[2021] R9 Panthers v Sharks - Game Day Thread

SteveTidball · May 3, 2021, 3:34am

Game Day Information


Match	Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Venue	Bluebet Stadium, Penrith NSW
Time	Friday 7th May 2021 6:00pm
Tickets	Available via Ticketek
Gates Open	Open at 4:30pm¹
Other Matches	NSW Penrith Panthers v Newtown Jets 8/5 1:00pm² JFC Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sutherland Sharks 8/5 11:00am²
Weather	Partly Cloudy 18°C (22% Chance of Rain )
Broadcast	Fox League (Channel 502) [LIVE] NRL Live Pass [LIVE] Kayo Sports [LIVE] ABC Sydney 702AM [LIVE] 2GB Sydney 873AM [LIVE] MMM Sydney 104.9FM [LIVE]
	COVIDSAFE To ensure the safety of everyone at Bluebet Stadium, all fans will be required to check in on the Service NSW app using the QR code provided or by using the COVIDSFE webform before entering the venue. Please also maintain distance from other supporters while entering and exiting the stadium.

^{¹ Due to match changes on Friday, gate opening has moved to 4:30pm}
^{² Upgraded NRL COVID-19 protocols have forced the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Fixtures to Saturday 8/5}

Telstra Premiership | Full Time


	Penrith Panthers	48	Tries Charlie Staines (3), James Fisher-Harris, Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, Matthew Eisenhuth Goals Nathan Cleary (8/8)
	Cronulla Sharks	0	Tries None. Goals None.

K.O.E NSW Cup | Full Time


	Penrith Panthers	46	Tries Thomas Jenkins (2), Adam Fearnley (2), Soni Luke, Liam Henry, Ethan Clark-Wood, Luke Sommerton Goals Niwhai Puru (7/8)
	Newtown Jets	18	Tries Edward Aiono (2), Bronson Garlick, D’Rhys Miller Goals Honeti Tuha (1/4)

Jersey Flegg Cup | Full Time


	Penrith Panthers	20	Tries Sunita Lotoaniu, Flynn Isaacs, Mavrik Geyer, Immanuel Tagalomatua Goals Connor Mason (1/2), Hayden Bonanno (1/2)
	Cronulla Sharks	20	Tries James Coyne, Isaac Longmuir, Blake Hosking, Jack Boyling, Goals Jordan Samrani (1/2), Isaac Longmuir (1/2)

Dally M Points

Pts	Player	Team
3pts	Nathan Cleary	Penrith Panthers
2pts	Kurt Capewell	Penrith Panthers
1pt	James Fisher-Harris	Penrith Panthers

