Warriors captain Simon Mannering doesn’t believe their NRL season, which is spiralling out of control, can get much worse than Saturday night’s 62-6 thrashing at Penrith.
The 56-point victory is the biggest loss in the Warriors’ history, and the second-biggest win in Penrith’s 46-year existence.
The humiliating 10-tries-to-one thrashing left Mannering and an ashen-faced coach Matt Elliott to wonder aloud just what had gone wrong.
“It doesn’t get much worse,” a despondent Mannering said afterwards.
“Our defence was non-existent. They were scoring almost every set in the second half.”
The Warriors are now propping up the NRL ladder in equal last spot alongside the rudderless Wests Tigers, who also have just two victories in 2013.
But former Panthers coach Elliott, at the scene of his infamous tie noose manoeuvre, could find no explanation for the astonishing loss.
But he called on his players to use the pain and make it what defines their season.
“I’ve got no excuses for you,” he said.
“The opposition played outstanding footy but at a physical level we just weren’t in that contest.
“In this competition you get humiliated if that’s the case.
“… We’ve worked pretty hard over the past five weeks and there’s been some significant improvement but maybe we got a little bit enamoured by growing instead of being concerned about winning games of footy.”
Mannering lamented their schoolboy errors, which included failing to find touch from a penalty, being offside at the kickoff and a wayward pass which went through Manu Vatuvei’s hands and hit the touch judge in the face.
But more than anything, the thing that might have hurt the most would be that so much of the damage was done by former Warriors.
Nifty five-eighth Isaac John bagged a hat-trick, centre Lewis Brown grabbed a double and even little-known second-rower Matt Robinson, a Junior Warrior, crossed the line.
To be fair, there were seven individual try-scorers at the Panthers – even skipper Kevin Kingston notched his first four-pointer of the season.
Halfback Luke Walsh also slotted 11 from 11 for a personal haul of 22 points.
John had a first-half double, combining with another former Warrior Lewis Brown for his second, as the home side claimed a 26-0 lead at the break.
They didn’t ease up after halftime, crossing the tryline six more times.
Showing little sympathy to the Warriors’ sinking spirits, the ruthless crowd of 9,386 booed heartily when winger Vatuvei crossed for a consolation try in the 79th minute.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary rarely cracks a smile, but even his spirits were raised by the annihilation, which backed up last week’s upset of defending premiers Melbourne.
“Last week and this week combined, it’s a good six days for sure,” he said.
“We haven’t (produced back-to-back wins) this year, and didn’t show a lot of it last year either to be honest.
“But what do you say about that game?”
Tony
Guest
They do have feeder team, "the Vulcans" who play in the NSW Cup
pogo
Guest
Agree about Thomas Leuluai, he's a hooker if he can't start there he should be on the bench. Who would you have as captain instead of mannering? disagree about dropping Johnson, who are you going to put in as playmaker? What's wrong with Johnson is that he's the only playmaker and everyone just waits for him to do it. Why would you sign Tomkins? what we need is a five eigth.
lemo
Guest
Yea - the weather is mental and physical in NZ
oikee
Guest
Mannering should be made vice captain. Tomas should come off the bench. Manu needs to go into the forwards. I would put Shauny back to the Vulcans untill he either leaves or comes good. Any player who wants to go to union say goodbye. Dont let them use your club as a stock exchange. Bring in Charlie Gubb. Buy Sam Tomkins. Stop blaming the coach. No good coach wants to be seen at a club with a losing culture. The warriors have to do this thing on their own, they need to earn respect. amen.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Something seriously wrong at the Warriors, Even the Tigers managed to save some pride in thier second half against the Rabbits, It boggles the mind that they got worse (effort) the longer the game went on.
Worlds biggest
Guest
What's even more galling for the Warriors is it's not as if the Panthers are a point scoring juggernaut this season. They've had there moments and are no mugs having knocked off the Storm but that loss is deplorable. Elliot could be on a short reign.
expatwarrior
Guest
After that shalacking management should consider merging with the northern mystics. They might add some balls to that sham of a team. Just ridiculous
Nardzie78
Guest
Hard to stomach these kinda of thrashings, we can show some brilliant play, but week after week when was the last time that was happening. I'm a proud kiwi and love to back the warriors and I'm the first to stand up for them when there's negative banter going on amoungest peers etc but after last nights performance what can you say. Matt Elliott he is only one of many.. I agree we should never have let Ivan Cleary go, but pride, passion, heart are all things the boys ain't showing. Do I show up next Sunday? Probably.. Not sure why! #loyal#dumb
pogo
Guest
Apparently Ackland is leaving because he doesn't get on with Elliott, I say get rid of Elliot and let Ackland run the show.
pogo
Guest
Come back Ivan!
Eddie
Guest
Time will tell for Mannering being the Kiwis' skipper. Foran was more than capable with the Anzac test IMO.
oikee
Guest
Fair point, Something is not happening in NZ, weather that is mental or phsical, who knows. I would have 50 percent Australian based players in the side. Kiwis Maori and Islanders or Aussies. They should have a feeder team in Australia. ?? Send there juniors to Australia to harden up. The ground is too soft in NZ.
BDP
Guest
Shocking no pride or passion!! It's easy to say blame the coach but how many coaches can you sack before you start dropping players? Why was Mannering not laying down the law behind the posts? Steve Kearney you have made a big mistake by naming him captain of the Kiwis, hardly an inspirational captain.
Spiritfree
Guest
There's something deeply wrong in the psyche of the Warriors players and has been for a long time. Capitulating when the going gets tough, not playing to win etc etc. Elliot has brought them to the brink of great success this year. They have had so many close results, winning well but then going on to lose in the final quarter. Until this match, of course, they've played well for 60 minutes and then given in when the other team turns up the tempo. A few players heads have to roll I think. Relieving their say-nothing captain of his duties would be a start.
Spiritfree
Guest
Most of your post is good, Oikee, but "start rebuilding with Aussies"?! What are you on? That's a fecking ridiculous statement. The whole NRL is full of Kiwis, white, Maori and Islanders.
Tax but no rep
Guest
Grand Finalists 18 months ago (in RW Cup year) and now destined for the bottom it appears..although their home record will improve..seems bizarre....
Edward Kelly
Guest
Elliot has a track record as coach that is dismal. He is a better assistant coach that head coach as he has a great footy brain but doesn't seem to get players to put in when the going gets tough and they always seem to revert to playing as individuals under his coaching rather than playing as a team.
oikee
Guest
That effort got nothing to do with Elliot. Time for the broom. I would let the whole group go and start rebuilding with aussies. chop them, chop them all. No more excuses Elliot. Mannering must be the first to go. There is no excuse in the world for that performance, it happened before, time to chop.
Silvertail
Guest
To be fair there isn't a coach on the planet that could take the warriors to a GF win , there to hot to cold , they came close twice, that's as close as they will get, it's hard to understand when you look at the size of there nursery , was it the coaches fault Australia couldn't win a World Cup ?? Or did the troops fail him ? I bet there isn't one player at the warriors that puts in as hard as Elliott , he may not be everyone's pick as coach but you have to ask yourself are the players putting in as much as the coach ?? do you sack the coach or start cutting those who wouldn't make a country grade side !!!!
mark
Guest
This is bigger than the coach .. the persons responsible for not renewing Ivan as coach..when its on record he wanted to stay..should be accountable now..heads must roll up top!! To give up on a plan the club had as it was about to bear fruit has resulted in disaster!