Why the Panthers can win the NRL premiership
Columnist
By Melanie Dinjaski, 9 Jul 2010 Melanie Dinjaski is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Matthew Elliott, NRL, Penrith Panthers, Rugby League
After a rocky start early in the season, no-one could have predicted the rise of the Penrith Panthers as genuine NRL Premiership contenders. The Dragons have been labelled as certain Premiership winners, particularly with the demise of the Melbourne Storm. But Penrith have been the quiet achievers this season.
Rising up the ladder, they now sit equal first with St George Illawarra on 26 points, 4 points clear of third and fourth place.
With the 12-8 win over the Dragons at Jubilee on Monday night, the Panthers have sent out a warning to other teams and made their claim for a spot in the 2010 NRL Grand Final.
An impressive pack of representative players include skipper Petero Civoniceva, Michael Jennings, and Michael Gordon. 2003 Premiership legends, Scott Sattler and Craig Gower may be gone, but Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse remain, and know what it takes to triumph in a Grand Final.
Youngster Lachlan Coote has also been a notable player for the Penrith Panthers.
After a 75kg Coote found himself with a string of injuries shortly after his debut in 2008, a strong off-season saw him bulk on 10kg, and now in 2010 the injuries are at bay and this star continues to shine.
Playing a pivotal role as a speedy fullback, 15 tries this season makes Coote the NRL’s leading try-scorer and a key component to the Panthers success.
With his day-job as an apprentice green-keeper at the Panthers home ground, CUA Stadium, Coote’s story alone has all the makings of Grand Final fairytale.
With Panthers players, Jennings, Waterhouse, and Gordon all picked for the Blues jumper this Origin Series, it’s remarkable that Blues selectors over-looked Coote, especially with the x-factor this kid possesses.
Penrith’s dominant performance in recent weeks, like the 40-22 thrashing of Manly Sea-Eagles, has seen the team’s confidence at an all time high, and it’s hard to see how they could falter at this point.
With few players out injured, the Panthers are playing a fully fit team each and every week. And there’s no lack of talent ready to step up should injury rule out key players. One such player is David Simmons.
The winger made his debut for the Panthers against the Dragons on Monday night. A seasoned NRL player, previously from the Cronulla Sharks, Simmons scored the winning try for the Panthers.
Though coach Matthew Elliott will not use the winger with the return of Blues representatives this week, his outstanding performance will surely be in the mind of Elliott.
Until Simmons gets another chance, he’ll be back playing for second grade club, Windsor Wolves, and no doubt remain hungry for a spot in the Panthers side, come the finals.
With a solid defence, a potent attack, a fit team, and a wealth of talent at their disposal, I’ll say it again – the Panthers, are a REAL chance at winning the 2010 NRL Premiership.
You can follow Melanie Dinjaski on Twitter @MelanieDinjaski.
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StGeorge 4 Life said | July 9th 2010 @ 9:25am | Report comment
I wish all the luck to Penrith, the way they are playing they certainly deserve it. Being a Dragons fan all my life I know all about the end of season ‘choke’ and consider this year no different, it is a painfull thing being a red-V fan.
Shazza said | July 9th 2010 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Damn right they’ll win it! Great article Mel!
Brett McKay said | July 9th 2010 @ 10:59am | Report comment
good stuff Melanie, though expect an email from Matthew Elliott soon becuase you’re spoiling his attempts to stay under the radar (which probably hasn’t been working for some time anyway, Matt, just a tip).
Plenty of good young Panthers currently; I even had Luke Walsh as a SOO3 smokey for NSW, he looks like one for the future….
M1tch said | July 9th 2010 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Kingston has been the buy of the year
Gareth said | July 9th 2010 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
I was very disappointed the Raiders didn’t make a play for him. We do have Buttriss and Waddell, but they’re both still developing their game. Have to agree with Brett as well about Luke Walsh. He’s just getter better and better and has a fantastic short kicking game that would be a big plus to a NSW side. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to attack QLD with high balls to the wings, but some little stabs towards the posts and some pokes behind the line would create some good attacking opportunities.
M1tch said | July 9th 2010 @ 9:41pm | Report comment
In hindsight, I bet they are regretting re-signing Robson over Kingston
Shazza said | July 9th 2010 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
Well he’s our now! Go the panthers!!!!!!!
Barry said | July 9th 2010 @ 3:51pm | Report comment
The panthers look the goods so far – although they haven’t played a semis series in a while – it will be interesting to see how they hold up.
Disappointing though is the prospect that this side could get broken up by salary cap constraints within a couple of seasons.
I’m not a massive wrap on Matt Elliott but he has constructed a good side with some talented locals (Coote, Jennings, Pritchard, Lewis) and some players unwanted at other clubs (Walsh, Tighe, Cooper, Purtell) plus Petero. I really rate Tim Grant and McKendry in the engine room.
There’s a lot of these guys and others who will command big bucks at renewal time so it looks like the Panthers will have to make some tough choices and break up the squad. I understand the Panthers have a few coming off contract at the end of this season. It’s a shame because it shouldn’t be what the cap is about.
Cugel said | July 10th 2010 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
More or less anyone can win it. Look at Parramatta, ordinary 2008, ordinary 2010, and an ordinary 2009 – but a purple patch for a few weeks in the latter nearly made the equation three ordinary years and a premiership.
Karlos said | July 11th 2010 @ 8:46pm | Report comment
Would you like another shot at this title? Perhaps why the Panthers cant win the GF would be better after todays performance showing they can only score from kicks.
Melanie Dinjaski said | July 14th 2010 @ 10:42am | Report comment
They wouldn’t be the first team to make it into the final by scoring from kicks. Roosters did it from 2002-2004 and it resulted in one premiership and 3 Grand Final appearances…
StGeorge 4 Life said | July 19th 2010 @ 7:29am | Report comment
I think you have jinxed them Melanie, they have gone very very cold now, no chance of winning any finals footy this year