I think most of you fans need to chill for a minute and take that minute to reflect on the side at the moment properly - 4 losses (5 with WCC) for a combined 9 points. That in itself is signs for positivity, yes they still lost and yes they didn’t get points which is what matters but what also matters is how they lost.
Panthers were in every game - even the 2 bad performances vs Knights (win) and Tigers (loss).
Penrith have been losing moments that’s the issue and you can fix that up real quick. Literally look at the losses and its concentration lapses in moments that lead to those loses.
As long as they keep this defensive effort up they’ll win more games then they lose and they’ll make the 8 easy and will be there abouts in the 4. History shows the best defensive team usually wins it all, so take that into consideration. Storm were never a team to blow sides out the park, they grinded their way to many victories at their peak. So take solace in that fact.
All the attacking stuff is minor tweaking. How many bombed tries have Panthers done this season? Which if you calculate even if they score one of those each game they win.
The evolution of the 2023 Penrith Panthers needs to somewhat copy the Sharks of last decade - grinding side who bring others teams down to their level and make you earn anything in any moment during games. They shouldn’t try to be a team that puts 30 points a game on opposition because they simply aren’t.
On injuries every side has them but whilst it sucks it gives blokes a chance to rest their bodies more after a gruelling 3 seasons (Panthers players have literally played most accumulative footy last 3 seasons than any other group of players). As long as they’re close to full strength by August and they’ve got enough wins/points on the board. Watch out rest of comp.
Like I said earlier in this thread, aim for high completion rate at 85% each game - aim to win the initial contact in every tackle and hit up - simplify the overall game plan. If they do this, with their current defensive efforts they’ll come close to winning it all again.
Trust me, nrl fans are some of the biggest dumbos out there but the actual players and management of other clubs won’t want to play Panthers in a finals game regardless where Panthers are on the ladder in the 8.
Good sensible post. Yes, our form is concerning. As you say, there are some contributing factors. I think that there are some with unrealistic expectations. Yes, it would be nice to have retained Kikau, Api, Lenui etc, but the reality is that our success has meant two things;
1. The value of our players has skyrocketed
2. These players now have premierships, so the allure of playing for a premiership is no longer an attraction for them
Combined with this is that fact that for Kikau and Api, it is likely their last contracts and they were looking for a payday to finish their careers - good luck to them.
Learn to take the good with the bad. I have followed my team since 1966 (yes, 1966) and seen some lean times, but still folllowed them regardless.
I guess that we will have the usual suspects say that I settle for indifference and that we don't allow for debate. So be it, but remember that the term "common sense" is probably the greatest oxymoron of all time.
