General Discussion Thread

[Kilkenny]

We have 11 people in the retention committee.

I get that Ivan is close to the family but you are telling me that none of the other 10 had any idea that he was a mess off the field?

Well no one spoke out if they did think he was a mess.

Matt Cameron seemed to allude to the importance of many voices being a hallmark of our success.

Your argument doesn’t stack up, we resigned him so one can only assume the 11 member recruitment and retention team must have been in agreeance,

 

[Kilkenny]

It was interesting Gus wasn’t mentioned once in the podcast, unless I missed something.

I thought, perhaps incorrectly, it was Gus who recruited Matt Cameron to the club.

The Gus Gould legacy divides opinions, the five year plan, it is what it is, some give him some credit for what has transpired and others believe he had nothing to do with it.

Everyone has probably moved on, and he appears to be doing a pretty fair job in re-inventing his current club despite many taking joy in writing him and coach Ciraldo off after 1 season.

 

[TheEroticGamer]

NRLW news. Targeting 2027 admission to coincide with completion of stadium redevelopment. Another academy will be built(maybe not as big, who knows), 250k already allocated to create another full sized training field and the core of the potential ‘27 team has already been identified.

How good is it supporting a club that takes shit seriously.

 

[WestyLife]

Yeah was enjoyable. Hearing simple stuff like we don't pay bonuses was nice to hear

The privilege of Playing with Yeo is the bonus.

 

[WestyLife]

The Bulldogs offer was an offer we couldn’t get near given our position so I don’t think he or anyone else f**ked up. Business decision.

There was an article posted at the time that the club stuffed him around. I'm at work so don't have time for searching for it but it was more than money.

 

[Munky]

There is a bit of a money ball approach to roster composition.

Choosing a key stat and recruiting based on it. For baseball they used on base percentage while Penrith are focusing on fitness.

The hard limits on positional value are great to see. As mentioned in the thread not allowing player options is a no brainer, anyone who has experience with financial reporting will tell you how much of a pain options are in forward looking reports.

While it was a great interview Graham didn't seem to ask questions on advanced analytics. The club itself very rarely let's anything out in the public sphere as to how analytics are used in the game plan. The closest I can recall is in the 2022 doco a small snippet of Andrew Webster commenting on the variance in Junior Paulo's offensive output when forced to make extra tackles in the first fifteen minutes.

I'm hoping in the future the inhouse nerd(s) release a book with mathematical prose toned down to my mental midget level explaining how they measured statistical causation in professional rugby league and planned around it.

 

[Pomoz]

There is a bit of a money ball approach to roster composition.

Choosing a key stat and recruiting based on it. For baseball they used on base percentage while Penrith are focusing on fitness.

The hard limits on positional value are great to see. As mentioned in the thread not allowing player options is a no brainer, anyone who has experience with financial reporting will tell you how much of a pain options are in forward looking reports.

While it was a great interview Graham didn't seem to ask questions on advanced analytics. The club itself very rarely let's anything out in the public sphere as to how analytics are used in the game plan. The closest I can recall is in the 2022 doco a small snippet of Andrew Webster commenting on the variance in Junior Paulo's offensive output when forced to make extra tackles in the first fifteen minutes.

I'm hoping in the future the inhouse nerd(s) release a book with mathematical prose toned down to my mental midget level explaining how they measured statistical causation in professional rugby league and planned around it.

James asked him abut the positional weightings for the cap, but Matt said "I won't tell you that". Its like Matt says, getting a team on the field requires a whole bunch of skills and a CEO or a Coach can't possibly have them all.

Managing the cap needs commercial and finance expertise, get somebody to do that who has the skills and hold them accountable for staying within the cap limit. Matt mentioned they have it planned out until 2028!

Then there is the fitness side, and the club has obviously done a good job of hiring specialists in sports science because our team is easily the fittest in the NRL and has been for the last five years. Even Cameron Smith talking about beating us in the GF said "we were way on top but they just kept coming. They never give up".

Thats down to fitness but also Matt talked about character. He wouldn't define them specifically because it's part of the Panthers' secret sauce, but the club focuses on certain characteristics of which fitness is a key component, rather than their football skill. They build coaching systems to teach the skill, but the raw material is what counts. Without the right fitness and attitude, football skills are worthless.

