Rd12: 8pm Parra v Manly GAME DAY THREAD at Commbank 23/5/25

[Eelementary]

A good win for sure last night but a bit surprised by the sudden level of positivity in here.

Sure we beat Manly without Momax but they weren't at full strength, have been out of form of late and Turbo is about half the player he normally is.

Did we look better and are we on the improve? Yes and yes, but there is a long way to go with this team before we should be getting too excited.

True.

But after two rounds, we had conceded over 80 points, and looked like favourites to win the Spoon.

Ten weeks later, and we are 2 points out of the 8, finding ways to win, without playing to our absolute best potential.

I'm excited.

 

[hineyrulz]

*Porcupines

Well he is a bit of a prick.

 

[hineyrulz]

I’m on board, merkin. But don’t pretend we’ve never played better than this, against a Manly side devoid of leadership and with half its pack missing.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

settle down mate..

he had a career high performance last night but he’s also a career back up half and he’s 26.

Every merkin was off him six weeks ago.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Any other games you can think of

How many games are enough to disprove that you need to use all 17 players every week? Bellamy only gave Seve three minutes against the Dragons this year. Some bench merkins are just backups. If you don't have 17 first graders available for selection you still need to pick 17 players. It doesn't mean you have to use them if it's not an emergency.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Brown is capable of making those tackles.
To be fair, I think Hopgood’s defence has improved. He used to get quite lazy at times and do some arm grabbing during games.

He is playing fewer minutes these days. Hasn't played 60 minutes since round two, and hasn't missed more than two tackles in a game since then.

 

[DaveMc]

Cmon there has to be more players than that??

Rory O’Brien, Nathan Davis, Val Toutai

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well he did have 11 years....so you would think he did. But did he ever get a big win when we were missing our best players ...I'm trying to remember....nothing comes to mind

We belted Manly in 2023 with Asi and Matterson in the halves, and without Paulo.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Cmon there has to be more players than that??

That's just the ones who became first graders. Every club gives opportunities to youngsters who don't kick on.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We were underdogs. Hope you got on if you think Manly were so up against it.

Neither side was paying enough.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Rory O’Brien, Nathan Davis, Val Toutai

Aekins, Burns, Laurie, Naden, Blacker, Jenkins...

 

[DaveMc]

Aekins, Burns, Laurie, Naden, Blacker, Jenkins...

Yep, the Panthers really do the retention part right

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Did kelma play middle when he came on last night?

 

[axe&smash&crush]

Pleasing parra effort and result for the fans

 

[Chipmunk]

Did kelma play middle when he came on last night?

Don't think so, he seemed pretty entrenched between the two tram line on the right side.

 

[DaveMc]

Don't think so, he seemed pretty entrenched between the two tram line on the right side.

Neat little low-impact falcon from him was crucial for the Hopgood try too

 

[Noise]

Did kelma play middle when he came on last night?

Nope. Edge

 

[Hindmarshisgod2]

We belted Manly in 2023 with Asi and Matterson in the halves, and without Paulo.

Just had a look at the line ups, and manly were missing more vital players, so I'm not giving you this one. Plus jakey was playing for manly so they were really up against it.

Try again.

 

[Gherkin]

A good win for sure last night but a bit surprised by the sudden level of positivity in here.

Sure we beat Manly without Momax but they weren't at full strength, have been out of form of late and Turbo is about half the player he normally is.

Did we look better and are we on the improve? Yes and yes, but there is a long way to go with this team before we should be getting too excited.

I think it’s as much to do with the style we seem to be playing as much as the win itself. The last 4-5 weeks we seemed to have turned a corner (maybe coincides with the signing of walker). Beat the tigers, competed quite well against the sharks who’ll be a top 4 side, close to beating the dolphins with only the last pass on a few plays bringing us unstuck, win last week against knights wasn’t great but then last night put in a strong performance with key players missing.in the past we’ve folded when missing Moses or other important players. Seems they’ve simplified the role of the backups and tried to recruit like for like players. All Hawkins had to do was guide the team around and kick long. A basic version of what Moses brings. Our outside backs know they have to do the tough stuff out of our end. Whoever gets brought into the forwards has to work hard in defence.
I feel like we’re still a couple of mid season signings away from the 8 but we’re improving but the game plan is there to see. Time for the recruitment team to step up.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yep, the Panthers really do the retention part right

We didn't keep any of the merkins you mentioned; O'Brien, Davis and Toutai.