Team v Panthers

[Philip_Smith007]

With the Panthers on tenterhooks I think the coach has no option but to haul his Origin stars back from Perth.

Logistically, they'd leave Thursday, land in Sydney, wait around for a bit, depart for Auckland. Arrive Thursday night, with one day to recover.

They'll be stuffed, the poor bastards. I hope they play though as, if we win, we'd always want to do it with their big stars playing.

We did it magic round last year.
No need to show off again?
Coach Cleary needs an excuse this time.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Berry supposed to be due back but do we risk him or give him more time to recover?

If not him, I'd go Eddie Ieremia-Toeva. Looked okay at centre in the trials, though I think he's played all his Cup games since in the back row

MGT? played centre all year for Cup and looked strong (at least as far as extended highlights suggest). Has a few NRL games behind him too.

I know he's off next year but its literally just a stop gap measure till Capewell is back and/or Ali and Berry are fit again.

 

[Izz]

MGT? played centre all year for Cup and looked strong (at least as far as extended highlights suggest). Has a few NRL games behind him too.

I know he's off next year but its literally just a stop gap measure till Capewell is back and/or Ali and Berry are fit again.

Yeah, MGT would go okay, too.

Are they allowed to pick someone from outside the top 30 (and whose not on a development contract) if there are players in the top 30 who can cover that position? The rules around all that confuse me

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Yeah, MGT would go okay, too.

Are they allowed to pick someone from outside the top 30 (and whose not on a development contract) if there are players in the top 30 who can cover that position? The rules around all that confuse me

Oh yes, good point... hadnt thought of him being outside the 30.

And no, I dont know the rules either. Could get interesting then...

 

[Blair]

Sounds fair!
Surely the players union will get involved if the play?

It'll be the classic case where the workers don't agree with their union. The union are acting on general principle, the workers are acting like concussed guys a week out from the grand final.

If it was up to them, they'd all play the next day.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yeah, MGT would go okay, too.

Are they allowed to pick someone from outside the top 30 (and whose not on a development contract) if there are players in the top 30 who can cover that position? The rules around all that confuse me

No, don't think so. I think you have to have special dispensation to pick outside your 30, which from memory we got in 2020-22 (by way of loan players) and I remember it happening in the past as well when we had a number of injuries, can't remember the positions though.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Levels said Ivan already declared last week he won’t be playing any of their origin players

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

No, don't think so. I think you have to have special dispensation to pick outside your 30, which from memory we got in 2020-22 (by way of loan players) and I remember it happening in the past as well when we had a number of injuries, can't remember the positions though.

Just seen Rocco is due back for the Penrith game so that solves things... assuming he doesnt break down at training.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Levels said Ivan already declared last week he won’t be playing any of their origin players

Good. I doubt Capewell will play, either. That's a brutal ask to get on a plane from Perth across time zones to play a Saturday afternoon game after a Wednesday night Origin

 

[Meth]

Surprised to see today that the Panthers have quietly snuck up to 9th place now. You can't write them off, can you?

 

[vvvrulz]

Surprised to see today that the Panthers have quietly snuck up to 9th place now. You can't write them off, can you?

A big factor was the great logjam in the middle - 9 teams are dumped in within two points of each other.

But yes the Panthers were never going to stay down there long, they'll be there in September creating trouble.

 

[Meth]

Looks like the Origin guys are out

 

[Chins]

You guys lose this and it's a line straight through you for 2025.

 

[Meth]

You guys lose this and it's a line straight through you for 2025.

I disagree. Penrith are still Penrith. They can beat any team with any team they put on the park.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

You guys lose this and it's a line straight through you for 2025.

We'll make the 8 and our post-Origin run home is favourable with 7/9 v teams currently 11th or lower on the table, so top 6 is realistic unless we lose key players.

Win or lose this week, given what many of us (except a few loyal souls) expected at the start of the year, we're already overachieving.

Genuine question - what's the sense amongst Penrith fans? get there?

 

[Chins]

We'll make the 8 and our post-Origin run home is favourable with 7/9 v teams currently 11th or lower on the table, so top 6 is realistic unless we lose key players.

Win or lose this week, given what many of us (except a few loyal souls) expected at the start of the year, we're already overachieving.

Genuine question - what's the sense amongst Penrith fans? get there?

I think we are the only side that can stop Melbourne in September but we'll be on holidays by then unfortunately.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

I think we are the only side that can stop Melbourne in September but we'll be on holidays by then unfortunately.

So you don’t think you’ll make finals? TBF many of us here think Penrith will be there… maybe very low on gas, but still there. Probably hold that view until they’re mathematically ruled out.

Personally I want them there. They were my team before ’95 and been my second team since. If we can’t win it, I’d be happy for them to do it again… and doing it from here would be a helluva story.

What’s your take on why the season has turned out this way? Luai and Fish? Motivation after 4 titles? Has moving home grounds proven a bigger disruption than expected?

 

[Chins]

So you don’t think you’ll make finals? TBF many of us here think Penrith will be there… maybe very low on gas, but still there. Probably hold that view until they’re mathematically ruled out.

Personally I want them there. They were my team before ’95 and been my second team since. If we can’t win it, I’d be happy for them to do it again… and doing it from here would be a helluva story.

What’s your take on why the season has turned out this way? Luai and Fish? Motivation after 4 titles? Has moving home grounds proven a bigger disruption than expected?

We have been absolutely red lining for 5 and a half years now and I think we dropped too many "easy" points to start the season, if all our Origin guys survive that silly series then we might make it.
Not sure if it's actually motivation or if the boys are just wrecked. The losses have definitely reached a tipping point as well. The club did a great thing letting Fish go home but we probably should have made him stay just one more year.

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

You guys lose this and it's a line straight through you for 2025.

Ridiculous.

Yes, it should be a winnable game and we should be favourites based purely on how many players you have out. But to say if we don't win this, then our season is over is a bit of a reach.

I do think Penrith will make the 8 and could potentially surprise teams

 

[Chins]

Ridiculous.

Yes, it should be a winnable game and we should be favourites based purely on how many players you have out. But to say if we don't win this, then our season is over is a bit of a reach.

I do think Penrith will make the 8 and could potentially surprise teams

Might be a bit hyperbolic but our game a few weeks ago minus our Origin boys against Newcastle was our worst performance since probably Matt Elliott was in charge.