Revenge. They say it's a dish best served cold and well; I'm hoping Souths' revenge will be ice cold as we run red hot in this one. This week, it's all about revenge. We take on the Panthers in an absolutely massive Preliminary Final on Saturday night. It's an amazing achievement to get this far no doubt, our fifth Prelim in a row, but we don't want to stop there. A shot at real glory in the Grand Final awaits the winner of this one with the loser going home. The game couldn't be bigger, and the stakes couldn't be higher. The pressure couldn't be higher. This is one of the biggest games in the history of our club on Saturday night.
As I said, it's all about revenge. They've got one over us and ended our Season in heartbreak the last two years. Losing the 2020 Prelim and then the 2021 Grand Final to them hurt really, really bad. In fact, it still burns me to this day and I'm sure it's the same for the players. So, we need to really channel that hurt this week, channel that feeling and use it as the biggest driver and motivator in this game. If we could somehow get one over them to advance to the Grand Final, not only would it be one of our greatest wins ever, but it would be sweet, sweet revenge. It's no secret I hate Penrith, so much so that they're honestly getting up there with the Roosters in terms of most hated. They're arrogant, cocky, self-entitled pricks. Our rivalry with them has become huge and I'd just love to get one over them.
As much as I hate them, there is unfortunately no denying that they're the benchmark team this year. The Panthers have been so far ahead of everyone else it's barely even a contest. They have one hell of a team lead by superstars like Cleary, To'o, Crichton, Edwards, Yeo, Fisher-Harris, Koroisau; The list honestly just goes on and on. Everywhere you look, there's a quality player there. They have so few weaknesses. In saying that, the Finals are a different competition, and we are capable of beating them! The key no doubt lies in the forward pack. Many times in recent years that we've played, and they've beaten us, it's often been as a direct result of losing the battle through the middle. We cannot let that happen this week. Gotta match them and match them hard or we'll be no chance.
For us this week, it's all about not letting the emotion and pressure get to us. No doubt this is a huge occasion, and we can't let it over awe us. Of course, in a Prelim, you want to be emotional, you have to be emotional in these big games but it's important we don't overcook it. Of course, use that revenge to motivate us but don't become clouded by it. It's a fine line to walk but I trust the squad and coaching staff to get it just right for this one. We also need to get our performance just right. There's no doubt that beating the Panthers in a Final is one of the toughest tasks in the game, but it can be done. We must be near perfect though if we are to be any chance. Despite being dominant, our completion rate was terrible in the Semi, and we can't repeat that again. Complete high and don't gift them opportunities or they'll make us pay. On another note, our defence has been on song in recent weeks but it faces its toughest test of all this week. Will we stand up in that regard? Time will tell.
This is war with a Grand Final spot on the line. It's absolute war. I've never wanted to win a game so bad in my life, I've never wanted to get revenge so bad in my life. Souths are capable, we can bloody do this, and the boys know it. It would have to be one for the ages, but we can do it! The belief in this team is incredible. Let's hope that belief carries us into another Grand Final. We're on the edge of potential greatness and hopefully, our time has finally come. Lessssgoooooo!!
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