lucablight
First Grade
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After making the grand final in 2022 Parramatta has endured a rough couple of seasons to the point where most pundits see us making the bottom half of the 8 at best. We aren’t really seen as a genuine premiership threat. What do the fans here think? I think it’s a bit of a folly to use the last couple of seasons as a predictor for this season.
Firstly Moses is now genuinely considered an elite halfback after dominating at origin and playing for the kangaroos. He wasn’t in that category in 2023 and was injured for most of 2024.
Secondly this is the best backline we’ve had in ages. When at full strength we have Lomax, Penisini and Addo-Carr who are all genuine strike players. Critics might say Lomax will flop at centre because he’s a winger but they were saying the same thing about Tahu back in the day.
Finally I think our pack has the potential to be underrated. The likes of Paulo, Ofahengaue, Matterson and Hopgood have played origin and you never know which youngster/new recruit is going to surprise (that includes the spine and backs as well for that matter). Maybe we don’t have as many star forwards as we’d like but I’d argue it’s a much weaker comp now. Melbourne are the premiership favourites and I see plodder after plodder on their roster. I think Penrith are going to miss JFH a lot as well.
I would agree that we’re still relatively weak at hooker and that could count against us. Then again Penrith have won multiple premierships with Mitch Kenny who isn’t the most creative hooker.
Anyhoos is it beyond the realms of possibility that we challenge for the title this season if everyone is fully fit at the business end of the season? Or do we have a vital ingredient message which means it’s too early to be thinking about it this year? Are there really that many teams with vastly superior rosters than us? I’d say this is the closest the comp has looked in ages (even though in practice it may not pan out that way).
Firstly Moses is now genuinely considered an elite halfback after dominating at origin and playing for the kangaroos. He wasn’t in that category in 2023 and was injured for most of 2024.
Secondly this is the best backline we’ve had in ages. When at full strength we have Lomax, Penisini and Addo-Carr who are all genuine strike players. Critics might say Lomax will flop at centre because he’s a winger but they were saying the same thing about Tahu back in the day.
Finally I think our pack has the potential to be underrated. The likes of Paulo, Ofahengaue, Matterson and Hopgood have played origin and you never know which youngster/new recruit is going to surprise (that includes the spine and backs as well for that matter). Maybe we don’t have as many star forwards as we’d like but I’d argue it’s a much weaker comp now. Melbourne are the premiership favourites and I see plodder after plodder on their roster. I think Penrith are going to miss JFH a lot as well.
I would agree that we’re still relatively weak at hooker and that could count against us. Then again Penrith have won multiple premierships with Mitch Kenny who isn’t the most creative hooker.
Anyhoos is it beyond the realms of possibility that we challenge for the title this season if everyone is fully fit at the business end of the season? Or do we have a vital ingredient message which means it’s too early to be thinking about it this year? Are there really that many teams with vastly superior rosters than us? I’d say this is the closest the comp has looked in ages (even though in practice it may not pan out that way).
