This is it. The time is now. The moment is now. Every moment since October last year has led to this, a Preliminary Final game day. My blood is boiling as we get a shot at knocking our rivals the Panthers out and going through to the Grand Final. It doesn't get much bigger than that. Everything we've worked for, all the blood, sweat, tears, all the heartbreak, all the glory has led us here. And we deserve to be here! No doubt our backs are against the wall with everyone writing us off and some of the injuries we have. They see this as an easy win to Penrith and a shoo-in that they make another Grand Final. But I think 17 men in the famous Red and Green jumper will have something to say about that. Our club is built on thriving when our backs are against the wall. They can write us off all they like but we are South Sydney..... and we are coming.
We've built up one hell of a rivalry with Penrith over the last three years and that all just adds to the occasion and adds to the spice of this Prelim. This is the fourth time we've met them in a Finals Series over the last three years and the ledger is 3-1 in their favor. They ended the dream in the 2020 Prelim and then knocked us off in that heartbreaking Grand Final last year. That pain still lingers and cuts deep, so we have to use that as fuel tonight. We don't want to feel that again, we want to do it to them and make them feel it. It's no secret I hate Penrith almost as much as the Roosters so to knock them off in a Prelim would be huge! I've never wanted to win a game against these smug pricks so bad.
In saying that, I'm under no allusions as to how hard it's going to be for our boys tonight. To win, it's going to take a performance for the ages. As much as I despise them, you do have to acknowledge they they've been the best side all year and appear to be so far ahead of everyone else. So, this is probably the biggest challenge we have faced in a number of years. 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. But you know what, they ain't unbeatable and I'm praying we prove that tonight.
We can do it! I believe. I have so much belief in these boys that they can do anything they set their minds to. A lot has to go right for us tonight, but we are capable of doing it! It's all about making sure the occasion, the emotion, and the pressure doesn't get to 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. And I performance has to be near perfect. Minimise the dropped balls, match them through the middle, play some Footy to not get trapped in our end, take Cleary's bombs and keep that defence solid. We cannot gift them the opportunities we gifted Cronulla last week and they're not going to give us too many so they've gotta be taken when they're on offer. Can the boys hold their nerve and stand up? Time will tell.
This is all out war. With a GF on the line against one of our most despised teams, it's absolute war. We're on the edge of potential greatness and hopefully, our time has finally come. We all know the saying, "What we do in life echoes in eternity." This is your moment boys, go out there and take it!! Lesssshgooooooo!!!
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