^{Judge: Wendell Sailor}

Postgame Media

MATCH REPORT

PRESS CONFERENCE

HIGHLIGHTS

PHOTO GALLERY

FULL MATCH REPLAY

PANTHER PRIDE MOTM VOTING

https://bit.ly/3b6BLLN

SteveTidball · May 3, 2021, 3:34am

Teams

Telstra Premiership	Knock On Effect NSW Cup	Jersey Flegg
Panthers v Sharks	Panthers v Jets	Panthers v Sharks
Friday 7/5 2:15pm	Friday 7/5 3:45pm	Friday 7/5 6:00pm
Bluebet Stadium	Bluebet Stadium	Bluebet Stadium
TEAM
1. Dylan Edwards	1. Jake Toby	1. Sadee Sub Laban
2. Charlie Staines	2. Luke Nadurutalo	2. Flynn Isaacs
3. Stephen Crichton	3. Vito Tevaga	3. Elone Taufa
4. Matt Burton	4. Tom Jenkins	4. Immanuel Tagaloamatua
5. Brian To’o	5. Ethan Clark-Wood	5. Lachlan Blackburn
6. Jarome Luai	6. Niwhai Puru	6. Connor Mason
7. Nathan Cleary (C)	7. Soni Luke	7. Hayden Bonanno
8. Moses Leota	8. Billy Tsikrikas	8. Mavrik Geyer
9. Apisai Koroisau	9. Luke Sommerton	9. Ryley Smith
10. James Fisher-Harris	10. Alec Susino	10. Ilai Tuia
11. Viliame Kikau	11. John Faiumu	11. Sunita Lotoaniu
12. Kurt Capewell	12. Arthur Crichton	12. Zac Lipowicz
13. Isaah Yeo (C)	13. Jayden Tanner	13. Hohepa Puru
INTERCHANGE
14. Tyrone May	14. Adam Fearnley	14. Braith Alexander
18. Scott Sorensen	15. Liam Henry	15. John Sagaga
16. Matt Eisenhuth	16. Anton Iaria	16. Reece Alderton
17. Liam Martin	17. Brad Fearnley	18. Mason Teague
RESERVE
~~15. Spencer Leniu~~		19. Ash Cosgrove
19. J’Maine Hopgood
20. Robert Jennings
~~21. Mitch Kenny~~
COACH
HC Ivan Cleary	HC Peter Wallace	HC Ben Harden
AC Andrew Webster	AC Brad Drew
AC Cameron Ciraldo

Match Officials

	Telstra Premiership	K.O.E Cup NSW	NSW Jersey Flegg
Referee	Chris Butler	Jake Sutherland	Ben McMurray
Sideline Official	Jon Stone	Rickey McFarlane	Luke Saldern
	Kasey Badger	Tim Hannon	Rickey McFarlane
Video Referee	Matt Noyen	-	-

Referee Success Rate

Referee	Active Since	2021	Overall	Pen. For	Pen. Against	Ratio
Chris Butler	2014	(0/0) 100 %	(3/7) 42.86%	24	30.5	0.79

Kevin · May 4, 2021, 6:11am

Unchanged - Note the sharks has Moylan as 18th man, he always lifts against us.

Will Chambers will be a good battle with Critter…VERBALLY

Puss · May 4, 2021, 8:50am

Capewell NRL and Blacker NSW Cup, back from injury ???

Bryan · May 4, 2021, 9:56am

Pretty sure Blacker is back, Puss. Capewell, not so sure. After the game last week, I thought he was supposed to have injured a rib & be out for a couple of weeks.

Haven’t heard anything, but I doubt he’ll play. More likely Martin will start and one of the reserves will get elevated into the 17.

SouthernHillFan · May 4, 2021, 1:10pm

I reckon this could be Hopgood’s week for a call up

FaulcoPete · May 6, 2021, 8:59am

Did I see that correctly, dropping Leniu but retaining Eisenhuth? There must be aspect of league that I don’t understand.

SteveTidball · May 6, 2021, 2:51pm

Late Changes have been added to team lists.

Due to COVID-19 regulations there have been changes to the Game Day on Friday, please take note.

steamboatfarmer · May 6, 2021, 8:03pm

appears that way and unless he has an injury, its hard to understand
on the game, as with all games now we face a huge task and lots will depend on which Cronulla side turns up.
if they come for the fight we will have one and with potential rain will even the sides out a little.

If form and ability is a guide we should win but always beware a wounded opponent.

Just hope we get away with the win and sustain no injuries and or anyone on report.

Cronulla have nothing to lose and may resort to the niggle

Kevin · May 6, 2021, 10:58pm

There can only be 1 reason, the fact he is named 18th man for reggies suggests it is disciplinary…maybe he ‘Forgot’ to turn up to training, or told NC he’s a hog

OR - and here is the Kev brain (mouse on the wheel) in action, IC has put a pup in the side along with Eisenhuth as a measure, we all know Spencer has the goods for 1’s but can Sorenson take the next step…all he has to do is out perform the slug Eisenhuth and he has himself a bench spot…LOVE YA WORK IVAN

SteveTidball · May 7, 2021, 1:02am

He only is listed at #18 @Kevin is that #15 allocated in the NSW Cup side and numbering rules would state he would have to take the next available jersey (or actually any jersey as longs as it wasn’t already allocated). They also haven’t also stated where he will play, I would assume he would drop into the starting squad.

