Round 19 V NZ

[Fangs]

Who knows, maybe we do go on a run.

Honestly, its completely set up for us to do that. We have got a relatively easy draw to finish the year (Just like 2016) and we have players to return.

 

[franklin2323]

Thats correct. It feels unusual.

2014 - Prelim Final (With a high number of injuries)
2015 - 15th (Horrific injuries)
2016 - Semi-Final
2017- ?

If they make it this year its the finals 3 times in 4 years. Not bad for a Panthers fan.

But look at a club like the Bulldogs. They make the finals every year under Hasler, and they were calling for his head straight after their loss last year in the first week. Even recruiting some big stars for 2018 still hasn't stop the calls for Hasler to be sacked. Their fans and club expect much more.

Said it at the start of the year, this is the best football team Penrith has fielded since 2003-04. So making up the numbers in the 8 isn't what I'd consider to be a decent year. Like the Bulldogs, we should expect more.

Most of our squad was in NYC or less back in 2014. So it is slightly different than say the Bulldogs. We are starting to get a losing is acceptable culture

JFH not being fit. Bryce off field distraction then injury, Whare/Mansour struggling while coming back for injuries. TMM training as half then getting the ass. Useless gameplan. Gus releasing all our depth. All the guys debuting would of in prior years meant we would run last.

So that said being knocked out 1st week of the finals is fine. Not making the semis heads should roll

 

[OldPanther]

Limited interchange lol these guys get subbed in the last ten minutes and jog off. We can easily afford to rotate a sub through the back row barring an injury during the game, the only reason we are leaving them both our there for 80 atm is injuries, the two guys that would replace them haven't been fit all year.

We carried Kikau for weeks playing ten minutes in the middle and we weren't getting gassed. We carried Hiku for weeks on the bench also. We had Merrin out early and CHN in the bin and we still finished strongly on Friday.

You pretty much proved my point. They were rotating the middle to keep the players fresh.

 

[betcats]

You pretty much proved my point. They were rotating the middle to keep the players fresh.

Yep I'm sure Kiks ten minutes was making a big difference to the rotation. Are you actually saying our middle players cant stay fresh unless we have not one but two 80 minute backrowers? Sorry mate but I find that ridiculous, almost every week we have 3 guys who play 30 mins or less.

 

[OldPanther]

Yep I'm sure Kiks ten minutes was making a big difference to the rotation. Are you actually saying our middle players cant stay fresh unless we have not one but two 80 minute backrowers? Sorry mate but I find that ridiculous, almost every week we have 3 guys who play 30 mins or less.

3 players with so few minutes sounds a bit extreme. Even I will concede that something is wrong.

 

[betcats]

3 players with so few minutes sounds a bit extreme. Even I will concede that something is wrong.

I don't like Griffins rotations tbh we've been carrying 2 guys playing 10-15 minutes and 20-25 minutes every week and then a 3rd guy playing 30.

Rein and Wallace can play 80, we've been using a sub the last couple weeks to take Rein off and give Katoa, I think we could easily find 10-20 mins to rotate a player with one of our edge players.

 

[TheFrog]

Even recruiting some big stars for 2018 still hasn't stop the calls for Hasler to be sacked.

A big part of the job description of a NRL coach is to bear the brunt of the fans anger when the team doesn't do well. It is true that every team has a line below which this noise intensifies, and it varies according to expectations. Hence Broncos call for the coach to be sacked even when he gets them into the finals. Sacking the coach and appointing a new one lowers the line very considerably, hence no-one at Wests Tigers calling for Ivan to be sacked, despite him doing much worse than Taylor did last year.

The brains trust at the Bulldogs know Des is among the best in the business, which doesn't say a lot for the roster they currently carry. Nonetheless, they are still in the running by the skin of their teeth.

At Penrith, Hook probably just needs to make the 8 to keep the majority of the natives happy.

 

[OldPanther]

I don't like Griffins rotations tbh we've been carrying 2 guys playing 10-15 minutes and 20-25 minutes every week and then a 3rd guy playing 30.

Rein and Wallace can play 80, we've been using a sub the last couple weeks to take Rein off and give Katoa, I think we could easily find 10-20 mins to rotate a player with one of our edge players.

Something will have to happen because Cartwright will come back soon.

 

[Fangs]

At Penrith, Hook probably just needs to make the 8 to keep the majority of the natives happy.

