Round 21 V Sharks

[tripster]

Was one of the coldest Panthers games I have ever been to. Had tracky dacks on under my jeans and by the end of the game had stuffed pocket warmers into my boots because I couldn’t feel my feet.

Was in two minds about going at all. I was really pessimistic about our chances and was concerned my weekend would be ruined if I suffered through a freezing cold night in the grand stand with us getting flogged.

Obviously really glad in the end to have gone.

I haven’t watched the replay yet so I don’t know if the commentators mentioned it on TV but the wind gave us a massive advantage in the first half. It was blowing straight across the ground in the direction of the Sharks try line and was making it really hard for the Sharks to kick clear at the end of their sets and contributed significantly to us being able to keep them in their own end.

Nathan Cleary had a great game. He stepped up and directed the attack in a way I hadn’t seen him from all year. He also had to kick some very difficult goals in the wind and adjusted his kicking so that the wind guided it through. Goal kicking could have made a difference in the end if he hadn’t kicked so well.

My heart was in my mouth from about 20 minutes into the second half. You could feel a big Sharks come back was brewing and they nearly got there.

Edwards was one our best. Burton looked good on debut too. His kicks for touch were excellent and were just what we needed when he did them. He is a big body too - his body looked to have developed enough already to play first grade. Luai might have some competition for the number 6 jersey.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Funny you say that because it was when Kikau/Martin switched we started leaking points.

Full credit to Ivan for having the guts to Debut 3 guys against a good team we haven't b e a ten in 3 or 4 years.

I love all the talk of Nathan having no try assists and he will crumble when Jimmy goes. Showed everyone up and my defence of him on Reddit doesn't look so crazy now.

It sounds like he played well, but be careful extrapolating single games. Let’s see how it goes next year.

That try he set up the middle in the first half was a classic hookers try, that’s the sort of set up you see cook do.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Edwards was phenomenal at the back in that wind. Didn’t put a foot wrong with or without the ball.

Give Leota more time. Surely.

leota is one of my favourite players.

 

[age.s]

Was one of the coldest Panthers games I have ever been to. Had tracky dacks on under my jeans and by the end of the game had stuffed pocket warmers into my boots because I couldn’t feel my feet.

I'm not sure if the dude in the den without a shirt on deserves a medal or a clip on the ear.

Either way he probably needs some water.

 

[OldPanther]

It sounds like he played well, but be careful extrapolating single games. Let’s see how it goes next year.

That try he set up the middle in the first half was a classic hookers try, that’s the sort of set up you see cook do.

The set play he ran for Edwards second was classic halfback play. I agree with giving time to make better judgment.

 

[Kilkenny]

Please don’t give too much credit to our coach this evening his lack of use of the bench was frankly appalling.

It is a17 man game not a 15 man game, he got away with it, thankfully but in my opinion we could have done it a little easier had he injected Katoa and Lenui into the game. Lenui half a dozen minutes and Katoa nil was ridiculous given the way the game turned and Kenny was out on his feet.

 

[Kilkenny]

leota is one of my favourite players.

Very talented player Alice. Got few minutes under Griffin and not many more under Ivan. It is sad we have done nothing to further develop Leota into a top notch front rower. Criminal in my opinion. Such a waste of talent and it all down to the lack of coaching.

 

[forby]

Kenny played 80 minutes. This was a first for him and would give him the confidence to do it on a regular basis. He never looked like being a weak link, and was giving good service from dh. Why change him.

 

[Kilkenny]

Kenny played 80 minutes. This was a first for him and would give him the confidence to do it on a regular basis. He never looked like being a weak link, and was giving good service from Fake. Why change him.

Kenny was spent at the 60 minute mark. The fact Ivan played him for another 20 minutes was frankly ridiculous when we could have done with a fresh Katoa for the last 20. It is not the fault of Kenny but frankly SuperCoach f**ked up and a fresh Katoa should have been injected into the game.

 

[franklin2323]

Bench obviously. Good Luai replacement. Not the same player but left foot kicker and can find the touchline (Usually...). Cancels out a weakness that Cleary has.

Depends if you want the extra organiser in the halves or the x factor of Luai

 

[franklin2323]

NRL wouldn't allow it.

