Your 2016 Rnd 1 team

[forby]

Hey Rhyno, how are Parra going to make the 8 starting on -4 points and probably without Jennings as his contract is yet to be registered by the NRL?
If the Watmought investigation goes bad then it could even be -8 points!
There is no way that Parra has a better squad than Penrith, and what is so wonderful about the coach?

 

[mxlegend99]

He's clearly trying to troll with that comment. But something so fictional is not even good bait. We will have guys in reserve grade side who could crack their top 17.

If we merged top 17s. You would fit in Semi, Jenko and Foran. Without doubt. Maybe one or two forwards but the bulk of the squad would be Panthers.

 

[Blues Riff]

:lol: I haven't read Rhynob's posts. I have him on the ignore list and urge others to do the same. His posts are all based on his own personal fantasies. The other club he trolls regularly is Brisbane, ie the two professionally run clubs he fears the most.
Time to think positive folks. Here's some nice pictures to cheer you all up.




Josh Hall takes a high ball AFL style and Sal embraces the Black. Cheers.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Billy is the only bloke that can talk sense without being bias.

Panthers truly have woeful squad it's down there with the tigers and titans and panthers have a worse coach than both those sides

We don't have a woeful squad. It's just not "top 4 on paper"

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Oh, and I forgot the Sharks as well.

 

[mxlegend99]

Could you see Michael Gordon, Clint Gutherson, Brad Takairangi, David Gower, Danny Wicks, Isaac De gois etc. Being in our top 17? Based on predicted line ups they are in the Eels. Even guys like Tim Mannah, Beau Scott, Anthony Watmough and Corey Norman wouldn't improve our squad.

Gordon, Watmough and Scott a few years back would be epic. But today they are just super experienced fringe first graders. Great for a team like the Eels who are waiting on guys to debelop in those positions. But would be a downgrade or holding back players with more potential at most clubs.

If Foran,Jennings and Radradra stay fit they could carry them to a top 8 spot alone. But they definitely have more holes in the team then the other top 8 potential sides.

 

[betcats]

I'm not convinced we have a top four squad, to many question marks over key spots atm, I think no matter who we pick in the spine if they can stay fit and healthy and in form for most of the season then we are a good chance because there is plenty of skill and points in the forwards and outside backs, it just depends if we can use them properly.

 

[GongPanther]

For me,we are a definite top 4 spot.Pending injury count during the year,and if we have most of our players on board,we'll have a season to rival the 2014 effort.

And most of the players from that 2014 squad that were with us are 2 seasons more hardened and experienced.

Going to be a great year.

 

[umina panther]

By far our strongest squad since Gus came back

 

[MrBlack]

We are definitely top 4 if we play to our potential (and get a decent run without injury)

Younger more skilful forwards than before, internationals right through the squad. Blake, Jennings, Peachy, Cartwright etc all to step up and improve on last year.

The only issue is halves, but again, if Soward plays to his potential we will be ok.

My prediction - Matagi to be our best buy this year.

Hiku, Whare, Taylor, Merrin, Mansour all current or recent internationals

DWZ, Cartwright, Moylan - soon to be rep players

 

[martielang]

IMO we clearly have a top 4 squad. I find it difficult to see how people are so quick to shut that down. I realize its all the rage to be a 'realist' on here but its without a doubt the strongest squad we've had in years and the potential is enormous.

I don't actually think the Cowboys/Broncos are that good compared to previous premiers. Neither are sides that are sure things for a top 4 spot this year IMO, unlike premiers of other years like the Roosters etc.

Our halves are probably our weakness at the moment, but if Sowie finds a bit of form and Moylan / Martin can step up, I think we're in for a very big year. I even think Wallace could do the job with the forward pack and outside backs we have.

 

[ACTPanthers]

There are plenty of 'if's' among our clear top 4 squad.... We were all pretty optimistic last season, pretty sure most of us have (well I know I have) reeled in the optimism this season to hopefully negate the depression we'll more than likely feel come close of season.

