General Discussion Thread

[age.s]

Geez how times have changed, Waqa Blake being a NSW bolter to vanishing into the ether over at parra

I remember that game, I was sitting on the hill and got a very good view of his first try which was a cracker. Blake was a monster back then.

Good case study on why making the move to the wrong setup can backfire, although when he left it probably wasn't clear what we would become shortly after. I think he wins a premiership here if he stays on another year in 2020.

Maybe I'm a sentimental bastard but I would still have him back on the cheap tbh. Just don't have him in a position to catch bombs.

 

[WestyLife]

Pre-ankle injury Gordon was an absolute freak. Most talented winger we have ever had - even more so than To'o. I know I will get shouted down for this, but he really was.

But Elliot had no idea how to use him. If you teleported 2007-2009 Michael Gordon into our 2020-2023 teams, we wouldn't miss a beat. In fact, we'd have been even better.

People credit Josh Mansour for being the original modern 'metre eater' Winger but Flash was just as capable of it. But he was faster, more evasive, more skillful and a far better defender as well.

Yeah he was absolutely elite.

 

[mxlegend99]

Eels got their hands on him and took away the talent he had. He was a very decent defensive centre for us. At Eels he was awful in defence. The one thing we could rely on him for most weeks was defence.

Was always a poor winger though. Limited space and having to frequently catch bombs gave him too many things to f**k up.

 

[soc123_au]

I remember that game, I was sitting on the hill and got a very good view of his first try which was a cracker. Blake was a monster back then.

Good case study on why making the move to the wrong setup can backfire, although when he left it probably wasn't clear what we would become shortly after. I think he wins a premiership here if he stays on another year in 2020.

Maybe I'm a sentimental bastard but I would still have him back on the cheap tbh. Just don't have him in a position to catch bombs.

Ha ha, I thought I was sentimental. I had huge hopes for Waqa coming through, man he could bomb a try when he hit the NRL. He murdered 5 or 6 I think before finally getting his first to stick. He had his moments, but glad we moved on. Was sad to see what happened at Parra, they managed to destroy him completely.

 

[Panther Pete]

Ha ha, I thought I was sentimental. I had huge hopes for Waqa coming through, man he could bomb a try when he hit the NRL. He murdered 5 or 6 I think before finally getting his first to stick. He had his moments, but glad we moved on. Was sad to see what happened at Parra, they managed to destroy him completely.

When Waqa first started playing for us (at the time we were a very average team) I always thought if he went to the Storm and played outside Smith, Cronk and Slater he could have been the best centre in the comp.

 

[age.s]

Ha ha, I thought I was sentimental. I had huge hopes for Waqa coming through, man he could bomb a try when he hit the NRL. He murdered 5 or 6 I think before finally getting his first to stick. He had his moments, but glad we moved on. Was sad to see what happened at Parra, they managed to destroy him completely.

Haha yeah it might be a bit mad. But idk he'd cost nothing and for me he's definitely a better player than he showed at Parra. Hardly a problem position for us atm but if he came back at some point and did a Peachey 2.0 I wouldn't be bummed.

 

[MugaB]

Ha ha, I thought I was sentimental. I had huge hopes for Waqa coming through, man he could bomb a try when he hit the NRL. He murdered 5 or 6 I think before finally getting his first to stick. He had his moments, but glad we moved on. Was sad to see what happened at Parra, they managed to destroy him completely.

Mate we didnt help either, there were atleast 4-5 games/trials where we had played parra, and nathan just bombarded him time and time again, just like we did to mansour when he was at the bunnies,
....we have no shame
My fondest memory was seeing him score 2 tries at the brookvale game where we scored 4 tries in the last 15 mins to steal the game, and then the following week we did it again against the titans, i remember waqa racing away, with brandy losing his shit on commetary box, screaming GO,Go,GO, WAQAAAAAAAAAA, he was a freak back then

 

[The Realist]

Waqa was an athlete but not so much a natural footy player. He had a very good combo with Kikau for a year or two. He ended up being a very good defender with us. Unfortunately, he was very much a confidence player where if things went wrong for him, they REALLY went wrong.

BA killed him but so did Parra fans who'd scape goat the hell out of him. At times he struggled defensively with Sivo and he coped all the blame but as time has gone by it's become apparent that Sivo is the defensive liability. With no Waqa to blame Sivo's side always appears leaky no matter who they pair him with.

He's an example of a player whose career was killed mid-career by going to the wrong club chasing money.

 

[MugaB]

Waqa was an athlete but not so much a natural footy player. He had a very good combo with Kikau for a year or two. He ended up being a very good defender with us. Unfortunately, he was very much a confidence player where if things went wrong for him, they REALLY went wrong.

