Round 11 (2005) Panthers Vs Sharks

[roosterboy60]

[font=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks[/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Game Thread
Please note - This is a game thread only, therefore only game posts can be made here (Teams, Articles).
Any other posts will result in loss of points and is at the discretion of the referee.
Only original essays, not used in previous games, will be marked by referees.[/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Home team captain will be allowed 3 reserves, visiting captain will be allowed 2 reserves
Rules: http://f7s.leagueunlimited.com/rules.asp[/font]
[font=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Full Time: Wednesday 17th August at 9pm (Syd time)[/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Venue: Penrith Football Stadium

Crowd: 14,070
REFEREE: Mysterygirl[/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Times, serif]**Referee Blows Game On!**[/font]

 

[madunit]

Sharks line up for the Furryunit Shield

1-madunit
2-Wal
3-griffo346
4-Choppies
5-glockers

6-SirShire
7-JW

 

[madunit]

madunit for the Sharks

The Best Article Ever

Well it’s the business end of the Forum 7’s season, five teams will be playing on for the richest trophy in internet land, while the other five teams will be looking to next season.

As the captain of the Sharks, it has been a very pressing year, we’ve gone through more players than Paris Hilton has gone through sex partners. We’ve struggled to get the full quota of posts in for half of our games thus far. We even considered folding the team mid season due to a lack of player numbers.

But we kept on trying.

So now, we are at our last game of the season. We are currently last on the ladder, but we are still here. It is at this point that I have decided to write the best article ever in this games history.

So I have decided that I will start with a very pertinent issue, one that every single league fan is discussing at the moment, an issue that has many varied opinions and thoughts. This is probably the biggest talking point in league history to date.

I will bring my own alternative outspoken view to the fore, enraging many and gathering the support of a few. I will deliver my opinion in my own typically satirical and sarcastic way. It will be entertaining to those who agree with me, and plain ludicrous to those whom I oppose.

With my view clearly stated and expressed, I shall begin going into detail about why I feel this way. I shall poke fun at whoever is in my way, for I fear not those who I ridicule. It’s a trait I have that has angered many people before. My opinion is mostly not how I truly feel, moreso, it’s a perspective on an issue that I know will antagonise many people.

I have come to the middle of this great article, with this word right HERE! At this point many writers are stuck and are thinking of what else they could discuss to try and get to that ever elusive ‘750 words’ goal. This has failed to ever be a concern for myself, and less concerning with this, the greatest article ever written.

Now the middle of the article has been passed, I shall start progressing my way towards my conclusion and setting up the finale of this true masterpiece. God himself would bow down to this literary genius, only if he existed of course. But I am not debating religion here, this is about Rugby League, and one of the biggest incidents in league history.

Now that my point on the issue has been brought to light and I have clearly stated my stance, I shall now begin commenting on certain aspects of the issue at hand that the NRL and it’s officials should address to try and resolve all the conflict in the game, its players and the fans. After all without players, you have no game, and without a game, you have no fans. And if there were no fans, than this article, this great, great article, would serve no purpose and make no sense at all.

Once the major aspects of the issue have been discussed, I shall focus on the smaller, yet still pertinent issues that also need to be addressed. These issues can sometimes solve themselves once the main problem has been attended to and corrected. However, as has happened in the past, these little problems can grow into larger ones if left unattended for a lengthy period of time. The cure: solve them as quickly as possible, it will require less effort and resources now, then if they were to be dealt with a year later and had become a huge problem. Dealing with them now also means minimal drama caused by the media, allowing the game to retain its credibility.

Now that I have made my opinion known, discussed why I took the stance I did, and offered my view on possible solutions to the problems at hand, I have come to the last 100 words of my article.

These 100 words shall be spread over two paragraphs. I will recap my article and then leave a conclusion, generally something very witty, yet at the same time, has merit and has a very valid point.

Many people will read this and will have new found clarity on this issue. I am absolutely honoured to have written arguably the greatest rugby league article ever.

750 words, including title.

 

[Big Mick]

PENRITH team to take on Sharkies:

1. Paul-The-Cowboy
2. [Furrycat]
3. Pantherz9103
4. Maelgwnau
5. Ozzie

6. Big Mick c
7. Azkatro
8. Leaguenut

 

[The Piper]

Wal sidesteps to avoid the dreaded utensil



2005 F7s YEAR IN REVIEW

2005 saw the entry of two new Forum Sevens teams into the comp, the Canberra Raiders and the Glebe Dirty Reds. Former Rhino Raider 69 led the side, inspired by his National Rugby League side, and they could not have had a better start to the home and away rounds. The team of NRL Raider fans shone full of stars, most notably the rookie Thickos, who led the Backpacker Player Ranking for the majority of the year. In their inaugural season, the team from the country's capital went through to Round 8 until suffering their first loss, by just a single point!

