Penrith are extremely fit. Hard to see us running them off their feet
They are.
But a large part of their appearance of fitness is the way they share their workload and have all high tempo players (especially their bench which is why Jazz and Walker on our bench are critical selection choices, sirro too over Freddy, more leg speed).
Which is why Webster brought that game style here and specifically used Walker and Jazz to great effect which meant AFB and Tohu had plenty of gas in the tank, Barnett too.
Penrith are human though, they can only maintain that high line speed and driving defence for fifteen to twenty minutes which is usually enough to sap the opposition pack then Penrith settle into a more human game speed which is still faster than their opponents because their opponents are buggered from having zero territory and defending their line for grim death.
This is where Webster can flip the tables on Penrith with injection of the bald bros. Right when Penrith are feeling comfortable, rather than seeing a half broken Warriors, we flick the turbo shift and do it back to them.
After half time rest, Penrith rinse and repeat, which if Jazz were fully fit would be when he and Walker are starting and can go with them for game speed.
If we use injection of players at the right time and the short passing game to move them around their strangle is far less of a threat.
Also our boys need to surrender in the tackle, hit the turf on your front, take away the Penrith Gang tackle first contact off fast line speed then three or four Panthers driving you backwards while the Ref calls held but is too sycophantic for the NRL darlings to ping them.
The thing about Penriths fitness is that it rarely gets tested because opponents do not have the mobility of a Penrith to do it back to them. We have that mobility if our guys are switched on we can make our share of meters.
The Eels ran Penrith off their feet.
They did it by non stop attack, which is what our forward ball playing game needs to emulate, keep them moving.
Penrith were stuffed in the final quarter against the Eels.
It can be done because the Eels have shown it can multiple times.
This is the reason Bunty and Ale are not playing and we have an intentionally midget bench.
It is just a shame that we have three players under done.
Barnett
Jazz
TMM
And Marata has not been able to consolidate decent minutes. But that is fine, their base fitness after a long season of good food, gym work etc will be enough to have them ready for next week if we are playing.
