Team v Panthers

[Meth]

Every time our front row forwards get beat up, we lose. They're simply just above average but only just.

Yeah, we're definitely vulnerable.

We just don't have that top prop to be the leader in the middle of the park, so we're vulnerable to a big, motivated pack rumbling up the middle of the park. Saw it with the Bunnies and the Sharks in particular and also with the Roosters.

The Panthers are reputably big- but will be struggling to put a team together this week. Merrin will be there. Tame shouldn't be, but seemingly will be. No Campbell-Gillard. Fisher Harris is going great in the middle of the park.

Seriously, if we're at all serious about playing finals footy, we should win this one.

 

[Burns]

Will Penrith have halves at all with no Maloney and Cleary?

 

[Meth]

May and Luai.

Big ask

 

[Meth]

Maybe Katoa goes into the halves

 

[JJ]

With the injuries and origin selections Penrith will be fielding a severely weakened team... not to mention they'd been in a slump, and there are rumblings about a Gould-Griffen rift

From what they could have had, all of Edwards, Mansour, Blake, Maloney, Cleary, McKendry, Campbell-Gillard, Wallace, Browne, Kikau, Tamou, Peachey all likely or definitely out - possible I've missed some

Simply a game we have to win, and win well

 

[Fufu Andronez]

With the injuries and origin selections Penrith will be fielding a severely weakened team... not to mention they'd been in a slump, and there are rumblings about a Gould-Griffen rift

From what they could have had, all of Edwards, Mansour, Blake, Maloney, Cleary, McKendry, Campbell-Gillard, Wallace, Browne, Kikau, Tamou, Peachey all likely or definitely out - possible I've missed some

Simply a game we have to win, and win well

These are typically the games that we lose, or used to lose. If this revival is for real then you're absolutely right, we HAVE to win.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

These are typically the games that we lose, or used to lose. If this revival is for real then you're absolutely right, we HAVE to win.

Away game in Australia, after 7.30pm NZ kickoff, weakened team. Sounds like a loss based on previous years.
But it is 2018.

 

[Meth]

So, obviously winning this game will be good. We would go ahead of the Panthers and go pretty close to securing a place in the 8.

Also, a very interesting match before this one- Dragons v Storm. Who do we want to win this one?

 

[Izz]

and there are rumblings about a Gould-Griffen rift

Gould-Cleary history repeating itself?

 

[Izz]

Who do we want to win this one?

Dragons. We've got little chance of catching them for the minor premiership anyway and if they lose and we win we'll jump into 3rd.

 

[JJ]

Gould-Cleary history repeating itself?

don't know - the Cleary one was weird

Griffen is a bit of a myth I think, like Kearney - Smith and Gould in the background (Gould not so much in the background I guess) are fundamentally important in what's going on - Gould might be a prick in many people's eyes, but he has a football brain second to none

Still, we should win this in a doddle - I like May, but he's not played much this year, they're missing so much quality, we'd have to beat ourselves, surely - which for the most part we haven't been doing this year

 

[TJ64]

ligi sao anyone? surely

 

[Fufu Andronez]

don't know - the Cleary one was weird

Griffen is a bit of a myth I think, like Kearney - Smith and Gould in the background (Gould not so much in the background I guess) are fundamentally important in what's going on - Gould might be a prick in many people's eyes, but he has a football brain second to none

Still, we should win this in a doddle - I like May, but he's not played much this year, they're missing so much quality, we'd have to beat ourselves, surely - which for the most part we haven't been doing this year

Griffin cops a bit of a bum rap for mine. Seems to have got decent results wherever he has coached. Coach is still the coach at the end of the day.

Pretty thankless job for some when you think about it, eg. if Panthers have success its coz Gus is hands on and is doing the majority of the coaching or the assistant is doing the coaching, if Panthers start losing its coz Griffin is a shit coach. Not much glory in it for him.

 

[JJ]

Griffin cops a bit of a bum rap for mine. Seems to have got decent results wherever he has coached. Coach is still the coach at the end of the day.

Pretty thankless job for some when you think about it, eg. if Panthers have success its coz Gus is hands on and is doing the majority of the coaching or the assistant is doing the coaching, if Panthers start losing its coz Griffin is a shit coach. Not much glory in it for him.

Yep, I guess the counter is Griffin has had plenty of talent at Brisbane and Penrith

Key is how they work together, Griffin is coach, Gould has his role - much like Smith and Kearney - difference is Smith seems happy staying off the radar - Gould isn't built like that as you note - I've been clear I don't think Kearney is much of a coach, think I view Griffin similarly - but both situations seem to be succeeding at the moment, and the people around the coach are key in that imo

 

[Philip_Smith007]

don't know - the Cleary one was weird

Griffen is a bit of a myth I think, like Kearney - Smith and Gould in the background (Gould not so much in the background I guess) are fundamentally important in what's going on - Gould might be a prick in many people's eyes, but he has a football brain second to none

Still, we should win this in a doddle - I like May, but he's not played much this year, they're missing so much quality, we'd have to beat ourselves, surely - which for the most part we haven't been doing this year

The trick is not going in over confident of an easy win.
Hopefully if we get to a lead we keep pushing for our points diff.
Let's not forget the refs as well.

 

[Rich102]

I think before we start blaming the Refs. for the loss we should look at the number of penalties we gave away.
If you repeatedly offend you are going to be watched more closely.

 

[Meth]

I think before we start blaming the Refs. for the loss we should look at the number of penalties we gave away.
If you repeatedly offend you are going to be watched more closely.

Do you think the 10-5 penalty count was justified? I don’t

 

[Rich102]

When they give away the same penalties week after week you have to wonder.

 

[sup42]

Ligi Sao about to be named in the team by the sounds of it....Silver linings with Harris and Afoa gone for 6 weeks.

 

[Meth]

Harris and Afoa out for up to 6 weeks is a massive blow