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Going into last Sunday’s game I had completely written Penrith off. Everything was against them. They had a depleted squad, they were the away team at a suburban ground and the Dragons were desperate for a win to keep in finals contention.
But the Panthers went on to win the game easily, and now I have changed my tune on how far they can go this season.
Last week I was convinced that they were just making up the numbers in the top eight. They would qualify fifth to eighth and be bundled out in the first week of the finals. After last week’s performance though, a top-four spot is theirs for the taking, which sees them sitting pretty heading into September.
Do I think they can win the comp? No, I still think it is a year or two too soon for them, especially with the injury toll they have suffered.
Losing Brent Kite, Bryce Cartwright, Tyrone Peachy, Elijah Taylor and Peter Wallace for the season is too many top line players to lift the premiership trophy. One or two more injuries and they surely won’t be able to cope.
A top-four finish and making it to the second or third week of the finals would be a great result for Phil Gould’s Penrith revolution and have them in good stead for 2015.
Despite their injuries the team that ran out in Wollongong on Sunday was strong in key positions. They have good strike weapons out wide in Josh Mansour, Jamal Idris and Dean Whare and even with Wallace out they still have plenty of creative flair with Jamie Soward pulling the strings and Matt Moylan and James Segeyaro operating as game breakers.
Where they may struggle is in the forward pack, with much of their injured stars being props or backrowers.
Penrith won the game against St George through their composure. They kept their cool, defended for each other and didn’t over push their hand. This was juxtaposed by the Dragons. They came off too desperate and looked for the scoring play almost every time they had the ball in a good position.
This was highlighted on three occasions. One was Ben Creagh kicking on the fourth tackle. He is an experienced forward who should know that his role is tucking the ball under the arm and trying to break the line.
Next was Adam Quinlan kicking early in a tackle count straight to a Penrith player, giving away the ball in excellent field position. Finally it was Quinlan again, this time throwing a massive forward pass while attempting an optimistic long ball on a kick return. These errors, it seems, have cost him his position in the first grade team.
Penrith’s cool heads impressed me, and are now leading me to believe the team has more potential than I had given them credit for. They have a tough run home in the Cowboys, Storm, Manly and Warriors but it is important to note that three of these are at home.
I could be wrong and their season fizzles out. Or they could go on to win the comp and I would be wrong again. All I know is I’ll be tipping them this weekend to bring home the points against an inform Cowboys side.
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