Mitch Kenny is probably the epitome of that. Skilful? A bit. Silky ball skills? Err, no. Character? F*ck yeah. Worked his butt off to improve his passing skills and he has improved every year. Meanwhile, he is always a player who will put his body on the line, tackle hard, dive on every loose ball, and take on the biggest player in the opposition and bring them down. The coach says "tell Mitch to take a rest from dummy half and put Trent on. Move Mitch to prop, he can rest there". That's right, lets move Mitch into the hardest position in the field after playing 65 minutes as a hooker. That is Panther DNA right there.

 

[Chins get the wins]

Started Ivan's book today (audio book because I can listen while I work) excellent so far even if it does commit the biggest crime an audio book can........the author of any audio book autobiography should ALWAYS be the narrator!

 

[Iamback]

Started Ivan's book today (audio book because I can listen while I work) excellent so far even if it does commit the biggest crime an audio book can........the author of any audio book autobiography should ALWAYS be the narrator!

He can do that for the re-release for comp number 10

 

[Murraymob1]

Just a side note .i get to pick up my seats from the eastern grandstand on Saturday .might get them re painted and get the names on them like when it was part of the vip package

 

[Hooked]

Vegas jackpot: The Cleary medical update Penrith fans were longing to hear​

By Christian Nicolussi​

October 26, 2024 — 7.30pm

Nathan Cleary will undergo the same surgery that forced him to miss the opening month of the 2022 season – but Penrith medical staff are expecting the star playmaker to make a much quicker recovery this time and be ready for the season-opener in Las Vegas.
The Panthers gave Cleary their blessing to enjoy some downtime in Europe with his girlfriend, Matildas star Mary Fowler, and had to wait a few weeks to go under the knife because his surgeon was on annual leave.

The superstar No.7 will undergo the Latarjet procedure on November 4 to fix the left shoulder that troubled him during the NRL finals series. The operation involves a bone graft being attached to the front of the shoulder joint to help with stability.
Cleary had the same surgery at the end of 2021, but did not return until round four in 2022. On that occasion, however, Cleary had also suffered cartilage damage, which required more time to heal, and needed time for a rotator-cuff tendon to mend.

Sources with knowledge of Cleary’s latest injury not authorised to speak publicly confirmed Cleary was facing 14 to 15 weeks on the sidelines. It will be 16 weeks from the day of surgery until Penrith’s March 1 clash against Cronulla at Allegiant Stadium in the US.

With Jarome Luai departing for Wests Tigers, Cleary will be able to return to the field as early as six weeks post-surgery to complete passing and running drills with potential halves partners Brad Schneider, Jack Cole or even new signing Blaize Talagi. The halfback will not be able to wrestle or tackle until the middle of February.
Coach Ivan Cleary was unsure if his son would be available for Las Vegas, but his likely return is a huge boost for not only the Panthers, but the fans who make the trek to America.

Cleary was forced to miss the Kangaroos’ Pacific Championships campaign for a second straight year because of surgery. He took the opportunity to spend a few weeks with Fowler, and this week posted a photo of himself on social media taking a dip in a lake in Switzerland.

Panthers back-rower Liam Martin also pulled out of the Australian side because of an AC joint problem, but it does not require surgery.
The only other Panther who went under the knife in recent weeks was young prop Liam Henry to repair a shoulder problem.

Vegas jackpot: The Cleary medical update Penrith fans were longing to hear

Superstar halfback Nathan Cleary is expected to be fit for the 2025 season-opener in the US after upcoming shoulder surgery.

www.smh.com.au

 

[ACTPanthers]

Started Ivan's book today (audio book because I can listen while I work) excellent so far even if it does commit the biggest crime an audio book can........the author of any audio book autobiography should ALWAYS be the narrator!

Finished it - Love it - The oldest boy is half way through

 

[Munky]

I did some basic analysis of the For and Against of the team in finals beginning 2020.

2020 we conceded an average of 23.33 points a game. Overall was 69 points for and 70 against. In hindsight the defence leaked points in the games against the Roosters and South's. Melbourne were always him to take advantage.

2021 ave of 10.5 for and 10 against. A +2 overall differential. Probably the most tense finals series to watch.

2022 average of 29 for and 10.67 against. The against is increases by two garbage time tries in the GF. I'm still a little disappointed that Cleary was dragged down inches short in the GF as fifty was on if he got there. 55 point differential.

2023 ave of 32 for and 11.33 against. Given Brisbane put 24 on a very good average. 62 point differential.

2024 average of 23.33 for and 7.33 against. Amazing defence given the Roosters scored two Klein time tries and the Sharks try should never have been given. 48 point overall differential.

In the premiership years the team has only conceded over twenty points once and over twelve points twice.