BA killed him but so did Parra fans who'd scape goat the hell out of him. At times he struggled defensively with Sivo and he coped all the blame but as time has gone by it's become apparent that Sivo is the defensive liability. With no Waqa to blame Sivo's side always appears leaky no matter who they pair him with.

He's an example of a player whose career was killed mid-career by going to the wrong club chasing money.

Well not only chasing money, we wanted capspace and happily traded him out, for a younger cheaper option, he was one of goulds expensive contracts

 

[Panther Pete]

Well not only chasing money, we wanted capspace and happily traded him out, for a younger cheaper option, he was one of goulds expensive contracts

I also thing Waqa was one of the players Ivan let go because he wasn’t buying in to the culture he wanted.

 

[MugaB]

I also thing Waqa was one of the players Ivan let go because he wasn’t buying in to the culture he wanted.

That and 800k is too much for a centre

 

[ColdWetPanther]

I also thing Waqa was one of the players Ivan let go because he wasn’t buying in to the culture he wanted.

Ivan’s first year was really impactful in building the culture he wanted. RCG and Waqa to Parra was good, but his best business was DWZ to Dogs was the best business we did that year.

 

[Hooked]

I am in shock. Terry Hill has passed away aged just 52. RIP.

Former Kangaroo and NSW Origin player Terry Hill dies

Terry Hill, one of the best centres in Australian rugby league in the 1990s, has died aged 52.

www.abc.net.au

 

[ColdWetPanther]

I am in shock. Terry Hill has passed away aged just 52. RIP.

Former Kangaroo and NSW Origin player Terry Hill dies

Terry Hill, one of the best centres in Australian rugby league in the 1990s, has died aged 52.

www.abc.net.au

RIP. That is way too young. Thoughts go out to his family and friends.

 

[Goonji]

'It's opened my eyes so much': Panthers re-sign Paul Alamoti on one-year deal — ABC News

In short: Impressive outside back Paul Alamoti has re-signed with Penrith on a one-year deal Alamoti has scored two tries in his first two matches as a Panther after transferring from Canterbury What's next? The 20-year old will be in the running to replace departing winger Sunia Turuva in 2025

apple.news

 

[PennyPanthers81]

'It's opened my eyes so much': Panthers re-sign Paul Alamoti on one-year deal — ABC News

In short: Impressive outside back Paul Alamoti has re-signed with Penrith on a one-year deal Alamoti has scored two tries in his first two matches as a Panther after transferring from Canterbury What's next? The 20-year old will be in the running to replace departing winger Sunia Turuva in 2025

apple.news

He’s a stud.

 

[MugaB]

He’s a stud.

Tree trunks goes all right, hey?
I told you guys Schneider and Alamotti were great buys, they are definitely in our starting squad next season

 

[age.s]

So Alamoti is here till 2026 now?

 

[Bred not Bought]

So Alamoti is here till 2026 now?

No signed till end of 2025. He re-signed a before May did.

Panthers reportedly extend future of centre

He signed with the club ahead of this season.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Bred not Bought]

Panthers always have a plan; dropped Raiders teen’s blessing in disguise: Teams Talking Pts​

Panthers gun Sunia Turuva has been an incredibly reliable and consistent performer since become a first grade regular in 2023.

However, he was without a contract for the 2025 season and Penrith bosses could only table a contract worth around $350,000 per-season.

The Fijian international then went to the market and was snapped up by the Tigers to become a ready-made fullback replacement and a regular starter.

Many questioned why Penrith weren’t willing to budge on their salary offer, considering just how good Turuva has been at the foot of the mountain.

But, as rugby league fans have learnt time and time again, the Panthers have a plan.

And that plan’s name is Paul Alamoti, the gun flyer the Penrith club recruited from the Bulldogs who gave him permission to negotiate with rivals last year.
The Panthers snapped the 20-year-old up, signing him on a one-year deal with reports suggesting he’d agreed to sign on for a further season.

However, Penrith will be desperate to move fast as his price is increasing even in reserve grade after he was dropped ahead of Round 9.

Alamoti has played two games for the Panthers in first grade and was excellent against the Cowboys in Round 8.

He ran for a staggering 251 metres, broke four tackles, scored a try and broke the line once to help Penrith best North Queensland in Townsville.

Outside of Alamoti the Panthers also have rising star Jesse McLean who will compete for the wing spot.

The 19-year-old has played one NRL game to date in the 2023 season, whilst also featuring 26 times in NSW Cup, scoring 16 tries.

Panthers always have a plan; dropped Raiders teen’s blessing in disguise: Teams Talking Pts

Panthers always have a plan; dropped Raiders teen’s blessing in disguise: Teams Talking Pts

www.foxsports.com.au