Just like Aekins and Moylan in the past. Can take what he learnt and go back and keep working

 

[franklin2323]

It sounds like he played well, but be careful extrapolating single games. Let’s see how it goes next year.

That try he set up the middle in the first half was a classic hookers try, that’s the sort of set up you see cook do.

It was an easy game to get up for. Backing up is the hardest part

 

[BxTom]

Kenny was spent at the 60 minute mark. The fact Ivan played him for another 20 minutes was frankly ridiculous when we could have done with a fresh Katoa for the last 20. It is not the fault of Kenny but frankly SuperCoach f**ked up and a fresh Katoa should have been injected into the game.

Agree. His service was getting a little inconsistent and he was usually about the third tackler - was definitely spent. Played very well until then though.

 

[franklin2323]

Please don’t give too much credit to our coach this evening his lack of use of the bench was frankly appalling.

It is a17 man game not a 15 man game, he got away with it, thankfully but in my opinion we could have done it a little easier had he injected Katoa and Lenui into the game. Lenui half a dozen minutes and Katoa nil was ridiculous given the way the game turned and Kenny was out on his feet.

Yeo again marked Xerri too

But the bench was always going to get limited time given how many 80 min forwards we have

 

[The Realist]

Please don’t give too much credit to our coach this evening his lack of use of the bench was frankly appalling.

It is a17 man game not a 15 man game, he got away with it, thankfully but in my opinion we could have done it a little easier had he injected Katoa and Lenui into the game. Lenui half a dozen minutes and Katoa nil was ridiculous given the way the game turned and Kenny was out on his feet.

Exactly this. Kenny was completely stuffed with 15 or so to go, you could tell when the Sharks were going to target him as he shuffled/stumbled back into the line, and they made plenty of metres targeting him and forced quite a few misses. It was absolutely ridiculous that he wasn't subbed out. Spence came and went with a flash, made a handful of tackles ran a decoy or two and that was it.

With 10 to go virtually the entire team was blowing and yet we had players sitting on the bench with little to no use.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Very talented player Alice. Got few minutes under Griffin and not many more under Ivan. It is sad we have done nothing to further develop Leota into a top notch front rower. Criminal in my opinion. Such a waste of talent and it all down to the lack of coaching.

I don't agree. I think like Fisher Harris Leota has had a bit of a breakout year. Not as big as the Fishes. But up until this year he was still going down to cup every so often to get refreashed. I'm not saying Ivan is a genius coach. But being down on the side line tonight was a good move, and also warming the team out the back worked well too.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Kenny played 80 minutes. This was a first for him and would give him the confidence to do it on a regular basis. He never looked like being a weak link, and was giving good service from Fake. Why change him.

I can recall when chicko first played 80 for us, Almost the exact same. Same with Fish (although playing a different position)

I totally agree with your comment.

 

[The Realist]

Cleary is so dangerous running at lazy forwards in the middle. He is a deadset 9. He shouldn't be worrying about setting up on an edge, that's not his game.

He is the closest thing to a young Cameron Smith as there is in the NRL. More people are starting to notice but with his Father as coach the move will sadly never happen.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Reckon Ivan deserves some credit tonight. After a tough week he made a handful of big calls and they've all worked out. The debutants are the obvious ones, but starting Leota and shielding Yeo from the first 20 was a masterstroke and putting Martin next to Burton wasn't far behind. Leota thrived in that first 20 and Yeo's shoulder has clearly hindered him while playing 80. The Sharks drove a fair bit at our left side early. Martin just destroyed anyone who even thought at running at his rookie 5/8.

Big win. You could feel that they were going to come back at us hard at some point. We did very well to hold them off. Still not perfect with the ball but miles better which we'll take after the fortnight we've had.

Surely that's it for Katoa. So very clearly not in the coaches plans. A shame.

Yeo's shoulder is obviously getting worse. By having him on the bench, it gave the bench starch. I think it was in his mind tonight if possible to begin extending Kenny into an 80 minute player so 3 forwards and lui (when he returns) as the super sub.

 

[franklin2323]

He is the closest thing to a young Cameron Smith as there is in the NRL. More people are starting to notice but with his Father as coach the move will sadly never happen.

Luai has shown he is a FGer. Burton tonight looked good. If he keeps going like that and the hookers don't improve then might just force that move