The Dirty Reds side had plenty of experienced players, had plenty of heart, as well as plenty of Knights fans aboard. Chriswalkerbush was MVP for the Roosters team last year and handled the always-difficult leadership role of a F7s team very well. Although the boys and girls from Wentworth Park are at the opposite end of the charts as their counterpart rookie team Canberra, they always put in a great challenge in every game they played. As this game goes, you could win or lose by the smallest of margins and it seems the Reds were on the wrong side of the scoreboard in all of their close contests, which can't be helped.

Out of the top four teams from last year, there are only two of these who can make the semis in 2005. And either the Bluebags' or the Lions' entry to the five team finals will be at the expense of the other side missing out. And teams like the Pirates and Eels, who were fighting to avoid last place in 2004, are now fighting for the top three spots this year a with massive turn around in their performances. The Panthers have put the year of the 'one point loss' behind them with a place in the top five in 05.

The representative F7s match was again another success, with the cream of the crop forummers battling it out, 7 v 7, for their states of origin. Last year the Blues took the shield back to New South Wales. But it was the Pistol's Queenslanders who took out the F7s SOO, 611 - 605, and brought pride to all Front Row Forum members from the sunshine state.

Both The Sharks and The Roosters have been two sides in the competition since it began three years ago, and unfortunately this year were two sides that battled against one another to miss out on the wooden spoon. It has been the fact that many of their previous dedicated players have left the clubs over the past twelve months and has seen them unable to post five articles each game. I see it as injuries in the NRL - a team will have a decent season with no injuries and make the finals, some teams are injury ridden and make up the bottom of the ladder. This is what has happened to Cronulla and Easts in 05. It is nothing to worry about. With patient, dedicated captains and clubmen, the teams will gain players, and, in time, turn it around and return to their winning ways in seasons to come.

It was also a remarkable year off the Forum 7s match threads. Sydney Lions captain Roosterboy60 hosted a very successful radio program on Thursday nights to tackle the hard-hitting F7 topics of the week. Many players and forum members joined in the fun each episode and most importantly, with its great presentation, the radio show promoted the game and drew new players into F7s.

Controversy rose, most notably in the State Of Origin, and throughout the rounds. "Those" players, there are some from many clubs, that everyone knows who I speak of, turn it up and take on each other every year. But the fact is everyone knows of them. They are the characters of the game. And the game needs them. They are very dedicated in posting the best articles that they can and make the game what it is today.

It was a season full of firsts. It contained memorable matches and posts. It was a year when many new players with great potential began, as well as seeing some legends of the game call it the end of their careers. But all in all, it was the best season of F7s to be held on the League Unlimited forums, possibly the best season of the great game to date.

750 words including title

 

[ozzie]

Ozzie's first run on with the Panthers..thanks guys and girls

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WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT LOYALTY OR A GOOD WAGE?

Loyalty, like love, is a demonstration of faithfulness, an allegiance and a devotion to a person, place or thing. How far can we push loyalty on today’s football players?

All clubs have lost players they would love to have kept but have had to release because of the dreaded salary cap. The salary cap is working in making a level playing field for all clubs, but is also obvious that a lot of fans are disgruntled about losing their players and marquee players.

Remember in the past, so many players used to play a career out with a club. Players such as Norm Provan, Reg Gasnier, Billy Smith, wore the St George colours for several years and stayed together to form a dynasty for that club which will never be equalled. That is only one club. I am sure old timers like myself can remember their own club stalwarts. Horry Hastings, Mark Harris and Billy Mullins spring to my mind playing all, or most of their careers with the Roosters.

Fans have to realise those days are long gone. Every year around July, we frantically read the papers to see who has signed where and who has been released. Every July we hear the cry “No loyalty – he should have stayed with us”. But what option has a player got? The way the system is set up it doesn’t allow for loyalty anymore.

