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You're joking Willie
By Dean Ritchie
September 23, 2003
PENRITH's Scott Sattler last night echoed the sentiments of Panthers supporters everywhere when he described as "comical" claims from Willie Mason that the premiership winner would come from Saturday night's Bulldogs-Roosters blockbuster.
fter the Bulldogs had crushed Melbourne 30-0 on Sunday, Mason said: "I think whoever wins [the Bulldogs-Roosters match] will go on to win the competition."
The comment caused a stir among Penrith and New Zealand Warriors players - who meet in the second preliminary final at Telstra Stadium on Sunday.
And it has fired up supporters from both clubs who have watched the Panthers and Warriors power into the finals.
"It's more comical [than anything else]. If he says these things to motivate himself then so be it," Sattler said.
"We'll sit back and let him believe what he wants to believe."
Panthers coach John Lang remains unconcerned that many people, like Mason, believe the premiership could be decided on Saturday night. "I used to worry about comments like this but not any more," Lang said. The Bulldogs-Roosters match has all the ingredients for a highly charged final.
But Bulldogs players Steve Price, Mark O'Meley and Travis Norton last night told of the instructions from coach Steve Folkes to keep their emotions in check.
Last season's salary cap scandal, which led to the Bulldogs being rubbed out of the competition, has only added to the Bulldogs' passion for a premiership, won last season by the Roosters.
Price admitted his side became "too excited" in their first finals match against the Warriors and they cannot allow a repeat against the Roosters, fresh from a week off.
"This has been the basis of our conversations since the Warriors game," Price said. "This game will be for a grand final spot but we can't get too excited.
"We can't be worrying about the players that won't be here next year or what happened last year," Price said. "We just have to get out there and enjoy playing the footy we do together. I think we learned a lesson from the Warriors game. We got too excited and we can't do that against the Roosters.
"Against the Warriors we wanted to win but forgot about what we had to do to win.
"I thought we had composure and patience against the Storm [last Sunday] and we'll need our heads on against the Roosters."
The Bulldogs captain said the long-term rivalry between the Bulldogs and Roosters would only add to the game's appeal.
"They are the 2002 premiers and there is a lot of history between the two clubs," Price said. "The Bulldogs and the Roosters always produce big games and there is always rivalry."
O'Meley said his side must remain composed in what will be a frenetic atmosphere.
"We can't worry about last year, just this week," he said.
Norton said he was convinced the Bulldogs players were over last year's disappointments.
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I really hope he is joking. We don't need our team going into the grand final (presuming we beat the roosters) thinking that they have already won. Their'll be 17 blokes on the other team who want to win just as much.
By Dean Ritchie
September 23, 2003
PENRITH's Scott Sattler last night echoed the sentiments of Panthers supporters everywhere when he described as "comical" claims from Willie Mason that the premiership winner would come from Saturday night's Bulldogs-Roosters blockbuster.
fter the Bulldogs had crushed Melbourne 30-0 on Sunday, Mason said: "I think whoever wins [the Bulldogs-Roosters match] will go on to win the competition."
The comment caused a stir among Penrith and New Zealand Warriors players - who meet in the second preliminary final at Telstra Stadium on Sunday.
And it has fired up supporters from both clubs who have watched the Panthers and Warriors power into the finals.
"It's more comical [than anything else]. If he says these things to motivate himself then so be it," Sattler said.
"We'll sit back and let him believe what he wants to believe."
Panthers coach John Lang remains unconcerned that many people, like Mason, believe the premiership could be decided on Saturday night. "I used to worry about comments like this but not any more," Lang said. The Bulldogs-Roosters match has all the ingredients for a highly charged final.
But Bulldogs players Steve Price, Mark O'Meley and Travis Norton last night told of the instructions from coach Steve Folkes to keep their emotions in check.
Last season's salary cap scandal, which led to the Bulldogs being rubbed out of the competition, has only added to the Bulldogs' passion for a premiership, won last season by the Roosters.
Price admitted his side became "too excited" in their first finals match against the Warriors and they cannot allow a repeat against the Roosters, fresh from a week off.
"This has been the basis of our conversations since the Warriors game," Price said. "This game will be for a grand final spot but we can't get too excited.
"We can't be worrying about the players that won't be here next year or what happened last year," Price said. "We just have to get out there and enjoy playing the footy we do together. I think we learned a lesson from the Warriors game. We got too excited and we can't do that against the Roosters.
"Against the Warriors we wanted to win but forgot about what we had to do to win.
"I thought we had composure and patience against the Storm [last Sunday] and we'll need our heads on against the Roosters."
The Bulldogs captain said the long-term rivalry between the Bulldogs and Roosters would only add to the game's appeal.
"They are the 2002 premiers and there is a lot of history between the two clubs," Price said. "The Bulldogs and the Roosters always produce big games and there is always rivalry."
O'Meley said his side must remain composed in what will be a frenetic atmosphere.
"We can't worry about last year, just this week," he said.
Norton said he was convinced the Bulldogs players were over last year's disappointments.
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I really hope he is joking. We don't need our team going into the grand final (presuming we beat the roosters) thinking that they have already won. Their'll be 17 blokes on the other team who want to win just as much.
