I've woken up today really feeling it. You just know it's a massive game day today, there's something in the air! We take on the defending Premiers, the Panthers tonight in what is sure to be an absolute blockbuster and I'm super pumped, it doesn't get much bigger than this in the regular Season. We've build up an insane rivalry with Penrith over the past three years and I now feel it's a rivalry built on genuine hate. Well, that's how I feel anyway. I hate these pricks with a passion and would love nothing more than to knock them down a peg tonight. They're cocky, arrogant, self-entitled pricks. Let's wipe that smug little smile off their faces.
In saying that, the Panthers are one hell of a side there's no doubt about that. They've only lost three times so far this year, are the defending Premiers, and are first for a reason so this is going to be a massive test for us. Huge challenge no doubt. They are without their halves and a starting front rower but aside from that, they're pretty much full strength so we don't get much respite, certainly not as much as we thought we were going to earlier on in the week. They still have superstars like To'o, Crichton, Leota, Koroisau, Kikau, and Yeo playing so we're still going to need to be on our toes. The guys that are in for all their injured or suspended stars are still good quality too as they've shown. I think the key battle once again is the forward battle. We've been absolutely rolling through teams lately, but can we do it against the best of the best? Time will tell.
For us, once again it's about going up those levels that JD spoke about the other week. Every game from now on is bigger and more important than the last so we need to step up those levels every week, this one is no different. It will be Finals-like intensity. That last game against the Eels was simply brilliant and if we go out there and play like that tonight, then we'll be very hard to beat. But that's the challenge, can we go out there and back it up? I think we can, but time will tell. Complete your sets, execute and show the kind of defensive resolve we did last week. We get two massive ins this week with Graham and Ilias all back on deck for this monster clash. That'll be a huge boost for us. I'd just really like to see us go out and stick it to Penrith in front of our home fans in a high-stakes game.
While beating the Panthers tonight wouldn't erase the pain of last year's Grand Final, it would help just a little bit. We need to use that as motivation tonight. remember what happened last year, remember the pain, remember the burn and use that to fuel you. We have a chance to make a real statement once again tonight and I know the boys can do it!! Let's goooooo!!!
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