A classic example is the case of “The Yak”, Peter Cusack. A whole hearted player who supplemented his football wages with working as a plumber, which he is by trade. He was a solid player in the middle of the ruck for the Roosters, but because of the other players increased salaries(mainly due to becoming representative players) he was forced to look elsewhere for another club or stay on low wages. Who can blame him for leaving to go to Souths for more money than the Roosters could afford to pay him?

He is getting on in years and as we all know now that the life expectancy of a footballer’s career is, on an average, of 6-10 years. Not many clubs have players who have played more than ten years.

Player’s earnings are minimal compared to some other occupations. A solicitor can work till he is in the 70’s or until his loses his mind. Some say they don’t have minds at all. Judges get paid hundreds of thousands a year to go to sleep through trials.

Unless a football player was a representative, or well schooled, the future for most are bleak. They are usually the middle of the road players, who bends their backs, makes the hard yards every week, runs with the champions, and in the end are quickly forgotten. Ongoing injuries, pain and suffering are usually their reward.

I, for one, don’t say “he should have been more loyal and stayed with us” if a Rooster signs with another club because he is like most of us. If we were offered a higher paying job with another company, doing the same work, we would be gone from the first job as soon as possible. Players are the same.

Players have families to look after, bills to pay and taxes. They need to look after themselves in the long run. As I stated before, their high earning potential is not that long and only the select few get that opportunity to accept the high wages.

So the next time we see a lower level player or even a good player leaving the club we must respect his wishes, and know he is attempting to better himself. Booing a player for his choice of clubs he wished to play for the next year , in my opinion, is stupid.

Maybe it’s time that the salary cap is looked at. Maybe it should be mandatory that the bottom 10 players be on a base wage and the salary cap be amended to reflect it. How this could be worked is not for a peon like me, but the CEO’s and NRL bosses should be ensuring that the lower paid players are looked after during their career.

Players like Fittler, Johns and Anasta don’t need to be looked after as they are, and have been the giants of the game. Their future is ensured.

Respect a player's move to another club and be grateful he did play with you once.

 

[maelgwnau]

Maelgwnau Dummy's And Makes A 40 Metre Run​

My Classic Origin Moments ​

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State of Origin optimizes rugby league. Three words that make the blood boil. A series which divides a national code to a rivalry so intense that other codes envy it and makes us crave it every season. 25 years has brought with it a lasting tradition. Over the last 25 years, State of Origin has brought us some encounters that will live long in the memory of us all. These are two such memories of mine.


1983

Amid the fireworks and fisticuffs in State of Origin's formative years, few incidents matched the brutality of the moment of madness that left Daryl Brohman nursing a broken jaw. The Maroons won the 1983 series opener but their 24 - 12 victory was overshadowed by a post match furore concerning NSW forward Les Boyd, who shattered Brohman's jaw with the point of his elbow in an illegal head-high tackle, ending any chance of Brohman claiming his debut test jumper that season. Instead, the man who replaced him that night, Dave Brown, made the Australian team, and Brohman finished his career without a green and gold jumper.

Incredibly, referee Barry Gomersall did not sin bin or dismiss Boyd, issuing only a penalty. The QRL did not cite Boyd, but Brohman's club side Penrith made an official complaint and the genial forward known as 'The Baby Faced Assassin' was later handed a record 12-month suspension by the judiciary. "Its not that I wanted to do it... it happened in the game," Boyd later told reporters.

"Barry Gomersall was giving us a friggin' hard time and the penalties were going against us. Everyone was going backwards and we weren't playing well. It was just one of those spur-of-the-moment things."

Queensland's Steve Stacey was standing next to Brohman when Boyd connected and recalled: "His teeth came flying out and blood went everywhere". For almost two decades the pair did not speak, with Brohman receiving an estimated $35,000 after suing Boyd, who settled out of court.

1991

These days, Mark Geyer considers it an honour to be mentioned in the same breath as State Of Origin legend Wally Lewis. But 14 years ago - in front of 41,000 fans at the SFS - history was the last thing on the big man's mind.

In game two of the 1991 series, Geyer and Lewis almost came to blows in one of the most memorable interstate encounters following a series of controversial incidents involving the NSW enforcer. "We'd lost the first game and I was told in no uncertain terms that we needed more aggression in game two," Geyer recalls.

"I was given a green light basically and at half time Steve Walters did a voluntary tackle right at me so I gave him a bit of a rabbit chop, as you do. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw Andrew Gee coming in and I had a few punches with him, and next minute I see this bald-headed bloke running towards me with his eyes rolling like a poker machine.

