Maybe give Tago a “rest” in NSW Cup next week and bring Alamoti in.
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It was one of those games that I never wish to see ever again.
First 20 minutes was a real slow grind, I don’t feel like Penrith got out of second gear It wasn’t till later in the first half anything of note happened. Going in 24-0 at half time was nice, but the penalty count and missed tackles were indicating they were not respecting the competition.
The second half… what the hell was that? its like the whole game went off the rails. The penalty count saw us concede a 8-2 penalty count, a sin bin (which was the right call), I wasn’t sure we were ill-disciplined or the ref was whistle blowing the Titans home.
The boys looked real flat towards fulltime and the Titans were sniffing a win coming home with a full sail.
I saw the last play and the commentary was like Cleary is over the 40 metre line, they well have their last shot to pull out a win… and I thought… well there is nothing stopping them from going back over the 40m line… then Kenny snaps a 20 metre pass back to Cleary to slot over a 2 point field goal, it was like they read my mind.
But we shouldn’t have got to that point… we should have shut the Titans out. If you are trying to convince the competition you are a real threat, you should play like you ARE one.
It was POOR. I hope it’s a real wake up call. We are now 1 point outside the Top Four. A historic fifth premiership awaits if we can push though this… but one thing for sure…, if we are to win the premiership this year, that type of game CANNOT happen again.
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My concern is now next week, if they show the knights the same lack of respect. I have more confidence with the storm, raiders and bulldogs games, than the knights and dragons games.
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This quote reminds me of the Panthers of yester-year (15yrs? ago) where we would play to the oppositions level and lose to their experience.
I missed the game but saw the highlights. Was that 3 tries with Tago in the bin? He started the season off poorly, had a good stint but from the comments here sounds like he might be back to his poor run.
Great when he’s “on”
2 points is 2 points.
Let’s hope they learn from whatever happened at the half time break.
I would hope this weeks heart starter was enough of a wake up call.
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I feel they may need to prove a point against the Knights after their last effort(?) against them.
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The biggest fear for me is that, all of this downhill momentum happened when Yeo went off. It started early 2nd half and you could tell Yeo was carrying that shoulder. Are we that reliant defensively on 1 player?
Take the 2 - Use it as a MASSIVE wakeup call and get focused for next week, not the tough games following. We need to be on against the knights to get us back on track.
Also, probably the worst game i’ve seen from Marto, that hand is a problem. I was able to notice the lack of grab and hold, imagine what Dessy was seeing…
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To my understanding keeping Yeo of the field was precautionary to prevent any further injury.
We won’t know anything till scans are done probably today. My guess is regardless of what the scans reveal there is a likelihood they will give him a week off just to be sure.
Either Papali’i or Garner to Lock and Eisenhuth to the becnh (or even lock) would be my guess.
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On top of the back-to-the-future shocker of a second half is the brain explosion of the trainer running in front of Campbell. What the f@#k was he thinking? Our club has worked hard to develop a great attitude, having no patience with dickhead players. But our staff is developing a reputation for underhand tactics, and that undermines the whole club ethos. It allows all the Panther-haters, including journalists, to launch into us. That trainer needs to be given time off, at the very least.
As for Tago, if any of the outside backs starts to lose form, Alamoti is just waiting in the wings, and that might end up being a permanent change.
I’m not sure if, since 1967, I’ve ever been so underwhelmed with a victory. All the crap overshadowed Cleary’s last minute heroics.
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There were claims of it being deliberate, but I’m not so convinced that a trainer would do something so blatant, I ‘unbiasedly’ think it was an accident, but even so, was not a good look.
I mean there would have to be some disciplinary action I would imagine (and rightfully so). We would not have been happy if it happened while Nathan lined up a shot.
Respect to Des Hasler response, where he was baited into a question about it by a journalist in the post match. He basically said that he didn’t know the specifics and that he didn’t feel is cost them the game, adding that “He apologised”.
In hindsight, both teams at different stages of that game had the opportunity to win it. Both let it slip through their fingers, with only golden point being the difference.
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A hefty fine for the club as a serial offender I can live with although I don’t necessarily agree with it.
To impose a 5 match ban on an individual trainer for the same reason is beyond ridiculous.
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I having difficulty understanding how the Panthers are considered serial offenders. The trainer running in front of the kicker is a one off. There was the situation when a bit of water was splashed on the ball. All teams do it, but it was only an issue when Panthers did it. Hardly grounds for an accusation of serial offenders.
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I expect that if they went through every other team with a fine tooth comb, like they do with Panthers, they would find similar transgressions by their trainers. But neither the NRL or the media are interested in looking at the other clubs. They are growing impatient with the Panther’s success. If Panthers can’t be beaten by salary cap and oposition performance, the NRL will try to beat them with officiating. Unfortunately, trainergate has now given them the perfect excuse.
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In the case of the “water on the ball” incident, the Cowboys trainer was found doing the EXACT same thing.
All teams do it, we just seem to do it the least stealthy.
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I expect that the hate journalists are just looking harder at the Panthers.
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I seriously don’t get the beat up. The journalists are overcooking the criticism to be honest.
Some say it should be a penalty, against who? The trainer isn’t an active player, what would happen if it wasn’t a trainer but a streaker from the stands, what would be the protocol?
If the kick is in progress the kicker would be entitled to do the shot again if he wishes.
Thats what happened. The trainer was fined (because he should know better) and suspended for 5 weeks (a bit heavy handed to be honest).
I mean I am happy for discussion about what should be the protocol going forward. But the stuff coming out of the media, in particular NRL360 is just overhyped outrage with no solution offered.
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Been very busy with work, so a bit late posting.
As others have all said a very poor 2nd half, except for the last few minutes.
While Cleary got the kudos for the field goal, no one should forget the perfect 20 pass back from Kenny. Not to mention Dyl positioning himself as 2nd choice kicker, and even Martin raced back to get behind the kicker for a possible post re-bound.
I didn’t think Tago deserved a penalty, let alone a sin bin, however know not many here share that view.
Hopefully we learn the lessons of that near defeat.
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I may not be looking at the incident properly, but after watching the replay a few times, I am not convinced that he touched the player before the ball was touched. As far as I was aware, that is a fair tackle. Or does the player have to grab the ball and tuck it under his arm before he can be tackled?
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