Round 12 v Storm (preview, spoilers, post match discussion...)

[choc_soldier]

STORM v PANTHERS, Olympic Park, Sunday 28 May

This is a crunch match, to be honest.

Both teams will have their Origin players back, which will make Melbourne look more formidable than they did against Manly.

Our record down there is shocking. I think we can win, but we will have to be on top of our game to do so.

 

[Caged Panther]

I'm not brimming with confidence about this game. But I would cop a loss if we put in a good showing and pushed the storm to their limits.

 

[*Sandy*]

It'll be a tough one, always is down there.

 

[shadow grinder]

sides named:

Melbourne Storm

1. Greg Inglis
2. Matt Geyer
3. Matt King
4. Jake Webster
5. Steve Turner
6. Scott Hill
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Garret Crossman
9. Cam Smith
10. Brett White
11. David Kidwell
12. Ryan Hoffman
13. Dallas Johnson

Subs:
14. Ian Donnelly
15. Jeremy Smith
16. Antonio Kaufusi
17. Nathan Friend


Panthers

1. Rhys Wesser
2. Michael Gordon
3. Danny Galea
4. Luke Lewis
5. Luke Rooney
6. Preston Campbell
7. Craig Gower
8. Joel Clinton
9. Luke Priddis
10. Matthew Cross
11. Frank Pritchard
12. Tony Puletua (c)
13. Trent Waterhouse

14. Frank Puletua
15. Craig Stapleton
16. Matthew Bell
17. Paul Aiton
18. Lee Hookey


---

 

[NK Arsenal]

Excellent team we have there, lets hope Lee Hookey doesnt have to play

 

[shadow grinder]

gower may be out tho....who would go to halfback if craig is out?

 

[*Sandy*]

I will be assuming it's preston to half, Lewis at 5/8th. Hookey to take centre.

 

[*Sandy*]

Penrith's latest news from PI.

May 25 - Craig Gower will be out for at least two weeks after an operation yesterday in which surgeons removed cartilage from one knee.

The injury kept the Penrith star out of SOO 1 - but he still managed to attend the match to support his teammates.

Nick Youngquest has been added to the 18 man squad which will travel to Melbourne.

 

[Big Mick]

Youngquest has been playing in the #2 in PL the last couple of weeks...throw him in...Gordon to centres.

OR

Aiton to five-eight...Peters/Trindell/Moors onto the bench.

 

[*Sandy*]

They can only throw in Youngquest as he's the 18th man travelling with them. ;-)

Im gonna guess and assume they will stick with the same formula as the Parra game. Preston in half, Lewis to 5/8th and slot Hookey into the centre spot with youngquest viewing from the sideline - unless John Lang becomes radical.

 

[panthersballboy]

In today's paper they have the camel in the centre's. Has Rooney ever played there before? I can't recall him ever being there. he has been good the last few weeks so hopefully he can get a bit more ball and show his stuff.

 

[*Sandy*]

Not since he's been playing first grade to my knowledge, wouldnt know what he did previous to that though.

If they have Roons at centre who do they have on the wing? Hookey or Youngquest?

 

[NK Arsenal]

hookey was the 18th man so hookey

 

[Big Artie]

Every games a crunch game, I know we dont fair well against the Storm but I have this feeling its panther time especially if our forwardsput their hands up, pritchard especially, panthers by at least 8, to 16 points

 

[Big Mick]

herald says Hookey at centre...Telecrap say's Rooney at centre...

How's Steve Mascord..."Penrith havn't won against a top 8 team"

Since when wern't the Bulldogs in the 8 you dope

 

[Big Artie]

well wait until this weekend

 

[Panthers_God]

We couldnt have come closer without winning!!!

I thought we played terrific all game until the 70th minute where our forwards just seemed to be over exhausted. Wesser played a great game and the same can be said for Waterhouse and Aiton who made good yards. We were unlucky to win especially after that high tackle on Waterhouse but ohh well. Hopefully we can cary on that good form to next week.

 

[*Sandy*]

Lost it by one point in the last minute of extra time.... wow! How shattered would the boys be feeling right now!

Reading it through live scores seems like it would have been a good game to watch - don't think there will be some happy melbourne fans though! lol!

One thing i will say though losing by 1 point down at melbourne is much better than losing by 30 - 40 plus!!!

 

[*Sandy*]

We were unlucky to win especially after that high tackle on Waterhouse but ohh well.

Seems like there must of been a few controversial calls then hey?

 

[Caged Panther]

Dissapointing loss in that I thought we were the better team for the majority of the game it a shame that the boys efforts to snuff out numerous attempts the storm had at field goal before they got one weren't reported with at least one competition point.

But as dissapointing as it was there were plenty of positives to come out of the game. Noticably that we're improving from week to week at the moment and with gower to still come back in the side I feel we're setting ourselves up well for the back end of the season.

I just hope the two golend point losses don't cost us in the final washup.