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Season 2025

Black Panther

Juniors
Messages
1,913
I agree with many aspects of your submission.

I’m now going to rate some of the players, hopefully cause some upset, disagreement and controversy!

Bula.

Maybe the weakest link in the side. I prefer my fullbacks to be much more dominant, like a Gutho, Ponga or GI.

Will have his chance to use his speed and skills up in the line in 2025.

tsp rating 5/10 Expectation 6/10 X factor D

Tito

Panthers fought hard to keep him, but like JL they underestimated his value.

Has great pace, elusiveness and is a bit of a craftsman. Reminds me a bit of nofo at his peak.

He’s a sub marquee player and it’s going to be nice to know we have a fighting chance if we hit space again.

Not given a lot of attention, but his positioning in attack is more than good.

7/10. Expectation: should improve. X factor C

Api

Unique factor player in his twilight. We’ve seen him break the line hundred times with no support. He’s big on combinations and the power of player understandings.

Has said he will have more time next season, which will suit him as he slows down.

Prone to the occasional brain snap, led an undisciplined side last year, but we are in new territory. One of the smug mafia.

Im Ok with him staying as captain. I think he’s earned it, despite fierce competition.

A difficult season last year, but he made it better.

8/10. Expectation 8.5/10. X factor A
No one under estimated the value of Luai or Turuva at Penrith. The simple fact is, the lower teams will pay overs for players to get them.
Good luck to the players for cashing in I say.
We got a replacement for Luai in Talagi, and we have better than Turuva in both McLean brothers. It’s the nature of the beast.
 

Tigerm

Coach
Messages
11,142
No one under estimated the value of Luai or Turuva at Penrith. The simple fact is, the lower teams will pay overs for players to get them.
Good luck to the players for cashing in I say.
We got a replacement for Luai in Talagi, and we have better than Turuva in both McLean brothers. It’s the nature of the beast.
Just keep believing that, if it gets you through the off season.
 

Tigerm

Coach
Messages
11,142

Confirming what a few have said.
Edit: Just reading that Sione Fainu is not yet confirmed.
 
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Vic Mackey

Referee
Messages
25,453
No one under estimated the value of Luai or Turuva at Penrith. The simple fact is, the lower teams will pay overs for players to get them.
Good luck to the players for cashing in I say.
We got a replacement for Luai in Talagi, and we have better than Turuva in both McLean brothers. It’s the nature of the beast.

I don’t think Penrith will miss Turuva at all. The mcleans look very promising, more like centre from what I’ve seen but very talented.

Luai would be the biggest loss Penrith have had so far. Everyone has been saying how much pressure is on him this year, i think it’s the opposite. Jaromes coming to the worst team of the last 3 years, it’s not hard for him to improve them. However if Penrith don’t win the Comp or come top 2 then it’s impossible to say they haven’t regressed without Luai and maybe Nathan isn’t as good as everyone says. It’s worth nothing Jaromes winning % without Nathan is 17% higher then vise Versa.

Blaize looks good, however did play centre most of his juniors and parramatta saw fullback as his future. They preferred Asi to him at 5/8 last year, probably as TalagI was allergic to tackling.

‘Paying overs’ is an easy phrase to throw around when a player is missed, dragons fans used it on every player they failed to sign this off season. At the end of the day players can be worth different amounts to different teams, and the market dictates their value. When we paid $1.2m for Luai a year everyone laughed. If he was in the market today half the teams in the comp would fall over themselves to get him for that.

it will be interestin, you can’t fault penriths salary cap management over the last 5 years. I still have them top 2 in 25.
 
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simmo1

First Grade
Messages
5,547
How insecure do you have to be to come into the wooden spooners forum in f**king January to sook about them signing players for OvErS?
 

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