2021 Grand Final: Panthers V Souths

[The_Frog]

Our run to the GF most resembles Manly in 1978. They finished 3rd in the competition proper.

Week 1 Lost 17-12 vs Sharks (2nd)
Week 2 drew 13-13 with Parra (4th) (minor semi final)
Replay midweek won 17-11 vs Parra
Preliminary final won 14-7 vs Wests (1st, out in straight sets)
Grand Final drew 11-all vs Sharks
Replay midweek won 16-0 vs Sharks.

All these games were played within 3 and a bit weeks. The GF replay had to be midweek because the Kangaroos were flying to England. After the GF replay of 1977 (which was after extra time) the NSWRL in a cynical money-making decision decreed that finals matches would no longer have extra time if drawn, which resulted in the above.

We aren't playing midweek replays but still the side is developing a battle hardness that coincides with that Manly side, and they were all low scoring trench warfare type games as well.

 

[WestyLife]

Our run to the GF most resembles Manly in 1978. They finished 3rd in the competition proper.

Week 1 Lost 17-12 vs Sharks (2nd)
Week 2 drew 13-13 with Parra (4th) (minor semi final)
Replay midweek won 17-11 vs Parra
Preliminary final won 14-7 vs Wests (1st, out in straight sets)
Grand Final drew 11-all vs Sharks
Replay midweek won 16-0 vs Sharks.

All these games were played within 3 and a bit weeks. The GF replay had to be midweek because the Kangaroos were flying to England. After the GF replay of 1977 (which was after extra time) the NSWRL in a cynical money-making decision decreed that finals matches would no longer have extra time if drawn, which resulted in the above.

We aren't playing midweek replays but still the side is developing a battle hardness that coincides with that Manly side, and they were all low scoring trench warfare type games as well.

A closer comparison is Cows 2015. Lost to Broncos week 1 and beat them in the gf.

 

[forby]

Who is the home team?

 

[Fangs]

Cetbats and Lrankfin lets go.

 

[TheRiff]

Who is the home team?

We are as we finished 2nd

 

[hindy111]

Spencer's eleven minute cameo was good.

Four runs like a bowling ball.

Stopped momentum for the Storm.

He is a wild beast. The only issue is everytime he gets ball I have this feeling he will make a silly error or play the ball incorrectly.

 

[hindy111]

Having the game in QLD and not in Melbourne was also huge.

 

[DinkyDi]

The wounded Panthers proved plenty wrong. Now they’re ‘even more battle-hardened’ for the GF

The wounded Panthers proved plenty wrong. Now they’re ‘even more battle-hardened’ for the GF

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Pugzley]

If @Pugzley starts another premature Panthers Premiers thread I'll hunt him down.

We got this!!

 

[Munky]

Reynolds is as busted as Cleary.

Need Kikau and TPJ to work him over. No attempted offloads or tricks, just run hard and make him transfer weight to his legs in attempting to tackle.

 

[Smug Panther]

Biggest game of Kikau's career, if he fails again I'd let him go.

Also if Ivan doesn't get it done here he never will

 

[WestyLife]

Biggest game of Kikau's career, if he fails again I'd let him go.

Also if Ivan doesn't get it done here he never will

Kikau is fast becoming my least favourite Panther in the current team. Is good for an error and in defence has some really sus moments.

 

[murraymob]

What has changed from the last game we played .the big change in my view is the ins Edwards Leota sorrenson May .that in itself should be enough to get us over the line
What needs to change simple the kicking game kick for ground not bombs the fullback had shown he can handle it if he is ready for it .kick to the corners
We moved the ball about a lot in the Melbourne game do it again .up the panthers

 

[Fangs]

Interesting that we shelved the bomb yesterday.

It's still a dangerous play. We should test Paulo and Taffe again.

 

[Black Diamond]

Cleary not charged! Woo Hoo!

 

[Fangs]

Cleary not charged! Woo Hoo!

It wasn't even worthy of a penalty. Good decision post game.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Interesting that we shelved the bomb yesterday.

It's still a dangerous play. We should test Paulo and Taffe again.

Why? It lost us the game because that is all we did.

 

[Fangs]

Why? It lost us the game because that is all we did.

It's still a weapon. Don't have to use it like a machine gun.

 

[Chippy73]

Riff showed some real defensive steel and ability to handle pressure last night, conversely Souths weren't really tested by Manly.

On the other hand Skeletor is a master at prepping his teams for big games and will keep his guys in the correct headspace this week.

There is probably a touch more pressure and expectation on Penrith, mainly cos of last years GF loss and the fact that Souths have really sailed under the radar this year, no-one really ranked them with the Panthers and Storm yet they just kept winning.

I got a strong feeling this is gonna be one of the epic Grand Finals, i'm tipping Penrith but only just.

Edit: apologies, I just realised this is the Panthers forum and not the Game Day thread.. will cross post this there.

 

[Munky]

We could be very skinny in the front row next week if things don't go our way.

Fingers crossed.