Lang on League: Why 2021 is the Year of the Panther
By
Peter Lang
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March 10, 2021, 15:51
Peter Lang believes Penrith will go all the way in 2021. Photo: NRL Images.
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I firmly believe the Panthers will win the 2021 Premiership. I’m the first to admit I’m biased but there are several reasons why I think this way. For a start, Penrith have all the major positions covered.
In Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, the Panthers have arguably the best halves pairing in the competition.
Hooker Api Koroisau is a crafty and dangerous dummy half runner while up front, James Fisher-Harris has gone to another level and is now one of the premier props in the competition.
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In the second-row, Viliame Kikau is a damaging runner of the football especially out wide, the man knows how to tackle too.
In the backs, Stephen Crichton is already a player who can makes things happen and he’s still growing. While Brian To’o is a pocket rocket who makes plenty of metres in kick returns and is difficult to bring down.
I know the side has lost some experience in the forwards but the club is still looking for another specialist prop, or two, to fill those final two positions in the club’s Top 30 full-time roster.
Now there are a lot of Naysayers out there who seem to think last year was just one big fluke and are paying the team little or no respect. However, it won’t be that sort of talk which will inspire the Panthers this season. To them it’s just outside noise.
It will be the desire to go one better and the belief that they can do so, that will drive them to claim the ultimate prize in October.
What game am I looking forward to…
The Warriors v Titans on Saturday afternoon. Both sides will be in and around that eighth spot and it will be interesting to see which team can gain the upper hand in what should be an entertaining tussle.
My Top 8 prediction…
1. Penrith 2. Melbourne 3. Canberra 4. South Sydney 5. Parramatta 6. Sydney Roosters 7. Gold Coast 8. Wests Tigers 9. New Zealand 10. Newcastle 11. North Queensland 12. Canterbury-Bankstown 13. Cronulla-Sutherland 14. Brisbane 15. St George Illawarra.
And the wooden spoon goes to… Manly Sea-Eagles – Unfortunately the boys from the Northern Beaches will collect their first wooden spoon in the club’s history.
The final word… Last Sunday a friend of mine emailed me a link to a rugby league article he wanted me to read. I opened it and it was something called ‘What’s the Buzz’.
So I started reading it and then stopped halfway through, “Oh wow,” I thought to myself, “What fresh hell is this?”
Needless to say I won’t be reading that rubbish anymore!
Momirovski feels right at home
By
Nathan Taylor
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March 10, 2021, 15:42
New recruit Paul Momirovski joins Penrith this season. Photo: Melinda Jane.
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When you open Paul Momirovski’s wardrobe you’ll find a range of apparel from the various NRL clubs he’s played at over the last four seasons.
From the Roosters to the Wests Tigers and Melbourne last year on loan, the 24-year-old is hoping his fourth stop at Penrith will be much more permanent and will put an end to his ever-growing closet of footy gear.
“100 per cent, that is the aim to have some stability in my career, but all that stuff comes when you’re playing consistent football,” Momirovski told Weekender.
“I’m really just focusing on getting better week by week. I’ve signed here at Panthers for two years but hopefully it’s longer.”
Momirovski will play his first official match in Penrith colours this Saturday night against North Queensland after he was named to play centre in Ivan Cleary’s opening round line-up.
After only playing half a dozen games last season due to injury and the pandemic, the Alexandria Rovers junior said he can’t wait to get back to playing regular footy again.
“Last year wasn’t ideal especially when you get paid to do a job and then when the job gets taken away from you, you find yourself as a full-time trainer,” Momirovski said.
“I managed to play some games last year, but an injury stopped me from playing a few more.
“It is what it is… but while we had to take pay cuts, a lot of people out there lost their jobs due to COVID, so we were very lucky and very grateful that we got to keep our jobs in the end.”
Penrith will field new-look backline for this weekend’s clash, with Momirovski teaming up with exciting winger Charlie Staines for the first time.
While Momirovski expects his edge with Staines to be targeted by opposing teams in the first few rounds, he is confident that sides will be steering clear of the pair as the season rolls on.
“They can do whatever they want… we’ve got to build a combination and if other teams decide that our edge is the edge they want to come at, then more work for us… it’s fine,” Momirovski said with a grin.
“I can’t wait to play with Charlie, he’s a good kid. He’s got some skill and speed and hopefully we can unlock him a bit this year.”
With Momirovski getting used to life at his fourth club in as many years, he is also getting accustomed to the local culinary hangouts. Despite his long commute from his home in the Sydney CBD to Penrith each day, Momirovski still makes time in his week to stop off at a local institution.
“I’ve been going down to Murray’s a fair bit, they are a good little sandwich shop,” he said.
“The Chicken Caesar sandwich is my favourite, that’s the local cuisine I’ve been introduced to out here. I’ve been there a few times already.”
