Early in the first half the ref called a dropped ball against Luai and got an incorrect call that Souths had infringed. Penalty to Penrith
The penalty to Penrith to go 8-6 up was completely unavoidable, the ref should have just called them to replay the play the ball
The high tackle late in the game on Gagai from Burton was a love tap but a penalty every single game since magic round
And finally the last pass from Cody with the touch from Cleary was missed and we couldn't challenge because we lost the challenge on
We couldn't get a call and we all knew we wouldn't with the Penrith Referees Associations favourite son Grant Atkins deciding if and when to intervene
Not taking away from Cody's intercept and Reyno's missed goal but we were certainly up against it
All true. Those continual calls going against us just let Penrith apply more and more pressure. We were just looking for breathing space for most of the game as a result.
We were in trouble early on when there were two bad calls against Souths that allowed Penrith to begin hemming us in our quarter for the majority of the first half. That just depleted our blokes of energy from which they never recovered.
The really big ref miss was the high hit on Arrow, from which he never recovered. Kikau may miss a game next year, stiff shit though for this year's GF, but any other game and he has 10 in the bin. The result that one of our most devastating interchange forwards was gone: that just further incurred on the energy stocks of the side.
Mitchell was clearly missed. He can return kicks with decisive and disruptive running. His presence puts oppositions in two minds, thus relieving the focus on Cody. Taaffe didn't do anything much wrong, except being small: which allowed him to be continually carried backwards, and often over the line for a line drop out.
He was not helped by Paulo who didn't come in the stop defenders driving the full back towards his own line.
Yet, Penrith played a smart and limited game. Their kicking was accurate, while their chase was enthusiastic. That cruelled us all night.
In contrast our kicking was not as pin point; while our chase only became desperate when time running out made it desperate.
Cleary having time to do his thing, shows his class; but it also showed how tired our blokes were from having to run it out of their own area. Early clearing kicks in the tackle count may have relieved some of that pressure, helping to save some petrol in the process - as well as causing Penrith outside backs to second guess moving up or hanging back.
In contrast, Reynolds had people in his face every 5th tackle.
It's difference like that win, and lose games.
That such an attacking team like Penrith could not pile on more tries says tonnes about Souths courage and improved defence.
Penrith seemed fresher, despite the bruising 4 previous games. Full credit to their medical staff for giving their players the "pep" needed to front the way they did.
Panther defence was awesome, often twisting and turning our players to prevent any quick play the balls for a roll on.
They played a smart game.
But for a wayward pass, that had it gone to Gags the night would have been ours. But that's dreaming. We did better than most believed, though it could have been even better.
Penrith were a class team all year. Congrats.