A pretty spectacular defensive effort considering it was against top four teams the majority of matches.

Edit: Over the four premiership years it 9.85 points per finals game conceded and 22.69 for.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

I did some basic analysis of the For and Against of the team in finals beginning 2020.

2020 we conceded an average of 23.33 points a game. Overall was 69 points for and 70 against. In hindsight the defence leaked points in the games against the Roosters and South's. Melbourne were always him to take advantage.

2021 ave of 10.5 for and 10 against. A +2 overall differential. Probably the most tense finals series to watch.

2022 average of 29 for and 10.67 against. The against is increases by two garbage time tries in the GF. I'm still a little disappointed that Cleary was dragged down inches short in the GF as fifty was on if he got there. 55 point differential.

2023 ave of 32 for and 11.33 against. Given Brisbane put 24 on a very good average. 62 point differential.

2024 average of 23.33 for and 7.33 against. Amazing defence given the Roosters scored two Klein time tries and the Sharks try should never have been given. 48 point overall differential.

In the premiership years the team has only conceded over twenty points once and over twelve points twice.

A pretty spectacular defensive effort considering it was against top four teams the majority of matches.

Edit: Over the four premiership years it 9.85 points per finals game conceded and 22.69 for.

I like your stats.

My take on this year is we tried heaps of different things especially in defence but when it really mattered like week one of the finals against the Roosters we went straight back to the tried and tested defence and the whole team looked very comfortable.

Personally, I felt very comfortable watching the second half of all three finals this year because I thought we were just dominant in defence and strangled all three opponents to death.

We looked to be in second gear all year and then the finals came and we put the foot down. Well done coaches.

 

[Kilkenny]

22 points conceded in our three finals appearances says it all I guess. Little over 7 points a game, if you only concede that amount of points the result is obvious. Our defence was just incredible in all three games, particularly against the best side in the Storm. They were scoring at will, all season, but in the game that mattered most other than the Harry Grant sleight of hand moment they just couldn’t breach our line.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

22 points conceded in our three finals appearances says it all I guess. Little over 7 points a game, if you only concede that amount of points the result is obvious. Our defence was just incredible in all three games, particularly against the best side in the Storm. They were scoring at will, all season, but in the game that mattered most other than the Harry Grant sleight of hand moment they just couldn’t breach our line.

I, like many, have watched the GF replay about a dozen times so far (I'm retired) and I am 100% certain if Harry Grant doesn't play, we put 40 on the Storm. He was by far their best player and he was the cover and last line numerous times.

Saying that, his heroics could not stop the relentless pressure and that 8 point gap we like to get to, becomes a mountain to high for most teams.

 

[Alintheeast]

Usually agree with everything you write/comment but would remove “best side” and replace with Minor Premiers.

22 points conceded in our three finals appearances says it all I guess. Little over 7 points a game, if you only concede that amount of points the result is obvious. Our defence was just incredible in all three games, particularly against the best side in the Storm. They were scoring at will, all season, but in the game that mattered most other than the Harry Grant sleight of hand moment they just couldn’t breach our line.

 

[West Nowra Panther]

Maybe I've missed the media report or maybe there hasn't been one, but does anyone know why Ezra Mam has not been charged by the police?

I know this type of thing is treated differently in Queensland, why, I don't know, but it looks a little bit like someone with "profile" is getting treated differently to Joe Public.

The report of the offence carries a maximum sentence of 12 years should have the NRL no fault stand down policy involved surely! But not being charged yet is questionable.

 

[Fangs]

Maybe I've missed the media report or maybe there hasn't been one, but does anyone know why Ezra Mam has not been charged by the police?

I know this type of thing is treated differently in Queensland, why, I don't know, but it looks a little bit like someone with "profile" is getting treated differently to Joe Public.

The report of the offence carries a maximum sentence of 12 years should have the NRL no fault stand down policy involved surely! But not being charged yet is questionable.

Best to ask our resident ex or curent coppers on here.

Do we have a result from the drugs test yet? I think it may be hinging on that.

 

[soc123_au]

Maybe I've missed the media report or maybe there hasn't been one, but does anyone know why Ezra Mam has not been charged by the police?

I know this type of thing is treated differently in Queensland, why, I don't know, but it looks a little bit like someone with "profile" is getting treated differently to Joe Public.

The report of the offence carries a maximum sentence of 12 years should have the NRL no fault stand down policy involved surely! But not being charged yet is questionable.

Waiting on the secondary test results. Nothing they can do until they come back, can take a few weeks.