Round 15 vs Sharks

[Luke Bowden]

For those who said Laurie was more accomplished than Staines or whatever it was. I don't see it. He hasnt hone anything wrong. But he hasn't looked special either.

You know youre youre a terrific year when not hitting 50 feels like a failure..it was sn easy win. Yet we still aren't near our best.

Great to see Josh Mansour put in his best performance in years for game 150 though. The highlights posted earlier made me nostalgic for vintage Josh. He kind of delivered that too.

Have you watched him play, or are you basing your opinion on the two very short stints he’s had on the wing?

 

[herbert henry1908]

He said that May has played almost a different position every single week. One week came in when Kiks went off and played in the 2nd row. Tonight played centre, and when api went off played dummy half.

I thought what Ivan said was spot on. Some folks perhaps need to look above their current agendas.

It’s not an agenda, he didn’t play well at centre full stop.

He’s a good utility, though.

 

[WestyLife]

 

[herbert henry1908]

Hopefully that’s the worst it is. We can cope a week or two without him.

 

[age.s]

Amazing again. We're just on another level. Such a pleasure to watch this footy team. Speed, skill and strength all over the park with an incredibly tight vibe. Only question now is how we'll hold up under real pressure.

Lots of highlights but watching our stone faced resigning steamroll that flower was a real win for the spirits of footy. He was like something out of a video game tonight, it was awesome.

 

[franklin2323]

Hopefully that’s the worst it is. We can cope a week or two without him.

He stayed on the sideline in his gear. That normally is a good sign. Give him a couple of weeks off and can come back for Parra

 

[souf aussie panther]

I think Penrith are going to win the premiership this year.

 

[Blues Riff]

I think Penrith are going to win the premiership this year.

That actually means a lot.

 

[MugaB]

I know its never great timing to lose key players, but we've been givin a great draw to rest some players regardless of where we sit.
Api needs a few weeks off, kenny slots in,
Tmay most certainly starts of bench at 14.
Kikau probably a few weeks off for that hit on trindall, Capewell slots in.
To'o returning means Naden at fulltime centre.
I'd say if we needed to start easing anyone else into a 1st grade position for next year, now is the time to do it.
Maybe staines comes in for sauce in a few weeks, and give burton a run at 5/8th or half, give nat or romy a rest, at least for half the game.
The next few games should be looking interesting with roster management..

The real headache will be come finals time where guys who think they should be there dont get picked

 

[hindy111]

My take

Luai is getting more involved which is great.

Mansour seems to have his speed and agility back. Looks thinner and fitter. He looked so slow on his feet early in year.

Tamou is playing his best footy in years

Martin is playing great. What do you do with Capewell?

May is a lot bigger then I thought. Big unit.

The bench is quite similar. 3 big forwards who just run straight. But who do you drop if May goes to bench and Capewell returns to side. All 3 are playing great. I feel like Spencer and Lauire are obvious choice.

Burton won't see another game bar injuries this season.

Staines wont take Josh's spot.


The downside -

The defense is a bit soft around the middle. Could be they relaxed a little but looked loose. Also the kick chase at times was a bit poor. By memory it was when they kicked early and players not ready.


As far as minor premiership goes there is 5 games left. I do not see the Storm losing any but if are it would be against Manly or Souths in the next 2 eeks while down on troops.

Penrith should win all games but do face Eels which will be a tough assignment. Can afford to drop on. But can't slip up twice.
What a game against Eels. Shame can't have full crowds.

 

[MugaB]

Eels.... pfft, maybe we should just field our bench side

 

[betcats]

Agree with everyone who said that was a pleasure to watch. Complete control for the whole game and some great tries scored. We are a class above everyone atm let’s hope we can keep that going.

 

[WestyLife]

My take

Luai is getting more involved which is great.

Mansour seems to have his speed and agility back. Looks thinner and fitter. He looked so slow on his feet early in year.

Tamou is playing his best footy in years

Martin is playing great. What do you do with Capewell?

May is a lot bigger then I thought. Big unit.

The bench is quite similar. 3 big forwards who just run straight. But who do you drop if May goes to bench and Capewell returns to side. All 3 are playing great. I feel like Spencer and Lauire are obvious choice.

Burton won't see another game bar injuries this season.

Staines wont take Josh's spot.


The downside -

The defense is a bit soft around the middle. Could be they relaxed a little but looked loose. Also the kick chase at times was a bit poor. By memory it was when they kicked early and players not ready.


As far as minor premiership goes there is 5 games left. I do not see the Storm losing any but if are it would be against Manly or Souths in the next 2 eeks while down on troops.

Penrith should win all games but do face Eels which will be a tough assignment. Can afford to drop on. But can't slip up twice.
What a game against Eels. Shame can't have full crowds.

Capewell is in our forward rotation. No idea why people keep asking. Lenui is the least experienced so drops off and so does Laurie. In high intensity to games Kikau gets gassed easily and needs a rest. Capewell is best at the club for that.

 

[Luke Bowden]

Capewell is in our forward rotation. No idea why people keep asking. Lenui is the least experienced so drops off and so does Laurie. In high intensity to games Kikau gets gassed easily and needs a rest. Capewell is best at the club for that.

The only question for me is, does Capewell take Marty’s spot in the back row or Does he start on the bench?

If it was up to me, he’ll come off the bench at the expense of Spencer (who has been great).

Ivan has said a few times now that he thinks that Marto’s future is in the Middle. So maybe he goes to the bench and they maintain the 3 middles on the bench?

 

[betcats]

Kiks getting a rest for a week or two might not be such a bad thing. Api was giving someone the thumbs up on the bench after he came off and it looked like he said ‘I’m sweet’ but calves can be tricky, Kenny could slot in for a week.

 

[WestyLife]

The only question for me is, does Capewell take Marty’s spot in the back row or Does he start on the bench?

If it was up to me, he’ll come off the bench at the expense of Spencer (who has been great).

Ivan has said a few times now that he thinks that Marto’s future is in the Middle. So maybe he goes to the bench and they maintain the 3 middles on the bench?

Yeah Martin maybe to bench for his little bit of versatility to cover edge and middle as needed. Can still get big minutes. Or he can start and shift to middle with Capewell coming off the bench in case of an injury.

 

[WestyLife]

The pic that goes with this is too good.

 

[maple_69]

Awesome win!

Great to see Luai starting to come into his own and step up when Nath is a bit quieter.

So happy for Sauce. Kevin could take some notes on how to nail a milestone game! Vintage stuff.

Definitely some shuffling to do as guys come back and get rested. Looks like Api and Kikau will have an enforced rest anyway. To’o and Kenny in for those guys. Staines for Sauce for a week. Burton for Cleary for a week. Capewell and May rotate into the pack to give the starting middles a week’s rest each.

The team has been very lucky to avoid a glut of injuries (particularly long term injuries) and we’ve been able to plug blokes in who do the job at a high standard without really missing a beat. There’s too much quality across the park for May being an average centre to matter. It’s also given us 5 or 6 guys outside the 17 who are warmish bodies and can hit the ground running so we’re in a great spot.

We’re now the bookies dreaded favourites so managing that will be the next challenge.

 

[The_Frog]

Looks like Api and Kikau will have an enforced rest anyway.

Suspending a bloke for tackling without the ball? That'll be a first.

 

[Panther Pete]

Suspending a bloke for tackling without the ball? That'll be a first.

It was late and did it have a hint of shoulder charge?