GRAND FINAL: Parramatta v Penrith GAME DAY THREAD at Accor 2/10/22

[King-Gutho94]

I don't think I will watch a replay for a couple of weeks once the dust settles.

Sitting through it was hard enough.

 

[the phantom menace]

I haven't watched a replay of 2001, 2009 or the 2005 semi loss.

Can't imiagine I'll chase down the replay of this game either.

 

[JokerEel]

I haven't watched a replay of 2001, 2009 or the 2005 semi loss.

Can't imiagine I'll chase down the replay of this game either.

Same here

 

[Matty Bhoy]

Big shout out to @Suitman @emjaycee @Noise and @Happy MEel . Was great to catch up with you guys and have a beer.

Not the result we were chasing, clearly. Penrith just far too good.

 

[Noise]

Big shout out to @Suitman @emjaycee @Noise and @Happy MEel . Was great to catch up with you guys and have a beer.

Not the result we were chasing, clearly. Penrith just far too good.

Yep, awesome to meet a couple of forum members! Hopefully we can do it again some time next season. The game may have sucked but drinking all afternoon with Parra mates was awesome. Grand final day is the f**king best when your team is in it!

 

[hineyrulz]

So I've just watched the first 27 minutes of the game. There was some seriously concerning signs from the outset.

From Panthers second set of the game, there was no line speed. They weren't neccessarily playing the ball any faster than us at this stage, we just sat there and waited for them to reach our defensive line.

Then, on the other side their line speed was relentless.

Were we seriously gassed after 2 minutes? I suspect not. We weren't ready to play a grand final. No way.

One thing I've thought for a while that we do far too often is run straight into the marker, and this was on show again last night. We were easy pickings for them.

The kick on the first tackle was a good play really, and we then had them 5 metres out from their tryline. But why wasnt this backed up with line speed and smash the shit out of them? We had them right where we wanted them - but no, Tackle 1 was 5 metres out, Tackle 2 15 metres out, Tackle 3 22 metres out, Tackle 4 30 metres out and Tackle 5, 41 metres out. All just from one out hit ups.

In contrast our responding set of six was
Tackle 1 16 metres out, Tackle 2 19 metres out, Tackle 3 23 metres out, Tackle 4 26 metres out, Tackle 5 34 metres out. We then kick inside their 20 metres and tackle 1 was 35 metres out. They score off this set of six on Tackle 5. Where was the kick chase to start? To start the set, it was non existent and again we waited for them to run into us. Just sat back and waited.

After we kick off they made 60 metres on 5 tackles and it literally became all too hard from there, the Panthers just took the easy metres on offer and we let them control the game.

Were they that great in this first 20 metres or were we just not up for the contest like we should've been?

I can't believe that a team who is ready to play in a grand final, basically stops moving up in defence after the first set of six in the match. It's not hard, it wasn't tactical brilliance, it was just laziness.

We were in no way ready and in the right frame of mind to play a grand final.

Disappointing really.

“BuT wE wErE rEaDy To PlAy ThE gAmE”


We played it like just any other game, but this wasn’t any other f**king game. It was one of the most important games in the clubs history. We came out half arsed and not ready to play. Anyone who can’t see this is being wilfully ignorant.

 

[hineyrulz]

I don't think I will watch a replay for a couple of weeks once the dust settles.

Sitting through it was hard enough.

I still refuse to watch the 98/99/2000 major semis the 01 GF the 05 Cows disaster and the 09 robbery against the Scum. This game also goes on he pile. Maybe when we manage to win a GF I might try and sit through but for now I can’t.

 

[Noise]

I haven't watched a replay of 2001, 2009 or the 2005 semi loss.

Can't imiagine I'll chase down the replay of this game either.

Yep same.

 

[Suitman]

So, after having almost 24 hrs to digest the game (and recover from a very long day), there's not a lot I can add to what has already been said.
We were unfortunately insipid and outplayed in every facet of the game. Well done Panthers.
I felt even in the first 5 minutes that it wasn't going to be our night. It was just a feeling. The body language from both teams was completely different. What disappointed me most was our lack of aggression and fight. We just played footy, nothing more. Penrith came to win. We just came to do what got us there. Nothing more.

Well, sorry lads, but in a GF that doesn't work.

I do have a few other observations from the day though.

- It was a long one. I left home at 11 am and went from home to Parra to Homebush to Parra to home again at 1.30 am today. I've been feeling a bit dusty today.
- When ACCOR is full, it always provides a pretty decent atmosphere. Yesterday, once the game started, it was the opposite. Panthers fans are as boring as f**k. Despite the fact they were about to win their 2nd Premiership in a row, the place sounded like a morgue at times. I've never been to a more quiet Grand Final but maybe that had more to do with the fact they were outnumbered about 70/30 by Eels fans. The noise generated by our two tries was equal to any of there's and we were getting smashed when we scored.
- The comments re Accor are warranted. Yes there are plenty of food and beverage outlets, but the service is appalling. I gave a woman a serve when I went to get a drink just before half time. Despite the queue being at least 50 people long, she just meandered around, chatting with other staff and not giving a f**k about the length of the queue. She didn't like what I had to say but I don't care.
- Being in Parra before the game was so much fun. I thought I was back in Rome with the amount of car horns being blown! Just the general upbeat vibe of the city centre was amazing.

