Round 2 v Roosters

[Luke Bowden]

View attachment 99839

100%. The man himself

 

[Hamstring awareness]

Was by far our best backrower for the last 12 months

 

[PennyPanthers81]

I thought it was bizarre Garner was not used at all for 65 minutes. Having said that he dropped the ball on one of his first carries so he’s not exactly “banging the door down” to start.

I love Garner, but what was with all the dropped ball? Even Bizza dropped 3..? I don’t think I have ever seen him knock on before, or at least very rarely. Slippery, humidity, disinterest?
They beat themselves just as much as the Roosters beat them. They had no right to only be 6 points behind after that dismal performance.

 

[Chins]

View attachment 99840

He was Martin had his worst ever season until going godmode in the finals

 

[Black Diamond]

Yeah that was hard to watch. I was always worried about the Vegas effect especially playing a team coming off a major smacking.

We have a team full of kids and are notorious slow starters each year.

It's round 2, give it time, have faith.

 

[Chins]

Yeah that was hard to watch. I was always worried about the Vegas effect especially playing a team coming off a major smacking.

We have a team full of kids and are notorious slow starters each year.

It's round 2, give it time, have faith.

Was a better system last year where the Vegas teams played each other in round 2

But no excuses this one is on Ivan

 

[Hamstring awareness]

What I’d like to see next week

1. Edwards (Laurie)
2. Talagi (Jenkins)
3. Alamoti
4. Tago
5. To’o
6. Laurie (Talagi)
7. Cleary
8. Leota
9. Kenny
10. Smith
11. Garner
12. Martin
13. Yeo

14. Toelau
15. Papali’i (Patea)
16. Sorensen
17. Henry

Injury cover in brackets

 

[Iamback]

View attachment 99839

Who hasn't played an NRL game at centre

 

[BossleyPanther]

What I’d like to see next week

1. Edwards (Laurie)
2. Talagi (Jenkins)
3. Alamoti
4. Tago
5. To’o
6. Laurie (Talagi)
7. Cleary
8. Leota
9. Kenny
10. Smith
11. Garner
12. Martin
13. Yeo

14. Toelau
15. Papali’i (Patea)
16. Sorensen
17. Henry

Injury cover in brackets

I like to see Jenkins come in the side. Big Body next to Alamoti. Also Toelau or Laurie with Nathan. Jack should be 14.

 

[Chins]

I like to see Jenkins come in the side. Big Body next to Alamoti. Also Toelau or Laurie with Nathan. Jack should be 14.

Yeah I see Cole having a decent career as a 14 but not much more than that

 

[Black Magik]

Listened to Ivan's presser. He's not a happy man. The whips and tackle bags will be out this upcoming week.

I hope he soaps up the ball too.

 

[hindy111]

Win 4 premierships in a row and crying about losing one game and want changes?
Talk about erratic. This side isn't the best in comp on paper. If it made the top 4 and was bundled out it would still be a great achievement. The dynasty isn't going to last forever. Guys are going to slowly lose hunger and as age decline.
I always a felt 2025 would be a bit of a rebuild year for Penrith and 2026 would be one of their last title shots before guys like Yeo and Edwards declined.

Anyhows rnd 2 and a long season. Who knows how it will pan out.

 

[Iamback]

Win 4 premierships in a row and crying about losing one game and want changes?
Talk about erratic. This side isn't the best in comp on paper. If it made the top 4 and was bundled out it would still be a great achievement. The dynasty isn't going to last forever. Guys are going to slowly lose hunger and as age decline.
I always a felt 2025 would be a bit of a rebuild year for Penrith and 2026 would be one of their last title shots before guys like Yeo and Edwards declined.

Anyhows rnd 2 and a long season. Who knows how it will pan out.

It isn't changes for the sake of it. We lost Luai, Turuva and Fish 3 starters and need to find the best makeup of the side moving forward

 

[Iamback]

Was a better system last year where the Vegas teams played each other in round 2

But no excuses this one is on Ivan

My assumption that the Vegas guys who played NSW Cup last week didn't train was correct.

They flew back Tuesday. Had 4 days off that means they trained Sunday on wards. That is on the back of guys not trialing

Roosters played Thursday. Would of done recovery Friday. Starting training even if just video on Sat.

So despite us having no games last week, had less preparation than then.

Ivan is good for a shocker or 2 each year, Hopefully this is his gone early

 

[BossleyPanther]

Yeah I see Cole having a decent career as a 14 but not much more than that

Yep!

 

[soc123_au]

Still in shock over the defensive "effort"

We were absolute shit and managed 32 points which is also strange.

The only really pleasing thing was Nath having the balls to take the 2 when 14 down and not long left. The belief has gone nowhere. Nearly pulled it off too. Although in this case I think the loss is more valuable than the 2 points. No miracle fairytale comeback to gloss over how bad the defense, discipline and ball control was.

We will learn a lot more about where we are next week. Happy enough to write this one off as an anomaly. And have to be happy for old mate @Valheru he has been copping shit and taking it like a champ for ages, only fair he gets his moment in the sun.

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Shit happens. I assume they had a less intense training week to emphasise on recovery post Vegas trip. It was calculated but didn’t work out.

It happens. They’ll bounce back stronger in coming weeks.

It can’t be overstated how big a loss the home ground is. I have flash backs to Norths in 99 that after a few good years they collapsed in a heap that season. This Panthers team is light years ahead of that and should adjust and adapt fairly quickly.

Have faith. You had a shit go vs Manly last year, vs Tigers in 23, vs Eels in 22, vs Storm in 21 and it made 0 difference come September.

 

[Frankus]

My record is f**king impeccable and I actually put my balls on the line with predictions unlike most here.
We are FAR too strong for Easts in 2025

Lol

 

[maple_69]

No idea why you’d make major changes after that. They turned up lack intensity and application and lost to a hungry team. The only thing that has separated us from the pack from 2023-now is intensity and application. We didn’t have it and we lost every facet of the contest. Maybe we would have had it with Fish and Romey around the squad but Talagi certainly isn’t the answer and Jenkins isn’t the answer to that question.

Maybe those two guys are two key ingredients in the mental makeup of this side missing too many. We’ll see. They certainly had the mentality in Vegas so I’m not worried yet.

I think switching Alamoti and McLean would be my change. Alamoti is a more typical Panther winger build and McLean has better hands (passing) and is strong defensively at centre. I’d also like to see Laurie get on the field, maybe for Cole, much earlier, say 55 mins in. Laurie has earned a proper role in this team and he could add that spark and speed we lack. The other option would be sliding Cole to centre, Tago to edge for a stint which would give the edges a bit more speed and agility to work with during that softer 50-70min period of the game.

The rest, go do whatever Marto is doing because he has the intensity in spades this year. Absolute maniac.