NSWCUP Manly Sea Eagles v Penrith Panthers 18/7 3:00pm1 JFLEGG Manly Sea Eagles v Penrith Panthers 18/7 11:00am1 WNSWP Penrith Panthers v Wests Tigers 16/7 5:25pm2
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Channel 9 (Channel 90 HD / 91 SD) [LIVE] Fox League (Channel 502) [LIVE] Kayo Sports[LIVE] NRL Live Pass[LIVE] ABC Sydney 702AM [LIVE] MMM Sydney 104.9FM [LIVE]
(1) NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup to be played at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale (2) Women’s NSW Premiership to be played at Commbank Stadium, Parramatta
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has updated his squad for Thursday’s blockbuster clash against the Broncos at CommBank Stadium.
After Penrith’s commanding 26-0 victory in the season opener and Brisbane’s heartbreaking 16-14 preliminary final win last year, another thrilling chapter in one of the NRL’s fiercest rivalries is set to unfold during Women in League Round.
In a club first, the Panthers’ NSW Women’s Premiership side will play ahead of the NRL match, making it a huge day of women’s rugby league at CommBank Stadium.
Whelp, after the wondering of last game it’s Talagi returning to 5/8.
Hope I’m wrong but I feel some unease about this game. Just the combination of broncos in the media, full spine back of deck, must win game, combined with expectation of panthers win…
Just hope the boys turn up and play dominant footy.
Hmm, wasn’t feeling any better when I saw the rain.
Lost 3 from 4 now from sides outside the 8. Don’t want to sound dramatic, but we have really stumbled through the origin period, ever since belting the tigers.
We have greatly benefited from a week off in the past, but don’t have any left now. Hopefully can turn it around and build into the finals
Dylan Edwards was outstanding once again. His individual defence and ability to organise the defensive line are second to none. The effort and intensity he brings every week are the benchmark the rest of the team should strive for.
Isaiah Papali’i was an absolute workhorse all night. Although there were a few lapses in discipline, his work rate and commitment never wavered.
I felt Nathan Cleary was unusually quiet. I’m not sure he even took on the line with a single run. If we’re going to be a genuine threat heading into the finals, we need him at his best.
Glad you said something on this, as I was wondering that myself. It also felt like we didn’t have a great deal of a ball in the second half and when we did it was coming out of our own end and then making an error.
If I was to find a positive about the second half, we never really looked done and dusted. Defended reasonably well but still looked energetic and in the game.
Cleary’s kicking game was unusual - a lot of his kicks just went straight up in the air, landing on the Bronco’s 30/35…let them flip the field easy. The drop outs were also unusual, kicking them along the ground but without a lot of force. Not sure if it was wet weather strategy or if he’s not fully fit..
I thought I’d noticed over the last few games more end over end kicks that aren’t really pushing the try line. Almost like he’s being ultra conservative with them.
In previous games Nathan has been able to change the momentum with 40/20 kicks. But I can’t remember him attempting any in the recent games where they have struggled. I had been waiting in hope.
To be fair though, I’m not sure last night was the best opportunity for those. It was like the Ch9 commentators frequently talking about a 2 pt field goal everytime we got closed to halfway. I’m not sure how conducive the weather was for that!
The link between Cleary > Edwards > Alamoti/To’o is looking good though. Seems harder to shut down than the Talagi link atm. Unless it was just favourable/unfavourable field position. We’ve looked out of room on the left, but space for days on the right.
Ok so walk me through this… Panthers Captain Challenge: Brian To’o knock on.
Brian To’o drops ball and kicks (wether or not it touches the ground or not first is Irrelevant)
Paul Alamoti has a clean recovery and passes the ball backwards.
Josiah Karapani takes possession and is then driven into touch by Liam Martin and Brian To’o
Video referee says on field referee blew whistle before being put into touch.
Penrith WIN challenge but Brisbane awarded the ball.
How? How? HOW!?!?!?!?
The whistle was blown for a knock-on, a knock on that the Video Referee has decided DIDN’T happen. So why isn’t the course of action that followed valid.
This legit broke my brain … I was so pissed and confused, I didn’t even know what to say.
The commentary (both Fox and Nine) were confused… the Bronco were confused (they were already having a whinge about the result without knowing it was in THEIR favour), the Panthers were confused, the crowd was confused, most punter watching the game on TV were confused.
I try not to be hard on referees, its a bloody hard job. But heads got to roll over this.
It was obvious how the game was meant to go with the captains challenge to award the donkeys a ball strip penalty. Normally it would be player just making a tackle, no racking motion, loose carry. But the review gave the bunker the opportunity to penalise the Panthers. This made it clear what the nrl officials’ agenda was.
Just watched the replay of the last couple of minutes again:
Penrith won the challenge as Bunker agreed Brian didn’t knock on.
Broncos had the ball because Bunker adjudicated that whistle was blown before Karapani was bundled into touch. (Mutual Infringement)
Karapani was also on the ground, so arguably a Bronco’s penalty for dragging him into touch. Wasn’t a penalty as whistle was blown moments before he hit the sideline.
My personal view: If that’s a penalty, our game and surrender tackles need revision. I don’t know the answer as you don’t want blokes being literally picked up and carried metres, but if you can lay on the ground next to the sideline to avoid being bundled out, something isn’t right.
Should it have been a penalty to Panthers for a Voluntary tackle? To’o goes to grab the ball and has a hand on Karapani at one point, but when Karapani takes possession he isn’t held at all, then he drops to the ground.
I’m more annoyed at the call against big Papa for his strip at the end. It 100% bounced forward, but that’s after landing on the end of the ball. I think it goes slightly backwards out the hand, which is why To’o was blowing up initially.
Hills, was that Billy Scott? Don’t start me on that tackle. Of all the players, every game, every round, actively playing at the ball (think Cam Munster as a good example), that was literally the softest example I’ve ever seen, and the only one called a strip. It’s not far off having a shoulder hit the ball being called a strip.
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Match
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Broadcast
Kayo Sports [LIVE] 
NRL Live Pass [LIVE]
ABC Sydney 702AM [LIVE] 
Saturday 18/7 3:00pm
Promoted/Relegated | 
Positional Change
Teams and Match Officials have been updated.
… I was so pissed and confused, I didn’t even know what to say.
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