- But finally, the best part of yesterday was catching up with some known forumites and meeting new ones. Spending time at the game, eating and drinking with them and just talking about footy and life and shit. The day in itself is an event and it is the social aspect that makes it what it is as much as the game.
The day ended after midnight with new mate @Matty Bhoy and myself enjoying some pizza and pasta at a tiny little place in Phillip st. Superb food it was too.

Anyway, onwards and upwards.
We have so much to learn from yesterday and the attitude we take into a big game.
Same same is just not good enough.

 

[Jake the snake]

Parramatta treated the grand final like another game of football. It wasn’t

Penrith treated the decider like anything but a normal game of football, and in the process showed Parramatta how abnormal grand finals can be.

www.smh.com.au

 

[IFR33K]

 

[IFR33K]

Next gf we make this is what we have to deal with from the media.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Next gf we make this is what we have to deal with from the media.

Well it's hard to ignore.

I have witnessed 3 GFs in my lifetime and we haven't been in front at any stage in any of them.

In fact all 3 we have conceded tries in the first 10 mins and multiple in first 20 mins.

 

[hindy111]

It probably hasn't been said/reflected on much in the past 24 hours... but Reed Mahoney tackled himself into a standstill for us last night.

We're going to miss that constant effort around the ruck next season, and his replacement - as well as our other forwards - will need to step up the tackling otherwise we'll be toast.

His long passes don't work. Quick short passes are where its at. No idea why commentators blo their loads over his long passes.

 

[IFR33K]

Yep, awesome to meet a couple of forum members! Hopefully we can do it again some time next season. The game may have sucked but drinking all afternoon with Parra mates was awesome. Grand final day is the f**king best when your team is in it!

*wins it.

 

[hindy111]

“BuT wE wErE rEaDy To PlAy ThE gAmE”


We played it like just any other game, but this wasn’t any other f**king game. It was one of the most important games in the clubs history. We came out half arsed and not ready to play. Anyone who can’t see this is being wilfully ignorant.

Man your a whiney merkin.

I do like it but.

 

[the phantom menace]

View attachment 66998

Didn't turn up "ready" for any of them (three different coaches) - and totally overawed by the occasion(s).

 

[the phantom menace]

His long passes don't work. Quick short passes are where its at. No idea why commentators blo their loads over his long passes.

Yes, the attack / service from dummy half / maybe taking some steps like Api are a different kettle of fish altogether.

But with an ageing Hodgson I suspect we will miss Reed's effective tackling and youthfil energy in the middle defence.

 

[hineyrulz]

His long passes don't work. Quick short passes are where its at. No idea why commentators blo their loads over his long passes.

Mahoney was a speed hump last night, i was pissed when i heard we lost Greed money but the more the season has gone on the more i think he won't be the big loss i thought he'd be. That said i'm not inspired by his replacement, a 35 year old pensioner with no knee cartildge.

 

[hindy111]

So, after having almost 24 hrs to digest the game (and recover from a very long day), there's not a lot I can add to what has already been said.
We were unfortunately insipid and outplayed in every facet of the game. Well done Panthers.
I felt even in the first 5 minutes that it wasn't going to be our night. It was just a feeling. The body language from both teams was completely different. What disappointed me most was our lack of aggression and fight. We just played footy, nothing more. Penrith came to win. We just came to do what got us there. Nothing more.

Well, sorry lads, but in a GF that doesn't work.

I do have a few other observations from the day though.

- It was a long one. I left home at 11 am and went from home to Parra to Homebush to Parra to home again at 1.30 am today. I've been feeling a bit dusty today.
- When ACCOR is full, it always provides a pretty decent atmosphere. Yesterday, once the game started, it was the opposite. Panthers fans are as boring as f**k. Despite the fact they were about to win their 2nd Premiership in a row, the place sounded like a morgue at times. I've never been to a more quiet Grand Final but maybe that had more to do with the fact they were outnumbered about 70/30 by Eels fans. The noise generated by our two tries was equal to any of there's and we were getting smashed when we scored.
- The comments re Accor are warranted. Yes there are plenty of food and beverage outlets, but the service is appalling. I gave a woman a serve when I went to get a drink just before half time. Despite the queue being at least 50 people long, she just meandered around, chatting with other staff and not giving a f**k about the length of the queue. She didn't like what I had to say but I don't care.
- Being in Parra before the game was so much fun. I thought I was back in Rome with the amount of car horns being blown! Just the general upbeat vibe of the city centre was amazing.

- But finally, the best part of yesterday was catching up with some known forumites and meeting new ones. Spending time at the game, eating and drinking with them and just talking about footy and life and shit. The day in itself is an event and it is the social aspect that makes it what it is as much as the game.
The day ended after midnight with new mate @Matty Bhoy and myself enjoying some pizza and pasta at a tiny little place in Phillip st. Superb food it was too.

Anyway, onwards and upwards.
We have so much to learn from yesterday and the attitude we take into a big game.
Same same is just not good enough.

Glad you enjoyed your day. I don’t go to many games these days cause I don't like hearing people scream and swear in public. Carrying on like peanuts. I understand it's a good atmosphere but it isn't for me. I like it quiet and chilled.
I preferred games when the crowd would be around 12,000. Sit where I wanted, not have someone's legs rubbed up against me, no spilling drinks, no queuing up and easy to move around.
And I don't get as a good feel for the game when no commentators plus the view is never as good.

For these reasons I wish we won a premiership when I was in my 20s. I had more fire and wanted to cheer and scream. I just couldn't imagine going to one ever again.