil Gould’s ladder prediction for us was, back in 2003.......

I must have forgotten. What was it??

 

[OldPanther]

I must have forgotten. What was it??

No one rated us in 2003. Was probably one of the biggest underdog premierships in the sport.

 

[Panther Pete]

I must have forgotten. What was it??

Gus said he didn’t know why they gave odds at the beginning of the season for some sides like Penrith to win the competition. Basically he said we were no chance of winning it.

 

[Whino]

I must have forgotten. What was it??

He tipped us to come last.


From "The Sun Herald" footy magazine from 2003. (I still have it)


Phil Gould's Verdict on the Penrith Panthers.

Strengths:

It has to be the good young players coming through. Luke Lewis, Shane Rodney, Joel Clinton and Luke Rooney all showed something last year. New recruit Preston Campbell was a sensation two seasons ago. Surely he hasn't lost his talent in that short time.

Weaknesses:

Let's just say they have their problems. There has been little movement on the player roster and they are in real trouble if they get injuries to key players. Seem to lack physical presence. Not a big side.

Prediction:

15th (Last)

Sorry but the others just appear to have better credentials at this stage. Probably need to play the Roosters every week to show their best!

 

[Tronald Crump]

Of the 23 nrl.com "experts" who have predicted who they think will make the Top 8, only six on them have included Penrith in their Top 8.

And one of them is Jamie Soward, who I still regard as a Panthers legend for making that field goal in the final against the Roosters. But in this case he also predicted Parramatta will come 1st, so he was obviously drunk or stoned when he came up with his top 8, and we can probably scrap his predictions in this case.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/27/wholl-make-the-top-eight-nrl.com-experts-have-their-say/

In Big League Andrew Voss has tipped us to come 14th ( a bit harsh) and the Warriors to come 9th.

 

[Whino]

In Big League Andrew Voss has tipped us to come 14th ( a bit harsh) and the Warriors to come 9th.

He tipped the Warriors to come 4th last year! That is about as much faith as I have in his tips.

 

[Westernised Panther]

He tipped us to come last.


From "The Sun Herald" footy magazine from 2003. (I still have it)


Phil Gould's Verdict on the Penrith Panthers.

Prediction:

15th (Last)

Sorry but the others just appear to have better credentials at this stage. Probably need to play the Roosters every week to show their best!

No offense Gus, but all we needed was Round 3 and the Grand Final!!

I still remember one of the banners that one of the Panthers fans held up at the last game of the regular season (vs Parra) and the first final (vs Brisbane) which said something along the lines of, “Lost - one wooden spoon. If found, return to Gus Gould @ Channel 9”!

 

[TheFrog]

Prediction:

15th (Last)

He then predicted us to win the comp in '05. Gus is a notoriously bad tipster for someone who knows the game so well. In fact being an ex-player or journo doesn't make you an good tipster at all. Most to all of them have biases, like most of the rest of us. My wife won a tipping competition a few years back by picking the favourites on Sportsbet for every game. Those are the guys to listen to. They've got us fringe top 8.

 

[OldPanther]

He then predicted us to win the comp in '05. Gus is a notoriously bad tipster for someone who knows the game so well. In fact being an ex-player or journo doesn't make you an good tipster at all. Most to all of them have biases, like most of the rest of us. My wife won a tipping competition a few years back by picking the favourites on Sportsbet for every game. Those are the guys to listen to. They've got us fringe top 8.

I've heard those betting companies go into everything to a ridiculous extreme.

 

[Crashtest]

There is a feature story on the Panthers website that is supposed to be an insight into the training and nutrition behind Nathan Cleary.

But really is just an excuse for product placement and advertising of Oak Plus. But after watching it, I'm sure if we all drink Oak Plus we can all have physiques like Nathan's (just ignore the comments about how hard he trains, that bit is probably not relevant).

On the plus side, Nathan is looking really ripped in the video with the extra muscle he has put on. He looks set for a huge year.

https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2020/02/27/fuelling-the-panthers-episode-1/

 

[OldPanther]

There is a feature story on the Panthers website that is supposed to be an insight into the training and nutrition behind Nathan Cleary.

But really is just an excuse for product placement and advertising of Oak Plus. But after watching it, I'm sure if we all drink Oak Plus we can all have physiques like Nathan's (just ignore the comments about how hard he trains, that bit is probably not relevant).

On the plus side, Nathan is looking really ripped in the video with the extra muscle he has put on. He looks set for a huge year.

https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2020/02/27/fuelling-the-panthers-episode-1/

That was so lame. They didn't give any good info. I could give better advice based on weight training experience.

 

[franklin2323]

I've heard those betting companies go into everything to a ridiculous extreme.

I have a mate who does the odds for TAB. He watches races at certain venues over 2 year periods to get what gate winners were. Weather conditions etc it is an exact science and even then they get it wrong. That is the beauty of sport

 

[Kilkenny]

Lot of positives to take away from the two (meaningless) trials but remain very, very concerned out situation in the outside backs. They say the forwards lay the platform to win matches and that it largely true but the good or better sides have strike power out wide as well and with us I just don’t see it. I think our best hope is Stephen Chrichton turns out to be something very special although he is still growing and developing so probably still a season away from really delivering at NRL level.

 

[franklin2323]

Lot of positives to take away from the two (meaningless) trials but remain very, very concerned out situation in the outside backs. They say the forwards lay the platform to win matches and that it largely true but the good or better sides have strike power out wide as well and with us I just don’t see it. I think our best hope is Stephen Chrichton turns out to be something very special although he is still growing and developing so probably still a season away from really delivering at NRL level.

Crichton will be special. He is why I am not worried

 

[Kilkenny]

Crichton will be special. He is why I am not worried

We need more than 1 special talent in the outside backs.

 

[Kilkenny]

First 5 rounds of our draw this season are really tough so really have to beat the reigning premiers in Round 1 to get us off on the right foot. I have no doubt we are capable of doing it, whether we do is another question.