Round 4 vs Parra

[franklin2323]

So now you are talking about missing the 8 because of a loss in round 4? :crazy:

And yes I know the points count but f**k me thats a negative way to look at it, also just saying you have had an agenda against Cleary since he got here pretty much so I think the praise he has been getting this year is bothering you.

Our loss in Round 2 last year meant we missed the 8 last year. Praise for what? We haven't won anything yet. I think he's an over rated coach that's all I am yet to see otherwise. Whether his coach or not I want us to win.

Idris
Naiqama
Soward
Peachey

That was all that played on the weekend that wasn't here last year so hardly an entirely new team. We had 11 wins last year anything less we have gone backwards considering we have virtually all the NYC team still here and NSW Cup that made the GF. The pool of players are there really is no excuse

 

[franklin2323]

Even if they don't make the 8 and we do, it wouldn't be the first time a team was defeated by a lower ranked side. We beat Melbourne last season. Upsets happen. That is the nature of competition. Form doesn't follow a predictable trajectory.

I feel like two early wins and an inspiring loss gave many fans unrealistic expectations, just as a particularly bad half game from Parra has lead many to underestimate their ability.

We have a bunch of new players in key positions and the team has been far from settled, with injuries limiting our ability to form combinations. At the end of the year i am sure we will have seen an overall improvement on last season. In the meantime there will be plenty more highs and lows.

As for Parra making the 8, it's possible. 2003 we were tipped for the spoon. I'm sure opposition fans early that season were filthy with their team for losing to the likely spooners.

EDIT; If Parra make the 8 this year, will you feel better about the result?

What gave me expectations. We won 11 games last year. NYC won the comp. NSW Made GF. We replaced Ciraldo, Newton and co with internationals we don't have a bad player at the club. Sure there's a few I think shouldn't be in the team only due to the quality in the lower grades moreso then the actual players in the top team.

I will feel better with the result if we don't miss the top 4 or top 8 by 2. Look I think Parra will end up on 10 wins or so. Which puts them in the average column. Given the amount of ball we had at the start and the field position a team pushing for top 4 should do better

 

[betcats]

Our loss in Round 2 last year meant we missed the 8 last year. Praise for what? We haven't won anything yet. I think he's an over rated coach that's all I am yet to see otherwise. Whether his coach or not I want us to win.

Idris
Naiqama
Soward
Peachey

That was all that played on the weekend that wasn't here last year so hardly an entirely new team. We had 11 wins last year anything less we have gone backwards considering we have virtually all the NYC team still here and NSW Cup that made the GF. The pool of players are there really is no excuse

Taylor.

We have also used three halves combos in four games and our new halves pairing has played one game together including trials.

Cleary and Gould have been getting plenty of praise based on our form after the first 3 rounds, Sterlo said last week on his show"I am convincedthey are a force in this competition and a top four side" and then praised Ivan after...now I dont particularly think we are a top four side but things like that are being said based offour form.

 

[franklin2323]

I missed that but I think potentially we are top 4. We probably won't finish that high yet but given we have 40 odd players that could do a job in 1st grade at the club we certainly have talent. Tactics are the head scratcher for me.

When McKendry & Grant go (only a matter of when not if) neither will be replaced. Docker & Manu will be new props. Given IMO we lack aggression & size to play the defensive style Ivan wants now.

It was good to see him fire up post much to be a top coach you need that ruthless side.

 

[Pomoz]

Given the nature of the salary cap and the competition, there are a handful of gun sides, and then about 10-12 mid-table sides, where 'mid-table' means a finish somewhere between 6th and 16th. Injuries and off field bullshit largely determine which also-rans finish 6th and which ones get the spoon.

That said, I rate Parra and Penrith as mid-table sides, along with up to ten other clubs. There really isn't much in it. I expect the Panthers to win the return bout in Penrith, but as always it will come down to which key players are unavailable on the day.

Spoken with good common sense my Eel friend. I always cringe when fans start saying "we should thrash a team like "X" because they are rubbish". The Panthers have no god given right to win games and certainly don't have three of the best players in the world like the Storm, to give them favouritism over any team. Injuries, weather and the draw all play their part and even the wooden spooners can beat the Premiers on any given day. The salary cap, sees to that.

Parra were better on the day, we were flat. Lets look forward to next week. I would like to see the side with the first choice halves for a change. Ronnie, stop breaking them at training!

 

[franklin2323]

Parra were better on the day, we were flat. Lets look forward to next week. I would like to see the side with the first choice halves for a change. Ronnie, stop breaking them at training!

It's hard to know how good they played or whether we were bad. they scored 2 soft tries barge over tries. An intercept and another close to the post untouched. No doubt they took their chances but we didn't really put up much of a fight in the 2nd half for the second time in a row

 

[betcats]

I missed that but I think potentially we are top 4. We probably won't finish that high yet but given we have 40 odd players that could do a job in 1st grade at the club we certainly have talent. Tactics are the head scratcher for me.

When McKendry & Grant go (only a matter of when not if) neither will be replaced. Docker & Manu will be new props. Given IMO we lack aggression & size to play the defensive style Ivan wants now.