Thats right. Like I said, part of me feels like this is good. Feels like things are back to normal again.

We are due for a premiership. Penrith snag one every 10-15 years.

 

[franklin2323]

Thats right. Like I said, part of me feels like this is good. Feels like things are back to normal again.

We are due for a premiership. Penrith snag one every 10-15 years.

with virtually the same roster and youth. Anything short of the finals and feels like we have gone backwards

 

[martielang]

I don't like Griffins rotations tbh we've been carrying 2 guys playing 10-15 minutes and 20-25 minutes every week and then a 3rd guy playing 30.

Rein and Wallace can play 80, we've been using a sub the last couple weeks to take Rein off and give Katoa, I think we could easily find 10-20 mins to rotate a player with one of our edge players.

Isn't it pretty much the norm for every team that one or two players only get 15 mins or less? Seems to be a by product of the reduced interchange.

 

[betcats]

Isn't it pretty much the norm for every team that one or two players only get 15 mins or less? Seems to be a by product of the reduced interchange.

Its not the norm for any club to have a guy playing less than 15 minutes each week accept us.

 

[franklin2323]

Its not the norm for any club to have a guy playing less than 15 minutes each week accept us.

Politoni had less than 30mins of footy in 4 weeks as Peats plays 80 mins. Broncs have had backs on the bench not get on. Damien Cook got no gametime last week. So it happpens a bit we don't seem to get tired at the end of games which makes it a tough one

I watched NSW Cup on Sunday. They had no interchanges fullstop in the 1st half. So seems we are fit across the board

 

[ACTPanthers]

Whether or not players CAN play 80, I think it would benefit some guys to have a spell and come back on refreshed enough to cause some damage, particularly in the forwards.

 

[Doomednow]

Finally managed to watch the game. Some great stuff from Cleary obviously and Rein, RCG all looked reasonably good. There were still a few periods where we just looked useless though. Cleary still had a few mistakes in him so I'm not sure the hype is fully justified yet but I obviously hope he continues to show that kind of skill.

 

[betcats]

Politoni had less than 30mins of footy in 4 weeks as Peats plays 80 mins. Broncs have had backs on the bench not get on. Damien Cook got no gametime last week. So it happpens a bit we don't seem to get tired at the end of games which makes it a tough one

I watched NSW Cup on Sunday. They had no interchanges fullstop in the 1st half. So seems we are fit across the board

Yeah it happens sometimes but its not regular for anyone accept us.

 

[martielang]

Really? Clydesdale or Baptiste seem to get pretty limited time. Cullen or Hastings the same for Manly., Nicholls for Storm, Murray for Souths etc.

I think its very common. The 4th forward & sometimes the 3rd always seem to get the same whichever club you play for.

 

[franklin2323]

Whether or not players CAN play 80, I think it would benefit some guys to have a spell and come back on refreshed enough to cause some damage, particularly in the forwards.

That is the question. We don't get out of gas late but do we go easy at the start of the game to save energy? If so use the bench more

 

[betcats]

Really? Clydesdale or Baptiste seem to get pretty limited time. Cullen or Hastings the same for Manly., Nicholls for Storm, Murray for Souths etc.

I think its very common. The 4th forward & sometimes the 3rd always seem to get the same whichever club you play for.

Limited time is 20 minutes, Baptiste averages 34. Cam Murray played over 20 last time out. Most of these guys aren't regular FGers, we almost always have a guy playing around 15 minutes.

Hastings is one that plays few minutes but again, he isn't a regular and when he doesn't play they don't have any one else playing those short minutes.

 

[Pomoz]

Re Cleary hype, we can criticise the fact he makes mistakes and isn't consistent yet but, he is 19. That is why NRL commentators praise him so highly. They see potential for him to improve as he adds experience to his great goal kicking, strong defence and reasonable running game.

Thurston is a genius because of his competitive spirit, his ability to spot an opening and his game management. His game management has taken years to develop. Physically, Cleary is his equal. His goal kicking is better, he is just as fast. He doesn't appear to spot tries like Thurston, who is exceptional at sniffing them out and that may change (Thurston is an all time great mind you), only time will tell. Experience will improve his game management and he has an ice cold temperament and a competitive spirit that sees him aim up to tackle the big boys. I'm not saying he will be as good as Thurston, but it is also wrong to say it is hype. Cleary is already a good player.