Rd13: Parra v Penrith GAME DAY THREAD @ Commbank 1/6/25

[Noise]

The final count was 50%-50%, so us having nearly 60% of the ball most of the game would mean Penrith had more than 60% for a significant part of the game at the end. I remember we had over 55% at halftime though.

Yep was 58% (in our favour) at half time.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It's our structure, matterson and Hopgood aren't passing because they just feel like it.....

It's the shape we are playing, they are given the responsibility/option of running or passing.

Like Ryles said in the presser, that's how we play.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

So all they have to be is close to as good as what we see the Raiders do. That should be easy given their so called disadvantages.

They are a one team town, which is a massive advantage for player retention. I'd say they are a more attractive destination for most kids from the country as well.

Executing that is unfortunately not what we have seen, we can hope that they understand how to do and get it done. Guess they do have some help for direction from Ryles by the look of it.

The Raiders are outperforming us for the third straight year, but we outperformed them for the three years prior to that. I'd say the two clubs are about even.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The board gave him a 4 yr contract

I think they hold Ryles in higher regard then MON.

If anything MON is under the pump more atm then Ryles because everyone can see the improvement on the field with the current cattle.

If you're assuming MON signs the players, then doesn't that mean he's building a good squad (again)? Lomax, JAC, Iongi, Kautoga, Walker and Williams are all new and all have been very good. The youngsters he has retained (including Smith, Tuivaiti and the ones developing well in NSW Cup) are also promising.

If MON isn't responsible for signing players what exactly are you criticising?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

lower grades are going well, how much credit do we give mon for that?

And if they weren't going well, how much would we be looking for some merkin to blame? And would it be MON because none of us know who in the club is actually responsible for each of the things? At least we've moved on from thinking everything that happens is because of the coach. We are benefitting from education.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The cycle of life everything is MON fault when it goes bad.

And nothing to do him when it goes well.

ffs

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Generally the younger players are a result of the planning , identification and signings by the 2 guys in charge of junior recruitment. DeGois and Shepard have done a better than average job, not only are there local juniors in the reps and progressing into Cup, but players from NZ, QLD, Country and some other NRL teams .

Who was responsible for signing those two and all the staff at their disposal? Who approved the budget? NRL clubs aren't run by committees of former players sitting around on Wednesday nights in their blazers drinking whiskey.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

He is a tiny little bloke though, and whether he runs should depend on the state of the defence. If the play-the-ball is slow there's no point in someone like Papalii (or Moses) having a run.

even his shorts where too big

 

[Soren Lorenson]

The Roosters were doing this back when Ferguson was playing for them:

1. Tedesco
2. Tupou
3. Mitchell
4. Manu
5. Ferguson

and that side was under the cap fmitm

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Bailey is a huge loss

Penisini is even better at taking the ball forward.

 

[senior]

Lomax, Penisini & Simonsson is great yardage

But Tuivati would’ve been handy on the bench in place of Papalii, when does he get back?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Lomax, Penisini & Simonsson is great yardage

But Tuivati would’ve been handy on the bench in place of Papalii, when does he get back?

Another six weeks: https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2025/05/27/injury-update-round-13/

 

[Avenger]

I don’t think Joash will make it. He looked like a garden gnome out there and we have better options in nearly every position he plays.

Penrith won because they were fitter and Cleary is still a better game manager than Moses.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don’t think Joash will make it. He looked like a garden gnome out there and we have better options in nearly every position he plays.

He might make it at fullback, but we already have one.

 

[Gary Gutful]

I thought Talagi was good. He would have been a great replacement for Brown at 6.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Interesting stats:

- Hopgood, didn't miss a tackle. Last game he missed a tackle was against the sharks. 4 straight games with 100%

- Papalii made 10 tackles in 14 mins. Paulo made 18 in 51 mins

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don’t get how merkins can whinge about Hopgood. He’s one of our best defenders. He didn’t just make 31 tackles without a miss, he did it in 35 minutes.

 

[Stevie]

The board gave him a 4 yr contract

I think they hold Ryles in higher regard then MON.

If anything MON is under the pump more atm then Ryles because everyone can see the improvement on the field with the current cattle.

Ciraldo has proven the importance of the coach going after a player and he has done a great job so far selling the dream to stars.

 

[Stevie]

I don’t get how merkins can whinge about Hopgood. He’s one of our best defenders. He didn’t just make 31 tackles without a miss, he did it in 35 minutes.

Maybe Ryles can remove his passing licence. Because he is absolutely shit at it. Tuck the ball under your arm and focus on going forward and getting a decent play the ball, that's it.

 

[Gronk]

I don’t get how merkins can whinge about Hopgood. He’s one of our best defenders. He didn’t just make 31 tackles without a miss, he did it in 35 minutes.

I was thinking about that (and the game day comments wishing he could pack his bags and go). When he came to the club he was a workhorse middle with an offload. These days he is being changed into a ball playing lock and yes there is a bit of a transition, but gee some people are harsh.