"It was 'The King' and after a few pleasantries he started saying I should be in jail, I was a psychopath and basically that I was a prick. From then on it was very surreal - I didn't know whether to hit him or get his autograph - but I think in the end I did the right thing given the tension that was there. It would have just been another all-in-brawl." Geyer didn't realise until a few weeks later just how significant that moment would become in Origin folklore as wherever he travelled he was questioned as to why he didn’t hit Lewis that night.

Fortunately, the feud didn't last long. "There was some tension between us for a while but I remember we played the Gold Coast one day where Wally was playing and there was a post match function," Geyer says. "The rumour was that we were going to get it on again at the function - instead Wally came over and bought me a beer. From that day on he was sweet with me and I was really proud to be associated with him."



Origin is the pinnacle of rugby league. For 25 years it has excited the minds and hearts of all supporters. It has produced many moments that will remain fresh in the minds of us all and I am proud to share two of mine.

WORDS: 740

 

[Paul-The-Cowboy]

Paul-The-Cowboy​

Penrith Panthers # 1​

750 words (including title)​

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Das schoene Geheimnis


There are many analogies that a Pom could use to describe what it’s like to be a Rugby League fan over here. But the most remarkable, yet probably least obvious, one of all came to me the other day.

Being a rugby league fan in England is rather like being in love with a German woman.

Bear with me, here. It’s not as dumb as it sounds, and it’s not such an insult either!


Outdated stereotypes that cloud the beauty

English league fan - There is still the stereotype and image of fans being broad speaking, northerners, with wear flat caps and whippets, who like to race pigeons. The game is a simple one, enjoyed by blood thirsty thugs and the lower class.



German women – Like rugby league and its fans, many people hold outdated stereotypes of Germans. Many imagine them to be strong, muscular, masculine women, usually called Helga, with hairy armpits and legs, and often a natural talent for shot putting.



Just as anyone who has visited Germany (or seen Claudia Schiffer), will tell you how false these popular stereotypes are, anyone who has seen a game of league will say the same thing.



The reality is that fans come from all classes, all ages, and both sexes. It is a fast, tough, entertaining, and energy sapping game where there’s no hiding place for the weak. A game played in great spirit by blokes who you could rarely accuse of being prima donnas.



Media Hostility



English rugby league fan – It is very rare for the sport to get mass coverage. A few column inches a week is the norm. Unless, of course, there’s a betting scandal, or a player has made a move to Union. Then it’s back page, nationwide news and one of the few times that it attracts something like nationwide media coverage. The media in the South see the game as Union’s poor cousins and aren’t so keen to print positive media coverage.



German women - Like rugby league fans, the English media aren't so fond of what these women represent -Germany. Any football encounter is portrayed as The Third World War on a pitch. "Let's Blitz Fritz" is just one of the bigoted tabloid headlines from Euro 96.



Both have suffered in the past from the sometimes bigoted and ignorant English media. They only want to know the Germans if they can be portrayed in a negative light, and the same is often true of their attitude towards rugby league.



Living in the shadow of popular rivals



English rugby league fan – England is one of the biggest soccer nations around. Only Latin America and parts of Italy have the same media coverage and amount of passion for the game. It’s such a hard task for rugby league to compete and gain those extra, valuable column inches. Even during the off season, football is THE sport. League and Union (or "egg chasing" as they're collectively known) in England will most likely live in Association Football’s shadow forever.



German women – During the debates of drunken pub topics, when the issue of “Who has the nation of sexiest women?” ,Germany coming out on top, is rarer than a Martin Lang hat-trick.



Those who have visited the country may vote for Germans, just like those who have been brought up with rugby league are likely to nominate it as their favourite sport.



But Italians and Scandinavians still lead the way in terms of popularity of women, just like soccer does in sport.





It’s a tedious link between the two, you may think. But as someone who has experienced the beauties of both, I find it to be a credible link.

Both compete against the ignorance of the British media, are seen as unfashionable in many parts, and have suffered from stereotypes, but both have a beauty that’s such that, once you’ve discovered it, there’s no going back.



And whilst, you may need good looks and charisma to date the woman of your dreams, you need neither to watch league. The beauty of league, accepts anyone, regardless of creed, sex, age, colour, name, sexuality, weight, dancing and cooking abilities, sensitivity etc.



So many Englanders are missing out on the beauty of league. Rugby league has something for everyone. It's fast, action packed, tough, passionate, an expression of art. You name, it league's got it.