 

[Blues Riff]

Cautious optimism seems to be the consensus.
We walk the fine between positive thinking and delusion ;-)

Edit- This year, I'm satisfied that the club and players are doing everything they can to ensure success.

 

[Panther Pete]

There are plenty of 'if's' among our clear top 4 squad.... We were all pretty optimistic last season, pretty sure most of us have (well I know I have) reeled in the optimism this season to hopefully negate the depression we'll more than likely feel come close of season.

These are pretty much my thoughts. Based on the form in the last year of 3 of our spine (Segs, Sowie and Wallace) , sadly I only see us just scraping into the 8 at best. But perhaps it's just from following the Panthers for the past 40 years I have learnt that getting your hopes up in most instances leads to disappointment.

 

[franklin2323]

I don't get this. I don't think we are at all. These squads are immediately better:

Broncos
Cowboys
Warriors
Sea Eagles
Storm

maybe even

Raiders
Eels
Rabbitohs

Have you seen the Rabbitohs backline?
Sea Eagles have no 5/8 a backrow of Buhrer/Symonds/Mateo. Assuming Taupau plays lock if not Leary is part of that.
Storm have their spine that's 33 this year. The cliff is coming for them
Warriors have terrible centres and Robson in the halves
Broncos- Had a great run with injury last year. Limited depth

Eels have some average players mixed in with great players. Watmough and Scott are ageing forwards too so may be terrible this season

So there's plenty of holes in other sides rosters too... At full strength we have a backline of internationals. 3 other internationals in the pack too.

Squad isn't the issue if we have a poor season

 

[MrBlack]

Our starting backline

Moylan - toured with the kangaroos
Mansour - international
Whare - international
Hiku - international
DWZ - international (injury/suspension stopped him playing)
Soward - State of Origin
Wallace - State of Origin

Forwards
Merrin - international
Taylor - international
McKendry - international (I know: its a stretch)

Add the potential of
Segeyaro
Cartwright
Peachy

To a lesser extent but still a possibility to contribute
Blake
Jennings x 2
TMM
Matagi

Admittedly the halves are at the wrong end of their careers and form but if they get it right we are definitely top 4.

This is the best team we have had in many years.

 

[Blues Riff]

^^^ Yep, that's a great team on paper, but ...

 

[Luke Bowden]

This is pointless! Our squad is better now than it was two seasons ago when we made the top 4 and went with in a game of the Grand final. So does that not make us a top four squad? Yes, will we make the top 4? That's a different question.

When we are fit and firing, there isn't anyone we can't beat.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Our starting backline

Moylan - toured with the kangaroos
Mansour - international
Whare - international
Hiku - international
DWZ - international (injury/suspension stopped him playing)
Soward - State of Origin
Wallace - State of Origin

Forwards
Merrin - international
Taylor - international
McKendry - international (I know: its a stretch)

Add the potential of
Segeyaro
Cartwright
Peachy

To a lesser extent but still a possibility to contribute
Blake
Jennings x 2
TMM
Matagi

Admittedly the halves are at the wrong end of their careers and form but if they get it right we are definitely top 4.

This is the best team we have had in many years.

Wallace? Come on. Soward is on the decline. I don't rate Mansour very highly. DWZ has yet to prove anything yet. Our centres are the best part of our backline. Moylan is fine.

Forwards... well, we will see how they go, because they were weak as f**k last season. Merrin is an important pick up, as is Matagi. I love Peachey, Cartwright, and Segeyaro, but they are not exactly the most consistent yet, and are not really built for grinding forward battles.

And of course, the biggest wildcard: Griffin. Did f**k all with a pretty solid squad at the Broncos, and not known for the expansive type of play that would suit a lot of the players we have. I'm not sorry to see Cleary go, but I wish it wasn't for Griffin. Still - I'll be optimistic with him until proven otherwise.

I still say we are not "top 4 on paper" - doesn't mean we couldn't do it (were the Sharks top 4 on paper last season? Were we the season before?) but I think a bunch of people are in for disappointment if they don't be a bit more realistic.

 

[mxlegend99]

Not impressed by Mansour and DWZ? They would walk into just about any backline in the NRL.