Classic match: Wests vs Penrith 1996

[undertaker]

I just stumbled upon the highlights from this famous match on YouTube. I hope this doesn't get taken down, as I know that many rugby league clips on YouTube have been removed recently. Although the commentary is out of sync with the clip, I do appreciate the person, presumably a Wests supporter, who uploaded this game and it was great to watch it again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PH_bgH_nwk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qycb0p-faow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXsdwCuF93E

I remember this match vividly, as it was John Skandalis' debut just before Origin I that year, not only to mention all the high shots that Mark Oaten let go (some of them pretty bad by today's standards) and the bitterly cold night in Campbelltown (which, like Canberra, is another reason opposition sides hate playing there in winter). A few observations that I've noticed looking at the highlights:

1) I know a lot of people bitch about the video referees, but I'm very thankful we have them in the game today. Case in point being that try by Paul Langmack, where the ref was right infront of it, and the events which followed between the ref and touch judges after Langmack claimed the try. Absolutely disgraceful...

2) I didn't realise how different Campbelltown Stadium (or Sports Ground as it was known back then) looked before the reconfiguration in 2000. Those grandstands on the northern side of the ground look like they're 100 miles away....(reminds me of the old QEII stadium where the Broncos used to play).

3) I know this was during the Super League war and during the phase where the majority of players began earning $'000s, but even during this phase of full-time professionalism, the play seemed a lot slower back then and defensive lines easily covered most attacking raids.

4) I'm aware that Mario has been affiliated with Ch9 through the Footy Show and he also did some commentary for Optus in the late '90s, but didn't know that he did any form of commentary for Ch9.

 

[Suttsburger]

This is fantastic, the highlight is Steve Waddell's aimless search-and-destroy mission. And Steve Georgallis's hair. We will never see another game like this in modern rugby league, which is good for the sport's credibility but sad when it comes to a satisfying hit of cheap thrills.

 

[undertaker]

We will never see another game like this in modern rugby league, which is good for the sport's credibility but sad when it comes to a satisfying hit of cheap thrills.

100% agreed

 

[Glen]

Steve Carter was such a prick

 

[axl rose]

Yes but it could be amusing on occasions. I remember a match when he really got under Wendell Sailors skin in 98. Occasionally its alright to bring a big head down a peg or two.

 

[anjado]

I remember this game well it was a throw back to like the 70's. It was a war and thoroughly entertaining to watch it will never happen again but the game was so fun.

I remember seeing the match against Wests the previous year at Penrith Park and there was a massive 2 minute brawl in that game also.

Really it is amazing how much this game stands out it wasn't a classic by any means. But honestly this game stands out more for me then most games in the previous 5 years.

 

[undertaker]

Yes but it could be amusing on occasions. I remember a match when he really got under Wendell Sailors skin in 98. Occasionally its alright to bring a big head down a peg or two.

I think you are referring to the Panthers/Broncos match on a Friday Night in 2000 (which I remember very well), where Penrith won 18-2. However, the game is most remembered for that exchange between Carter and Sailor, where Carter let Sailor keep pushing and intimidating him because he knew that his team would get a penalty and Sailor would look stupid for giving away so many penalties for not being able to control his emotions. Oh man, I really can't believe that was 11 yrs ago. It makes me feel old (well, not so old as I had only just started high school).

I remember this game well it was a throw back to like the 70's. It was a war and thoroughly entertaining to watch it will never happen again but the game was so fun.

I remember seeing the match against Wests the previous year at Penrith Park and there was a massive 2 minute brawl in that game also.

Really it is amazing how much this game stands out it wasn't a classic by any means. But honestly this game stands out more for me then most games in the previous 5 years.

I agree with your last paragraph. I know it was a bit exaggerated that I referred to it as a 'classic match', but I guess I meant was when I saw it on YouTube, I instantly recalled the main highlights of that game (e.g. being before Origin I, cold night, the numerous high shots, the Langmack try, Skandos debut). It's so freaky. Anyways, it is amazing to see how much the STYLE of play and strategies have evolved since then. So, it's always good to remember those old matches.

Regarding the 'brawls' you mention, during my 15-16 or so odd years of watching league, the one major 'all-in' brawl I definitely recall was also at Campbelltown (yet on another bitterly cold night). I'm sure you remember the Tigers/Dragons Friday Night match in 2000, where there was a massive brawl in the first 10 mins or so that escalated onto the sideline and Hopoate got sent off. HAHAHA! You don't see stuff like that anymore, but that's probably one of the biggest brawls I remember. The Wests Tigers were doing well in their debut season, coming 2nd around mid-season, and then they capitulated badly in the 2nd half to miss the top 8. I think there's highlights of that brawl, I'll have to find it.

