PARRA_FAN said:
Newcastle might go well, but Penrith?? Theyve been sh*tt this year, and lost quite a few players.
And who have they bought. Mark O'Hallaron, Craig Stapleton, David Thompson, wow exciting buys there. :lol:
Yes, We've been sh*t for most of the year, but awesome in the last 5 games. People tend to forget that we put this years Premiers away by 16 points in the last round of the season. That was a full strength Wests Tigers squad up against Penrith without Rhys Wesser and Tony Puletua.
Admittedly our buys for next year haven't exactly set the world on fire last season. However, methinks Penrith coaching Staff and management have a policy of going after players with potential whom John Lang can mould into elite players. No one remembers Amos Roberts prior to his stellar season last year with Penrith, we bought him from the St. George Illawarra scrap heap and while we had him in 04 he was top try scorer in the N.R.L.
IMO, Penrith have bought well, maybe not household names like Jamie Lyon etc. But when I hear names like Nick Youngquest, Bryan Norrie, Mark O'Halloran and Craig Stapleton I get excited imagining what John Lang's coaching abillity/potential can bring out of them.
People also tend to forget that we've kept the majority of players that we've won the Minor Premiership and Premiership with two years ago. We still have a world-class halfback in Craig Gower second only to Joey Johns. A Champion full back in Rhys Wesser, two of the best wingers in the world; Luke Rooney and Luke Lewis, a fantastic little 5/8 in Preston Campbell (for one more year, anyway) Two of the most damaging 2nd Rowers in the comp; Tony Puletua and Frank Pritchard, at least one of our champion props; Joel Clinton and a hooker who is, I.M.O. just as good, if not better than Danny Buderus; Luke Priddis.
write us off if you dare, but do so at your own peril.
See you all next season!;-)
Pantherjim.