It was good to see him fire up post much to be a top coach you need that ruthless side.

Whats going on with Grant and McKendry is definitly a big concern, that being said we dont know if they will go this year or next year or if they will be replaced so thats not really fair to say that imo.

As far as tactics go, I won't argue with you, we each have our opinions on that and we have argued about it before.

I do agree we are a bit small now, I think dropping Kevy can fix that somewhat.

Like I said earlier in this thread, we were bad, defended poorly, executed poorly and seemed to not want it as much as Parra. That being said we scored three tries, and should of scored atleast one or two more...Docker getting stopped short and Kingston Knocking on with the line open also Naqaima is probably 50/50 to score if he doesnt slip, maybe better the way wingers can finish these days. There was also another good oppurtunity when Simmons was put in space and down the line and get monstered by Radradra. We gave up an intercept and two soft tries out of dummy half, and then One pass out for Radradra to score despite us numbering up well and Simmons getting a good attemp in. Its not exactlly poor coaching, its poor effort from the players, lazy at marker etc.

Of course poor effort comes back to the coach, but as our effort and defense has been very good the first 3 rounds I will not be stressing this loss. Another few like it and sure I will be there. Now maybe I am being too optimistic but I don't see any of that as too hard to fix.

 

[Pomoz]

Whats going on with Grant and McKendry is definitly a big concern, that being said we dont know if they will go this year or next year or if they will be replaced so thats not really fair to say that imo.

As far as tactics go, I won't argue with you, we each have our opinions on that and we have argued about it before.

I do agree we are a bit small now, I think dropping Kevy can fix that somewhat.

Like I said earlier in this thread, we were bad, defended poorly, executed poorly and seemed to not want it as much as Parra. That being said we scored three tries, and should of scored atleast one or two more...Docker getting stopped short and Kingston Knocking on with the line open also Naqaima is probably 50/50 to score if he doesnt slip, maybe better the way wingers can finish these days. There was also another good oppurtunity when Simmons was put in space and down the line and get monstered by Radradra. We gave up an intercept and two soft tries out of dummy half, and then One pass out for Radradra to score despite us numbering up well and Simmons getting a good attemp in. Its not exactlly poor coaching, its poor effort from the players, lazy at marker etc.

Of course poor effort comes back to the coach, but as our effort and defense has been very good the first 3 rounds I will not be stressing this loss. Another few like it and sure I will be there. Now maybe I am being too optimistic but I don't see any of that as too hard to fix.

Plus one. The Dogs and Storm games chewed up the juice and we were just a bit off our game.

 

[franklin2323]

Whats going on with Grant and McKendry is definitly a big concern, that being said we dont know if they will go this year or next year or if they will be replaced so thats not really fair to say that imo.

As far as tactics go, I won't argue with you, we each have our opinions on that and we have argued about it before.

I do agree we are a bit small now, I think dropping Kevy can fix that somewhat.

Like I said earlier in this thread, we were bad, defended poorly, executed poorly and seemed to not want it as much as Parra. That being said we scored three tries, and should of scored atleast one or two more...Docker getting stopped short and Kingston Knocking on with the line open also Naqaima is probably 50/50 to score if he doesnt slip, maybe better the way wingers can finish these days. There was also another good oppurtunity when Simmons was put in space and down the line and get monstered by Radradra. We gave up an intercept and two soft tries out of dummy half, and then One pass out for Radradra to score despite us numbering up well and Simmons getting a good attemp in. Its not exactlly poor coaching, its poor effort from the players, lazy at marker etc.

Of course poor effort comes back to the coach, but as our effort and defense has been very good the first 3 rounds I will not be stressing this loss. Another few like it and sure I will be there. Now maybe I am being too optimistic but I don't see any of that as too hard to fix.

I would like to be optimistic. Just been burnt too many times looking to far ahead. Hopefully we get in the 8 and we can be positive

 

[forby]

Despite playing poorly we scored 3 tries, had 2 disallowed and bombed 2 others. Add in an intercept try by the eels who took all their chances. Maybe not yet time to slash wrists.
Dont forget the Eels had a string of back to back penalties in the second half when the defence was tiring in the conditions. Maybe it would be better if we gave away the first 6 penalties and then came home on the back of the switch around in penalties.

 

[stevenwbird]

What do you guys think the chances are of Nabuli debuting this saturday?

 

[Panther Pete]

What do you guys think the chances are of Nabuli debuting this saturday?

I would love to see it but find it unlikely unless there are injuries. I assume Naquaima goes if Mansour returns and I can't see Simmons getting dropped to make way for Eto.

 

[betcats]

I think its a matter of time but agree with Pete, not this weekend unfortunately.

 

[Sime_11]

interesting to see how many panther fans are patiently sitting on the edge of their seats for Eto to make his debut

 

[Panther Pete]

I am actually a bit of a Simmons fan as over the years I have found him to be a solid, generally reliable winger (that just happened to be the top NRL try scorer last year!!) Although Eto will bring some much needed speed and X factor to the backline, I just can't see Cleary dropping Simmons to make way for him. Injuries will more than likely dictate when Eto gets his chance.