Just like the women of Germany, rugby league is, at the moment, "Das schoene Geheimnis" (the beautiful secret).

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[pantherz9103]

pantherz9103 for Penrith Panthers

750 words (including title)

Almost a Fairytale!

I am going to jog all your memories back to recall three amazing finals charges that reaped no silverware. All three clubs were written off by the ‘experts’ but forced the critics to eat humble pie. As a supporter I found all three ‘near fairytales’ inspiring.

Ellery Hanley Magic – 1988

The Balmain Tigers had made the finals for four consecutive years (1984-87), but lacked the all round quality to qualify for the grand final. In a bold move late in 1988 with the Tigers struggling to confirm a top five berth, coach Warren Ryan recruited Great Britain superstar Ellery Hanley to play for the Tigers. Hanley added some much needed zip to the centres with his ability to accelerate through gaps. A comfortable play off win over Penrith was followed by a dominant 19-6 elimination semi final win over Manly. Hanley scored important tries in knockout wins over Canberra and Cronulla to inspire his new club to an unlikely Grand Final appearance. To this day Balmain fans still wonder what might have happened had he not been ‘taken out’ by Canterbury pivot Terry Lamb in the 1988 Grand Final. The Bulldogs won 24-12 but Hanley’s remarkable short run goes down in Rugby League history.

Dragons make grand final against all odds – 1996

St.George battled indifferent form during the first half of the season. They were in 12th position after 13 rounds, before a late season surge of 10 wins from 11 matches resulted in a 7th placed finish. The Dragons still weren’t rated as one of the main contenders but the next three weeks made everyone sit up and take notice. St.George beat Canberra 16-14 in the 6 v 7 Quarter Final. The match is remembered for the controversial mouse trap move put on by Anthony Mundine and Nathan Brown that resulted in the winning try to Mark Bell.. A 36-16 victory over the Roosters in Week 2 was sweet for St.George, who only a year earlier were being touted as likely merger partners with the Roosters. North Sydney were favourites to play Manly in the 1996 Grand Final but Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine had something to say about that. His brilliant 60 metre try broke the Bears back and the Dragons took full advantage to triumph 29-12. Rank outsiders to beat Manly in the Grand Final, the Dragons were still hopeful of an upset until a controversial incident with the score at 8-2 to Manly. Sea Eagles fullback Matthew Ridge appeared to have been tackled by Nathan Brown but he took his own re-start and play continued until Steve Menzies scored. Manly’s powerful forward pack and defensive game were too strong that day. The Dragons lost the Grand Final 20-8.

From mediocrity to miracle workers – 1998

Canterbury appeared to be heading for oblivion in 1998. An 18-26 loss to lowly Penrith in Round 20 had the Bulldogs facing a seemingly impossible task of even making the top ten. But the Bulldogs responded in a fashion typical of the club’s grit and determination. They won their last four regular season games to finish 9th. After progressing to Week 3 of the finals they produced MIRACLE 1. Taking on a star studded Newcastle Knights lineup, Canterbury fell 16-0 behind. But displaying superior fitness leveled the game at 16 all before fulltime and powered ahead to win 28-16 at the end of extra time. MIRACLE 2 was even more memorable. At 18-2 down to Parramatta in the Preliminary Final, even hard nosed hooker Jason Hetherington bowed his head as elimination stared the Bulldogs in the face. But a superb offload by Darren Britt set up a Rod Silva try. Then two more tries followed in the final five minutes. Champion goalkicker Darryl Halligan overcame immense pressure to kick a conversion from the touchline to send the game into extra time. With the Eels shellshocked, Paul Carige almost gave the game to them seconds before extra time with a bewildering kick to give Craig Polla Mounter a shot at field goal He almost kicked it from 50 metres out too! No matter, Canterbury polished off the Eels in the extra period, winning 32-20. The fairytale looked set to continue against red hot favourites Brisbane, when the Bulldogs led 12-10 at halftime in the Grand Final. It was almost as if they paid the price for the two consecutive extra time matches they had played, as the brilliant Broncos were far too good in the end, winning 38-12.

 

[glockers]

749 Words including the title.

Did I Forget Something?

I was sitting in the exam room furiously writing about the Decian and Valerian Persecutions of the Christians in the mid 3rd Century. It was my last University exam of my degree and somehow my mind kept drifting, from the Friday morning essay writing, off to the Saturday Night that I had planned.