 

[anjado]

I think you are referring to the Panthers/Broncos match on a Friday Night in 2000 (which I remember very well), where Penrith won 18-2. However, the game is most remembered for that exchange between Carter and Sailor, where Carter let Sailor keep pushing and intimidating him because he knew that his team would get a penalty and Sailor would look stupid for giving away so many penalties for not being able to control his emotions. Oh man, I really can't believe that was 11 yrs ago. It makes me feel old (well, not so old as I had only just started high school).



I agree with your last paragraph. I know it was a bit exaggerated that I referred to it as a 'classic match', but I guess I meant was when I saw it on YouTube, I instantly recalled the main highlights of that game (e.g. being before Origin I, cold night, the numerous high shots, the Langmack try, Skandos debut). It's so freaky. Anyways, it is amazing to see how much the STYLE of play and strategies have evolved since then. So, it's always good to remember those old matches.

Regarding the 'brawls' you mention, during my 15-16 or so odd years of watching league, the one major 'all-in' brawl I definitely recall was also at Campbelltown (yet on another bitterly cold night). I'm sure you remember the Tigers/Dragons Friday Night match in 2000, where there was a massive brawl in the first 10 mins or so that escalated onto the sideline and Hopoate got sent off. HAHAHA! You don't see stuff like that anymore, but that's probably one of the biggest brawls I remember. The Wests Tigers were doing well in their debut season, coming 2nd around mid-season, and then they capitulated badly in the 2nd half to miss the top 8. I think there's highlights of that brawl, I'll have to find it.

Well not a classic but memorable all the same. I meant it wasn't a classic in terms of a top of the table clash Penrith were really poor in 96 it was just after they lost Freeman,Fittler and Sing. Wets had a decent season but overachieved in reaching the semi finals.

These days you rarely see top of the table clashes which are memorable. Penrith finished 2nd last season and really only 4-5 matches were memorable. When in 1996 even though we were terrible we had this match against Wests and the massive upset over Manly as truly memorable games.

 

[undertaker]

Well not a classic but memorable all the same. I meant it wasn't a classic in terms of a top of the table clash Penrith were really poor in 96 it was just after they lost Freeman,Fittler and Sing. Wets had a decent season but overachieved in reaching the semi finals.

These days you rarely see top of the table clashes which are memorable. Penrith finished 2nd last season and really only 4-5 matches were memorable. When in 1996 even though we were terrible we had this match against Wests and the massive upset over Manly as truly memorable games.

Yes, this was Western Suburbs last 'decent' season as you put it. They just made the 8, albeit through a very scrappy last rd win vs Illawarra (a game well known for that infamous incident where a strong gust of wind blew the ball back behind the half-way line after a kickoff, haha! Was on the Sunday Roast not so long ago) and later that night, the Knights who had to win to knock the Maggies out of the 8, got obliterated at a water-logged Shark Park where you probably had a better chance before the game of picking the winning lotto numbers than the winner of this match (which reminds me that there's a thread on 'most wet matches' after last FN's game in Perth). Nevertheless, I remember both of those matches that day were played in some of the worst conditions, playing surfaces were completely shredded up, and it's a credit to the technology that is available today that can keep most grounds from flooding. For some unknown reason, after '96, it all went downhill for the Magpies until their merger with Balmain (just look how bad their F-A during '98 and '99. It'd make a LOL@50uff$ fan proud, although they cannot brag about this as they too had some shocking F-A during this time).

Penrith were in a rebuilding stage during that time. It took nearly a decade or so for them to recover after the death of one of your promising players. It didn't help things further when Gus bailed out on you guys as well.

Regarding Penrith, yes, they too overachieved last year. They clearly weren't the 2nd best side during the regular season and that was verified when they went out in straight sets during the finals. That's just my opinion. However, I do share the same sentiment as you regarding 'memorable games'. These days, there just hasn't been that many. I don't know why that is. I do recall a lot from the early 2000s (e.g. Hazem's kick from the sideline after fulltime), you know, those games that passionate league supporters, regardless of their allegiance, will instantly recall. The last few years has been somewhat disappointing in this regard.