Here to say that I saw the game almost Identically to the way
@Girds89 did. I was watching the game with a bunch of non-panther supporters and they were saying similar things
I think only Yeo and Martin can be proud of their games. Api did okay as well but wasn't particularly good.
There is more than a little bit of Mitchell Pierce in Nathan Cleary. A good, even excellent 1st grade halfback but not a great at that level and struggles at Rep level. He looked completely lost in that 2nd half. Yeah he wasn't the one making the mistakes, yes our forward pack broke down midway through the 2nd half - but a great halfback guides his team around and either
Prevents the passage(s) of play that cause the problems or they pull a trick out of their hat to change/break the game. Cleary doesn't have the magic pass, magic instinct or magic step that can change the game out of nowhere. His biggest strength is his kicking game and it literally went missing tonight. As Girds89 said, it has been ordinary all year and occasionally he brings it back (like SOO2) but it is a worrying sign. His form is down on 2020/2021.
Luai also is down on 2020/21 form. He didn't do all that much wrong (other than the pass over the side line) but in such as critical position at Rep level - you need to play better than 'not much wrong'. Not much wrong and quite a bit right is good for 1st Grade, not Rep level.
Chricton was lucky to be in the side and in the end it cost us. Did very little and that complete brain explosion was as a result of him trying too hard to 'contribute' when he knew he'd been ordinary. Like others have said - he isn't an Elite centre and he is definitely not worth the reported 700K he is on. He is a good club centre being paid like he is Elite. Just imagine us using that 700K and throwing that at Burton (I can dream)
And I also hate to say this as he is probably my favourite Panther, but To'o this series was pretty average for Rep level. At this level his power running most of the time is blunted because his opposition are quicker, stronger, fitter and better organised than he is usually accustomed to facing. He isn't 'bad' and does a fair bit of good - but he can't really create anything spectacular either (like a Cobbo) mainly because he isn't particularly quick.
I suppose the last thing to mention is that Freddy is not a good coach. We looked like we had no plan out there another than to hope and pray for an error off our bombs. Talakai was a disaster and Tupou in the 1st half was absolutely dreadful - constantly getting shoved back (including forcing a drop out). His error just before half time was as dire as Crichton's was. Burton only putting up 1 real bomb and basically being frozen out of the game was just inexplicable. Angus Crighton was diabolical at times. Did not pass when our centre or winger was open on at least 3 occasions. Still the talking point among league fandom is that the 'NSW Panthers' failed and they'd be mostly right.
I hope this is the wake up call we needed. We aren't as good as we think we are and despite our recent record, we aren't somehow the natural Heirs to the Premiership.