Now this was not about a massive 21st, it was not even about a night at home with the ladies and I must say it was not even about going down to Leichardt Oval to enjoy a beautiful win. No my mind was drifting off into even grander plans.

I was flying to Suncorp.

The day was the 17th of June 2005 and the next night I would make my first interstate adventure in pursuit of the Tigers.

Somehow in the middle of my glorious Tiger thoughts the exam ended and suddenly I found myself strolling through Macquarie Centre in pursuit of a Gloria Jeans Coffee, a Big League Magazine and a quick personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. Items to munch and mull over as I thought about my plans for Saturday Evening.

For some reason the thought entered my head that I had forgotten something.

A few hours later I arrive home and it is mid afternoon. I have to pack for my trip. I look at the clock and it appears to be 3:30pm. Unfortunately I have evening plans and had to be out of the house by 5pm. I quickly go about packing my bags. I knew I had forgotten something. It was not any of the toiletries. It was not any particular item of clothes. I’m male after all a few shirts a couple of shorts, a pair of jeans and a warm jumper was fine. I even remembered to pack underwear and socks.

Yet I knew I had forgotten something.

It was approaching five and with a quick double check I decided I must be paranoid. I continued to saviour in the thought of seeing Benji step Berrigan and Galea make a line break against the tiring Broncos pack.

The next morning at 6am I pulled on my Tigers jersey and stumbled around. Somehow in the dark I found my bag and headed for my Virgin Blue experience. Mascot airport is a huge complex and as I munched on Krispy Kreme I could not help dwelling on whether I had forgotten something.

Instead of letting the thought continue I stuffed in the rest of my chocolate-coated Krispy Kreme breakfast in my mouth and stumbled aboard the Virgin Blue Flight to the Coolangatta airport.

The three attractive female flight attendants and the token gay male one soon took my concentration off what I had forgotten and solely onto my holiday. Soon we were cruising above the Pacific Ocean as I listened to Official Fiction by Something For Kate and the latest Foo Fighters Album. As we cut back over Nelson’s Bay I was no longer puzzled over what I had forgotten. I definitely had forgotten as two of my friends found me at the Coolangatta Domestic Lounge. I was driven up to my hotel but told I had to wait a few more hours until my room was ready.

So we found a stretch of Surfers Beach to swim and relax at. Unfortunately the thought drifted back as I backstroked out beyond the breakers. What the hell had I forgotten?

Soon enough after a bargain Veal Parmagiana lunch for $4.50 we were able to finally enter the hotel room. The 35th Floor beach view of Surfers quickly made me relax and I could no longer care less about forgetting anything at all.

Of course after enjoying the view for a short while we realised it was only a few hours to kick off and we had to get from Surfers to Suncorp with no local knowledge. So it was time for an epic car trip based on the vague directions of the pretty blonde receptionist.

Somehow after a complete stand still on the highway near the CBD and parking a few kilometres from the ground so we didn’t get booked we had arrived. The immense size of Suncorp amazed me as I strolled behind the Grandstand. It was massive. The atmosphere was amazing as fans appeared in the thousands. It seemed like an Origin experience. This night was definitely worth a Forum Sevens article.


Crap that was it! I had forgotten to submit my Forum Sevens article.

 

[griffo346]

Griffo runs on for the sharks with a side step past all the panthers players to score under the posts

We can make it (words said by the panthers faithful)



So far it has been a season that most Panthers fans would like to forget; however there is still a glimmer of hope there for those Panther faithfuls.



Although the Panthers have left it a bit late for the charge, there is still the glimmer of hope for the final 8. It all starts this weekend - the Panthers will take on a Broncos side that needs to protect their lead in the premiership, as they have the Eels breathing down their neck in the race for the minor premiership. The Broncos will be without their key playmaker Darren Lockyer due to a hamstring strain. The Panthers will go into this game confident after their 2 point victory over the Roosters 2 weeks ago, and after having a relaxing week with the bye just been.



