The only thing I have issue with being said is Fish saying this is the greatest Panthers team ever.
The 90/91 was pretty f**king special. If not for losing a player tragically through the year they could have probably had a bit of a dynasty themselves. This is our most successful team ever. But you can't ever really compare it to the 90s potential success due to the circumstances which tore them apart.
Eels like to call themselves our bigger brothers. So a few of us now said we're their daddy's. Than backed it up by giving them a big lesson on the biggest stage of all. The comments by players are all in good fun. The we hate Parra chant is just everyone jumping in on a fan started chant. Eels fans not long ago were doing the same shit to the Bulldogs. I doubt many Panthers fans actually hate Eels though. I got so many Eels fans as mates and it's all in good fun stirring each other. Given location to each other it's impossible for Panthers and Eels fans not to crossover with friendships. Or even in relationships. Although i haven't really given any of my mates shit after this win because i remember how 2020 felt. And none of them were really dicks about beating us twice in the regular season.
Api mocking the Tigers wasn't even that bad. He just had a chuckle saying he hopes they can send him out a winner too... The chuckle being because his teammates have been giving him shit about joining them and not playing finals footy again.
That said it's good that we're painting targets on our backs to create rivalries with other clubs. Being the hunted seems to work for us and helps keep the guys performing consistently. The regular season especially must get difficult to maintain the efforts they were putting in every week even for games with nothing on the line. Ivan actually got us performing for every match and had us fully fit and healthy for finals still. Took a bit of luck to manage the season that way. But a lot of effort to be so far ahead of the competition we could plan for finals weeks in advance.
To be honest I didnt think we were much of a chance because I could see how good Penrith were playing against Souths. It was great being there but it was going to take so much to beat Penrith. Yes we beat you guys twice but it means nothing going into a Grand Final The loss still hurts and will hurt for a long time, but not as bad as 2001. Ive conceded the fact that Penrith are much better team and no other team would've beaten them on Sunday night.
After the game there were a number of Panthers fans celebrating but also congratulating us Parra fans on a good season and we will bounce back. I thought that was nice. One bloke even shook my hand.
I reckon Ive copped it more from neutral fans than Penrith fans about the loss.
I was near the chant of the "We hate Parra", didnt seem too many but I was like meh we hate you too and with JFH, well it basically ignites the rivalry even bigger cause the next Parramatta Penrith clash is going to be full on. No doubt both games will be a on Friday night.
Its good to have this rivarly and the NRL has taken it serious. I swear there was one time where we only played you guys twice in the space of 18 months
