Panthers v Parra

[chrisD]

I think that break Api made off Dylan’s play the ball was a sliding doors moment. He gets the pass right to Cleary then Cleary scores. If Cleary takes it cleaner or dives or swerves or something he could have got there. Next play we go the other way from the ruck we probably score. If Api doesn’t throw a cut out we probably score. If Burton does something other than just run left and out we probably get them.

We were all over them, it felt like we had them where we wanted them but we just couldn’t finish it and then that became the story of the night, not being able to finish.

 

[Fangs]

I'm upbeat. The Storm are 100% favourites but we are in a prelim. Anything can happen.

Big decisions looming from injuries. If Kikau is gone it would be tempting to play TPJ wider and bring in Leinu. We also have Tago.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

I think that break Api made off Dylan’s play the ball was a sliding doors moment. He gets the pass right to Cleary then Cleary scores. If Cleary takes it cleaner or dives or swerves or something he could have got there. Next play we go the other way from the ruck we probably score. If Api doesn’t throw a cut out we probably score. If Burton does something other than just run left and out we probably get them.

We were all over them, it felt like we had them where we wanted them but we just couldn’t finish it and then that became the story of the night, not being able to finish.

Exactly.

 

[WestyLife]

Funny though that Edwards wasn't backing up Yeo after the souths game discussion....

 

[chrisD]

Funny though that Edwards wasn't backing up Yeo after the souths game discussion....

Why?

 

[GongPanther]

Enough of this BS, if we survive Crichton must go back to right centre.

Momo has to be the right kicker set up a try guy next week.

 

[WestyLife]

Why?

Because we were guarenteed he would and he didn't. It's ironic.

 

[Panfa]

I'm happy for naden to stay on 1 wing put chrichton in the centres with Burton and have t'oo return for momirovski who took too many wrong options in attack.If kikau is out bring in leniu otherwise if kikau is ok drop Kenny who offers nothing and put leniu in.We need a big physical pack to match storm and go wide as much as we can.

 

[chrisD]

Because we were guarenteed he would and he didn't. It's ironic.

When did Yeo make a break this game?

 

[GongPanther]

Penrith got 2 free interchanges for 2 Parramatta players going on report. Learnt this from NRL Physio

Thanks Alice.

 

[Panfa]

Even though penrith may be a little bruised and battered we are match hardened.Storm have only played 1 semi and that was a walk in the park, there fresh but a soft win over manly could be there demise.They will be confident but we can definitely cause an upset next sat night.Im not a fan of our small pack starting games.We need a good start against storm or we could be blown away in the 1st 20 like last yrs gf.

 

[GongPanther]

I’m obviously worried about our attack and the lack of fluency, the poor early kick decisions and lack of crisp passing through the backline. I’m not sure what’s the deal with the form of the likes of Luai, Cleary and Burton. I am also mentally prepared for the disappointment of possibly losing to Storm next week and missing the GF as I know need to be a lot better than we have been lately.

However I’m also a little disappointed about how little praise our defence gets, even from some of our own fans. Don’t take a Penrith team defending so well for granted. For almost as long as I can remember, Penrith teams under Griffin, Elliott, Lang, Simmons etc had mediocre or poor defensive structures and leaked 20+ points per game. Even the 2003 champions conceded 21+ points per game all season. So we should be proud of supporting a Panthers team that has had the best defence over the last 2 years. Maybe Ivan Cleary is lacking something in being able to coach an attack to go all the way but he has certainly helped with the defence.

Once we play the likes of the Storm, we will really start to show our true colours. We are the ONLY side that has the chance to defeat the storm...period because of our brutal and relentless defense.

 

[chrisD]

Because we were guarenteed he would and he didn't. It's ironic.

Well? When are you talking about?

 

[Frankus]

100m isn't enough. Need 150+

Not when making 49 tackles. Cmon mate, be realistic. I recall people singing the praises of Kiwi Jim for lesser efforts last season.

 

[maple_69]

Ah well it wasn’t convincing but it was the first real game of footy I’ve seen in a long time so that’s nice. Gripping game, props to the Eels for really sacking up this last month. Big improvement on their pea heart departures the last few years.
I thought Naden had a fantastic game, incredibly composed. Really happy for him.
Critta had some freakish plays. Yeo is the best forward in the game now. 8/10 every single week on both sides of the ball. Inspirational.

Gotta throw everything at it next week. Turn up with the same attitude as we had tonight, get lucky with some of those half chances and we might just get Melbourne on an average night. We won’t win with one try though. Naden stays, Momo goes, Critta into centre. Tago in for Kenny. Leniu for Kik if he’s out.

 

[martielang]

I see no reason to play Kikau. If anything I'd give him the last spot on the bench to 9nly be used if needed. He has straight up folded in every finals game

He was our best player last week And the month prior to that.

You must be going bag halvies with Matty M to not want him out of the side. We don’t win without him. In the GF last year as poor as his end decisions were, he ran all over Hughes for 80 mins.

 

[Smug Panther]

He was our best player last week And the month prior to that.

You must be going bag halvies with Matty M to not want him in the side. We don’t win without him. In the GF last year as poor as his end decisions were, he ran all over Hughes for 80 mins.

Kikau was God awful last night and the worst player on the field in the GF

 

[martielang]

As much as I want to see Critta get more ball, Momo retains his spot. Poor game with ball last night but that right edge is all about locking up Olam and JAC and both finals they’ve been superb defensively.

Last night showed what as asset Edwards is to us. Gets our sets off to such a solid start. His positioning at the back was class all night.

 

[martielang]

Kikau was God awful last night and the worst player on the field in the GF

I agree, that’s not my argument, but He trampled Hughes when he held the ball in the GF. He’ll do so again if he plays like he did the month previous to last night.

 

[TheRiff]

Burton has been one of our poorer players recently; much worse than Luai (who at least had been rock solid in defence). It is no surprise really, as it has been a long season and he is quite young, but he has really come back to the pack recently.

Burton's form in the finals has been horrible, No better than Momo really