The Panthers need a few results to go their way for their charge to happen. This weekend they need to be praying that the in form Tigers do the job against the Bulldogs, who will struggle with a lot of their stars out. Other games the Panthers will need are the Knights to defeat the Warriors over in New Zealand. This is Stacey Jones’ last game in Auckland, so the Warriors would like to turn it on for the Kiwi faithful. However, I am sure the Knights would like to keep their winning form happening, and the momentum to move into the off season with a winning feeling. Another game the Panthers will be hoping the result of the cowboys and raiders go in their favor with the cowboys doing the job in Townville. The last game of the round that the Panthers hope for a win is the in form Rabbitohs keen to beat the Roosters, but the Panthers will be watching this game with some interest as they need the Rabbitohs to beat the Roosters by 16+ to edge away. On for and against also, the Panthers would still be keeping a close eye on the Manly and Sharks game with the winner to end up with 28 points, and a shoo-in for a top 8 finish. If all these games happen to go to plan, the Panthers can move from 13th position to 10th position.



Then it all continues the week after with the panthers needing to win there game to stay alive for the final 8 spot they will need to beat the bulldogs in week 25, and they will need the loser of the sharks and manly game not to win anther game for the rest of the season for all this too happen. If the panthers do beat the Bulldogs they will move up to position 9th then they would be 2 points outside the 8 with either manly or the sharks on 26 points and in 8th spot.



Then we move onto round 26 the last round of the season and the panthers will play the inform tigers and they will also be looking at either manly or the sharks at whom they play and the result hoping that either team will loose and they beat the tigers and if this happens the panthers can move up to 8th position on for and against. Then a potential show off in the west at parramatta stadium against the eels or a trip to the Suncorp stadium Brisbane to face the broncos and if the panthers happen to win they will stay alive and move into the second week of the premiership the whole final series will be elimination rounds for the panthers.



(607 words including title)

 

[antonius]

Ref Blows Fulltime.

 

[Big Mick]

Furry...disappointing.

Why did I have uni.

 

[glockers]

Four on Four should be interesting.

 

[madunit]

Gooooooooooo TURTLE!!!

 

[MysteryGirl]

Madunit: The Best Article Ever: 85
A wonderful rendition about...well, words can hardly describe...

Wal: 2005 F7's Year in Review: 84
A thorough look at the current season and a nice spotlight on some worthy players and teams.

griffo: We can make it: 83
Increadible odds that need to be overcome for the Panthers to have a chance in the finals. A higher word count would have increased the score.

Glockers: Did I forget something? 85
The nagging feeling that something has been missed - only to discover it was an F7's post.

Score: 337

Ozzie: What is more important...84
An interesting idea of controlling the effects of the salary cap was brought up in this article

maelgwnau: My Classic Origin moments 85
A view of two moment of origin history. This topic definitely needed more than 750 words to cover but was well written about within the limitations.

Paul-The-Cowboy: Das schoene Geheimnis 84
A fascinating comparison between German women and League.

pantherz9103: Almost a Fairytale 86 (MOTM)
A look at 3 different teams who defied the odds and nearly won it all. Brings hope to fans who suffer through horrible losses at the beginning of their seasons.

Score: 339

 

[Big Mick]

Great game boys.

Congrats to Pantherz9103 for your MOTM performance. Well done mate. Scored very well last two rounds, you'll be vital come finals time.

Well done to both Sharkies and Penrith players

The FURRYUNIT SHIELD IS OURS

 

[madunit]

Congratulations to Mick and his Panthers, I hope you boys go all the way this season, I'll be cheering you on.

Well Sharkies, there is good news to come from this loss, We actually move up the ladder one spot and avoid the wooden spoon, as Easts actually didn't post an article against the Rhino,s the for and Against should see us jump up the ladder a spot.

It's been a disappointing season for us, only managing 5 articles in 5 games. We had a lot of player turnover, but never at any one stage did we have a large playing roster. There were some highlights. Pando at the beginning of the season, JW's brilliance at the end, he is a definite rookie of the year candidate. Looking through the scores, we could have very easily been at the other end of the ladder if we had managed 5 articles every week, but unfortunately we weren't given that luxury.

It's been a long hard road, and it has been an honour to lead this team with SirShire. I'd like to thank the people who helped me recruit a team and keep this team in the competition, a lot of thanks to Big Mick for all he did for us in recruiting players.

Next season I want nothing more than to see the Sharks playing, however I have decided to join Big Mick at the panthers for next season. I will be happy to help the Sharks recruit players for next year.

I've only missed one sharks match since joining the side mid-season last year (the grand final) and I have enjoyed being a shark, who knows, i may end up back here again in the future.

Good luck to the Sharks in 2006, I'd be glad to hand the reigns over to Wal and SirShire if they are keen to keep the team running around.

 

[Big Mick]

*applauds*

 

[madunit]

Cheers mate. you're a legend!