The Bar is raised

[Southern Rooster]

Tonight Penrith proved what most good judges new. They are a bloody good football team a halfback and 5/8 combo that is good enough to represent us at both NSW and Test level. A pack that is as tough as it comes anmd a backline that plays a game that is very hard to defend against. I was at Stadium Oz for the GF last year and I was there tonight also. The Penrith side in 2004 is 12 points better than the one from last year. Congratulations on a great win tonight and all the best for the rest of 2004. The benchmark is usually the defending premiers and tonight they raised the bar.

 

[I Bleed Green]

Classy.

 

[Sheros los Deros]

They sure did, Southern Rooster. A team that is going to raise the bar to match them, will have to play some fine attacking football to beat them. The Roosters set the standard for defence in 2002, The Panthers have set a new standard for both attack and defence in 2004.

Well done John Lang, you've developed a winning culture to make Chris Anderson insane with jealousy.

 

[dice]

Nah. The intensity was there in bits and pieces but the game was scrappy tonight. IMO, both teams played much better last week.

 

[League Freak™]

They are a special side arent they.

 

[RLS]

I tipped the Roosters, but I'm actually glad the Panthers won.

 

[Fibroman]

I was left scratching my head why Luke Lewis wasn't selected in the Test Squad. Our front row was sensational. Clinton, Lang and Ross, all outstanding. I thought Puletua gave us great go forward when he was on the field.

Gower and Priddis did heaps of clean up work in defence, they are two of the best players in the game.

Gower showed that he can go to another level when he has to. Anyone that says he is over-rated is dead set kidding themselves. Just have a look at how much work the bloke does in defence, and still runs at the defensive line like a front rower.

 

[TRANSLATION]

Tonight Penrith proved what most good judges new. They are a bloody good football team a halfback and 5/8 combo that is good enough to represent us at both NSW and Test level. A pack that is as tough as it comes anmd a backline that plays a game that is very hard to defend against. I was at Stadium Oz for the GF last year and I was there tonight also. The Penrith side in 2004 is 12 points better than the one from last year. Congratulations on a great win tonight and all the best for the rest of 2004. The benchmark is usually the defending premiers and tonight they raised the bar.

Since Day 1, this is the only Rooster supporter in this site, that is not all Screwed up.

Extremely classy. Great Supporter. Can see two sides to any story.

Now Go and Start class with your new pupils. Lemon, Cockbum, Choke.

 

[League Freak™]

Just on Gower...he has turned his game aroun in the last year.

In 2002 he was flat out crap. Now, his attack is very dangerous and his defence is getting towards the standards Johns has set. he doesnt put on the same big hits, but he gets through alot of work and is a very effective tackler.


If Australia doesnt take the Gower/Campbell halves combination into the ANZAC test match....we will be poorer for it.

 

[Fibroman]

I think we still have some improvement left in us. I'd like to see Rhys, Rooney and Amos running the ball back a bit harder from the kick. They tend to take it back a bit half hearted at times, as well as their scoots from dummy half. Those extra couple of metres can make a difference after 4 or 5 tackles.

We tend to look a bit flat in attack when both the hair bears are off the paddock at the same time as well.

Wasn't Clinton great, and Ben Ross keeps getting better each week.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Well said Southern Rooster. Congrats Penrith on another fantastic win. You can't really go wrong with the way you play the game. Big forwards with both the skill to create second phase play and guts to take the ball forward all day long. Clinton's runs towards the end was an example of how your mob play hard till the 80th. The halves are brilliant. Gower should be Aus halfback for sure, and Campbell wouldn't be out of place at 5/8. He's one of those players that as an opposition fan, makes you nervous with every touch. The backline is filled with rep. quality players who are great in attack and defense. The complete football team really, and they showed it tonight.

As for us, well it's back to the drawing board for Sticky. As good as we were last week and as good as we are against the 13 other teams in general, things aren't coming off when we play the Panthers. Still, not to worry yet as there's plenty of time to get things right as Panthers fans would know about.

 

[The Original Eye]

Craig Gower was average against GB in all 3 Tests.

International footy is totally different to the NRL. Gower's had his chance and did not set the world on fire.

A good club player.

 

[League Freak™]

I have said it for a while now, Ross has the potentual to be our best prop.


Clinton is a weapon of mass destruction. He will go in, rip and tear the opposition apart and played heavy weight football.

Ross is capable of the same thing, but I think he is a little more athletic and mobile.

Ive been a fan of both since they come into first grade. You could see straight away that at worst...Penrith had a prop that would be a very solid contributer to the first grade team.



Just on the attack, I STILL think we miss that ball playing option at lock that Sattler gave us last year. Waterhouse is a second rower, he had a bit of a quiet game...but he doesnt bring the ball playing ability to the side.

I dont know how you fix that problem. I guess the fact we now have a GIANT pack makes the team a little different and makes then have to focus on that as a strength.

 

[Fibroman]

If Priddis wasn't such a good hooker, you could almost slot him into the #13.

 

[anjado]

he was only average
cuz he wastn allowed to get the ball
it had to go to brett
and he is international class
2 bad games doesent make anyone bad

 

[skeepe]

he was only average
cuz he wastn allowed to get the ball
it had to go to brett
and he is international class
2 bad games doesent make anyone bad

???

 

[brenno]

after the panthers beat the raiders a couple of weeks ago some jibberer came on here (he may have been a roosters fan) and said that the raiders were no chance of winning the comp. After seeing the roosters wilt to a classy panthers outfit again tonight, they are indeed the benchmark and proved that ANY other team in the nrl will be crushed if they dont come ready to play against them. They should be premiership favourites and provided they if stay healthy, will be difficult to stop from going back 2 back.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Yeah that was me and i've seen nothing to change my opinion. The Raiders have been ordinary so far. We on the other hand whilst not good enough tonight, have showed that we have what it takes last week and in the last couple of years.

 

[anjado]

i was talking to the english guy

 

[dice]

he was only average
cuz he wastn allowed to get the ball
it had to go to brett
and he is international class
2 bad games doesent make anyone bad

???

He was referring to Freddy and Wonder Boy Finch.

I think Sticky is purposely giving Wonder Boy more responsibility and experience as first receiver. Freddy seems to be taking a different role in varying the attack with his kicking game. None of it worked tonight but came close a couple times.