Penrith's draw this year...

[Danish]

or the rooters.

I think we'll be 1 more ahead actually. Manly will have played the most top 8 and top 4 sides out of any of the top teams.

 

[JJ]

He was even picked for New Zealand before his injury. At many clubs he would be first choice, so laughing at including him is ridiculous. He's a first grade quality player, just like many of our depth players are.

Havili was picked for NZ too... I am a Kiwi, and my response is so what?

But seriously, can you name the "many clubs" at which Isaac John would be the first choice 5/8?

Even more seriously, I trust Ivan Cleary is coach of the year this year, Mansoor winger of the year, perhaps Whare centre of the year, and maybe one or two others (Lattimore has been very good every time I've seen him too) - future looks very bright for Penrith

 

[redandgreenduck]

I think we'll be 1 more ahead actually. Manly will have played the most top 8 and top 4 sides out of any of the top teams.

Add em up again.

 

[soc123_au]

I couldn't care less who we play first week of the finals, I certainly don't see Penrith as an easy win.

Pretty safe bet we can all cross the Broncos off the list.

 

[Radical Rat]

Good on the Panthers. They are the only mildly likeable side left in the running so I'll be jumping on the bandwagon come September.

 

[duylm]

Add em up again.

This is why the whole premise behind this thread is a load of garbage. Look at the fact that Penrith have beaten the Bulldogs 2x. At this point the Bulldogs are battling to make the 8. If Penrith lost both of those games, the Bulldogs sit comfortably in the top 4* and the hater who started this thread screams SEE! Penrith can't beat any of the good teams!!! If Penrith won those 2 games, which we did, it puts the Bulldogs on the fringe of the top 8 and struggling to make the finals. The hater screams SEE!! Penrith can only beat teams that aren't top 4 premiership contenders. PRETENDERS! Easy draw-easydraw-EASY DRAW!!!!!

It's like if before the season began claiming Penrith had a tough draw because we face the Sharks (finished 5th) and the Knights (prelim finalists) 2x each. As has been mentioned / alluded to at various times in this thread, you can only play who's in front of you and that opponent may or may not be in good form. And its useless analysing this until the end of the regular season.

 

[franklin2323]

Good on the Panthers. They are the only mildly likeable side left in the running so I'll be jumping on the bandwagon come September.

If our other finals years are anything to go by... There won't be any room amongst the bandwagons parking in Panthers

 

[TheFrog]

But seriously, can you name the "many clubs" at which Isaac John would be the first choice 5/8?

Penrith in 2013, a team that won 11 from 24 games and missed the finals by 1 win. John played in 9 of those wins from his 16 games in first grade.

 

[JJ]

Penrith in 2013, a team that won 11 from 24 games and missed the finals by 1 win. John played in 9 of those wins from his 16 games in first grade.

so they signed Sir Jamie...

 

[maple_69]

He's a great backup. Most clubs would take him as backup. A few would take him as first string. He could probably crack a spot at Parra, Canberra, Cronulla, Melbourne.

 

[JJ]

He's a great backup. Most clubs would take him as backup. A few would take him as first string. He could probably crack a spot at Parra, Canberra, Cronulla, Melbourne.

Possibly, although I suspect Campese would keep it at Canberra, Cronulla had Carny of course, and I don't think he's get the Eels or Melbourne #6 tbh.... Warriors are the other team as Townsend and Leuluai are hardly stellar, but both better than John

he's a decent reggie, nothing more... that's why I laughed...

Again, Penrith deserve praise this year, but we do need to keep things real

 

[mxlegend99]

Havili was picked for NZ too... I am a Kiwi, and my response is so what?

But seriously, can you name the "many clubs" at which Isaac John would be the first choice 5/8?

Not sure if the coaches would pick it this way, as coaches love to select blokes out of position ahead of genuine halves. But I would rather him in the halves for the Panthers ahead of any of the following guys:

Tigers - Braith Anasta
Raides - Terry Campese and Josh McCrone
Eels - Corey Norman
Broncos - Josh Hoffman or Ben Barba
Cowboys - Robert Lui
Sharks - Jeff Robson
Dragons - Benji Marshall

Isaac John was terrific for the Panthers last season in first grade, and was a great backup half to have. We lost very little when he came in to replace Peter Wallace. With the injuries we have, we are using our 5th choice player to partner Jamie Soward in the halves. Isaac John is also our only depth player who can play halfback and allow Jamie Soward to stay at 5/8.