SouthernHillFan · May 7, 2021, 3:05am

I wouldn’t write too much into Spence playing reserves, I just think Cleary is starting to rotate his bench.

Still would be surprised if Hopgood plays instead of Eisenhuth or possibly even Kikau. With the high likelihood that Yeo will play SOO and certainty that Capewell will, we will need to call upon the likes of Sorensen, Hopgood and Smith to cover.

Even Martin and Leota have being spoken of for SOO, and unlike a winger who will have to cover To’o, the forwards will need all the first grade conditioning they can get.

What better time to blood the next generation than against an out of sorts Sharks team?

mrwalker · May 7, 2021, 3:52am

I read somewhere that it was to get minutes into Spencer ahead of the time he is likely to have to play more minutes when SOO commitments happen. I heard him say that he was feeling it at times, especially on a set reset.
I remember reading what Moses said about how he had to adjust to starting, as coming off the bench had meant he was coming into the game when starters were tiring, but starting meant everyone was fresh.
Now many of you will recall I was occasionally critical of coaches, selections, tactics, recruitment etc in the past. Find it had to find fault with the coach who has lost just 1 game in past 26

SteveTidball · May 7, 2021, 5:58am

I read that as well @mrwalker.

I think the plan will be rotating the bench over the next few weeks to boost match fitness leading up to origin. With the number of Panthers being mentioned in the mix for origin we could be looking at having a fair few out over that period.

I think it’s a good strategy. Even with players like Cleary, Luai, Crichton, Burton, T’oo, Yeo, Martin, Capewell potentially out, we can still put together a formidable team.

Puss · May 7, 2021, 8:46am

Half time -

Panthers 24 - 0 Cronulla.

SouthernHillFan · May 7, 2021, 8:50am

Can’t fault the performance so far.

The groundwork was certainly laid by Fish and Leota, they turned the sharks forwards into flake

SouthernHillFan · May 7, 2021, 8:54am

And I finally got a hot dog for the first time this season.

Bit disappointed in the crowd considering it was a sell out

Puss · May 7, 2021, 9:50am

Full Time:-

Panthers 48 - 0. Cronulla

Panthers were good, Cronulla were poor.

SouthernHillFan · May 7, 2021, 11:48am

I think the most impressive thing is just how complete we are as a side.

Our attack is now balanced right side and left. And we are finding tries up the middle as well.

We went back to our strength of starving a team of possession with in goal kicks.

Sharing the kicking for the last few weeks is working wonders with our last tackle options.

Leading 40-0 we muscled up in defense and kept the opposition in their 20 the entire set.

We have the best defense organising fullback in the league (yes in that element I am rating Edwards above Tedesco).

We have the best halfback, the best prop, and both our 2nd prop and 5/8 are up their too.

Are wingers are magic - different in style but similar in attitude and commitment.

Is Martin the best bench forward at the moment? Goes forward as a prop, then moves to the edge to create havoc.

Yeo is arguably the best lock too.

Then we have Kiks and Capewell, Burton and Crighton.

We have the right attitude, the right fitness, fantastic mix of skills and most of all a well balanced team.

I can’t see Momo taking Burtons spot except during origin when Burton covers for Cleary in the halves.

Kiks still a little out of sorts but you can’t fault his determination. The good thing is he draws defense for others to break the line.

Api too seems to be week or two from peak fitness.

It will be scary when they are all in form and 100%.

Not to mention the talent in reserve grade awaiting their shot.

HillsPanther · May 7, 2021, 12:21pm

Does it get any softer than the crusher tackle penalty against them? Cronulla milking it for all it was worth.