There is nothing to take out of that game except we won and won ugly.
The worst outcome is the loss of Nathan to injury and how bad it is.
i am fearful we are close to capitulating, we just are hanging in there.
we are awful in attack and to be honest the reliable pack is just bending the other side in offence and hurting in defence is not what it should be.
SHF touched on Luai, a guy going to get $1.25m cannot even find touch when we were presented with a Burton kick out on the full to start the second half.
and we won because they were awful but we won’t have that luxury when we run into a good side.
Not sure what it is but whatever it is we need to fix it and fix it quick.
Going back to last year, when we rotated Leota or JFH off we had Lenui come on who would bend the other mob in offence.
Henry comes on, whilst very handy he just doesn’t do it and tonight Cole gets on to replace Cleary but he ain’t no 7.
I hope Cleary is OK but fear he maybe out for sometime now, and maybe Ivan played him because we are just so bad and risked it.
Not much else to be said really except a very large thanks to the supporters who turned up tonight, 21500
Just like to add one more thing about a couple of moments in the game tonight and its to do with the Bulldogs.
When Karaz went down and “feigned” an injury to claim a hip drop on the Cleary tackle.
Not only did the grub lay down but laid down for a protracted amount of time in the hope of getting a penalty. He carried on so badly one felt he would go off on a stretcher but only for the bum once he realised he didn’t get the penalty he jumped up and ran off.
But worse was to come by a former Panther, Crichton tried to claim a penalty for pressure on the neck.
Not only was it a grub performance, it was moreso against his former team mates.
Sad to see a champion player be so low to do this.
The ref to his credit ignored the pleas but at some point refs will need to send “actors” to the bin for 10 or worse receive a lengthy suspension.
On the ref Liam Kennedy, I have to say it was one of the best adjudicated games this year. It was balanced and when he enforced something, he made sure it was consistent the whole game. I found very little to say I felt he got the call wrong. Even Kasey Badger video ref calls were spot on.
If I’m not mistaken, our top 30 roster is full - so we definitely won’t be recruiting any new players.
I can’t see Ivan moving Luai into that 7 role. He tends to avoid weakening one position to strengthen another. So I think we’re looking at Jack Cole or even Trent Toleau who’s been going well in Reggies to play 7.
We certainly need an organiser in the 7, and Luai that is not.
I don’t have faith in Cole, Laurie or Peach in the 7 either, 6 is a maybe but they just don’t show game management.
So here’s my options (some of which are left field as above;
Edwards - with Iongi at Fullback
Yeo - with Eisenhuth at lock (doesn’t have a long kicking game as far as we know, but wouldn’t surprise me if he pulled a 40/20 out of the blue lol).
Kenny - with Sommerton at hooker (as per Yeo, but we would add not loose to defence).
Toleau- a natural 7 but untested, has shown good form in cup. I think we would need an exemption to bring him in but with both Cleary and Schneider injured we should get one.
If this was just a week or two we could risk Luai , Cole etc. But with both halves being out for up to 8 weeks, I think we need to select for long term with a genuine organiser.
The other thing as the game against the dogs showed is we need a good long kicker in the halves - for me that points to Edwards or Toleau (mind you we could just modify our structure and use Edwards for long kicking from fullback (something I was yelling from the hill in the second half).
I think sticking Edwards/Yeo/Leota/whoever into half is pushing the panic button as a first response. To my mind, that’s not a sensible course of action, and it’s unnecessary.
With Schneider injured, Cole should be given the benefit of the doubt. The club has put time, effort and belief into his development. This season he started against Wigan & was mediocre - after a disrupted pre-season, in the first game of the year in freezing cold temperatures. He needs to be given time and a chance to grow into the job. That means picking him and sticking with him, unless it becomes obvious quickly that he can’t handle it.
If that’s the case, then Laurie, Peachy or applying for a top 30 exemption for Toleau is the next best option.
Our whole structure & philosophy is based on “Next Man Up.” Nothing’s changed. Our next man up knows the structures and will do the job. I don’t see any benefit in throwing a fullback/hooker/prop/lock/whatever into half when there are halves available who should be given their chance.
If we don’t have faith in Cole, Laurie, Peachy et al, why the hell are they on contract?
Based on what I’ve seen this year in particular, i can see how Edwards at 7 is a thought here.
IMO Edwards at FB is quite literally the most important person on the park. I would be so hesitant to disrupt that. Think back to games with critter at FB…
I think we will see Luai and Cole, with Laurie on the bench and Edwards and Yeo picking up more of that work as well
Thats if Toleau can’t get exemptions or worked in somehow. Our top 30 isn’t complete I don’t believe. Penrith panthers website lists two half-backs (Brad and Nathan) but only 29 players.
As much as I think Edwards would be up to the task, I don’t think it’s the best move.
As Fullback, Edwards more autonomy on when he injects himself into the game, which is important as he is often looking for the opportunity in the rear of play, and it has shown that had helped up over the line in the past few games, he has been far the best player on the field.
Moving him to Half or Five-Eighth locks him in the middle of the field and he will be needing to be going through set after set of close impact play, where I don’t feel he would warm to, as he likes to probe around and find opportunities from the rear.
Also being out of position he will become the prime target of defence, putting him at a great risk of injury (playing out of position tend to have that problem).
To be honest if I was making a 1,6,7 it would be one of the following.
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Panthers v Bulldogs
Friday 10/5 6:00pm
Bluebet Stadium
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