With him injured, our 3rd (Peachey), 4th (Cartwright) and 5th (Smith) choice players force Jamie Soward to move to halfback. They're also all better suited to other positions then 5/8.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Isaac John wouldn't be first pick for many first grade sides (he's not even that for us), but he's an extremely dependable back up, and we have missed him in that capacity.

 

[JJ]

Isaac John wouldn't be first pick for many first grade sides (he's not even that for us), but he's an extremely dependable back up, and we have missed him in that capacity.

exactly!

 

[Westernised Panther]

This is why the whole premise behind this thread is a load of garbage. Look at the fact that Penrith have beaten the Bulldogs 2x. At this point the Bulldogs are battling to make the 8. If Penrith lost both of those games, the Bulldogs sit comfortably in the top 4* and the hater who started this thread screams SEE! Penrith can't beat any of the good teams!!! If Penrith won those 2 games, which we did, it puts the Bulldogs on the fringe of the top 8 and struggling to make the finals. The hater screams SEE!! Penrith can only beat teams that aren't top 4 premiership contenders. PRETENDERS! Easy draw-easydraw-EASY DRAW!!!!!

It's like if before the season began claiming Penrith had a tough draw because we face the Sharks (finished 5th) and the Knights (prelim finalists) 2x each. As has been mentioned / alluded to at various times in this thread, you can only play who's in front of you and that opponent may or may not be in good form. And its useless analysing this until the end of the regular season.

This!!

The other point being bandied around was the fact that Penrith had no Origin players.
Is it really Penrith's fault for not having players selected? I'm absolutely certain that any eligible player in the Penrith squad, whether it was for NSW or QLD, would put their hand up if selected.

 

[Puntastic]

This is why the whole premise behind this thread is a load of garbage. Look at the fact that Penrith have beaten the Bulldogs 2x. At this point the Bulldogs are battling to make the 8. If Penrith lost both of those games, the Bulldogs sit comfortably in the top 4* and the hater who started this thread screams SEE! Penrith can't beat any of the good teams!!! If Penrith won those 2 games, which we did, it puts the Bulldogs on the fringe of the top 8 and struggling to make the finals. The hater screams SEE!! Penrith can only beat teams that aren't top 4 premiership contenders. PRETENDERS! Easy draw-easydraw-EASY DRAW!!!!!

It's like if before the season began claiming Penrith had a tough draw because we face the Sharks (finished 5th) and the Knights (prelim finalists) 2x each. As has been mentioned / alluded to at various times in this thread, you can only play who's in front of you and that opponent may or may not be in good form. And its useless analysing this until the end of the regular season.

+2

Also, on the topic of Origin, I'm entirely certain that Cleary knew full well the advantages of having a team stacked with Kiwi internationals come origin time. I'd have been having a good hard look at Whare at the very least (Segeyaro too declared himself for PNG). But I agree, the strength has come from playing like a team.

 

[maple_69]

I like how this thread has moved from a penrith bashing session into a penrith basher bashing session.

 

[beave]

This!!

The other point being bandied around was the fact that Penrith had no Origin players.
Is it really Penrith's fault for not having players selected? I'm absolutely certain that any eligible player in the Penrith squad, whether it was for NSW or QLD, would put their hand up if selected.

Pffffft, having no origin players hasn't effected the Raiders rise to greatness this year.

 

[soc123_au]

Ivan has a long way to go to reach a Ricky level of greatness.

 

[GongPanther]

This year will/should be remembered as the Panthers that made the top four (if we do) by doing it with 10-12 first graders out.

Other teams will now have no excuse as far as injuries is concerned.

We have set the bar and against all odds,we have become an example of what can be done when you have the right people and everyone on the same page.

Even if we don't go further than our first or second game in the finals,I'm never going to be feeling more proud than I will after it all ends.

And it won't end there.