I’ll be upfront and say it – I’m biased. The Panthers are my team. I played for their Jersey Flegg side way back in the late 1990s, and I’ve supported them since their Chocky soldiers days.
But I grow tired of all the negative talk surrounding them this season, especially since it seems to be “they had an easy draw” or “they lack a superstar, and you can’t win a grand final without a superstar”. Really?
Let’s get the draw thing out of the way. Thanks NRL, it was a good draw for us this year, but no different to any other team. The NRL and Channel Nine schedule the matches, not Panthers management.
You play who you’re told to play, when you’re told to play them. It would have been nice to have a few more family orientated games this year, but Monday nights seemed to have been our thing.
Foxtel watchers must love us. Anyone see the AFL draw this year? I live in Adelaide, so I could not miss it. Port had an easier draw than most, as did my Swannies, compared to, say, St Kilda.
So what? If people had said, before a ball was played in season 2014, that the Sharks would end with the spoon, you’d laugh, given their past two to three seasons.
What if someone told you Melbourne wouldn’t be in the top 4? Ridiculous. But here were are, eagerly awaiting week 1 of the Finals series, and that’s where they landed. Tough, get over it.
Now for the main issue, the supposed ‘lack’ of superstars. So, you’re telling me Jamie Soward isn’t a superstar, love or hate him? A NSW rep player, one of the best halves in the current game, he has contributed eight tries, a swag of try assists, in the top 10 for most stats this season, and close to topping kick metres. How is he not a star?
That’s a laugh. It’s like saying Johnathan Thurston or Cooper Cronk aren’t stars. Sowie played more consistently than either of them this season, even if, career-wise, he isn’t at their level.
How about Matt Moylan? Arguably the second or third best fullback in the game, depending on how you rate Billy Slater this season.
Certainly, Hayne was better than anyone else, but neither Brett Stewart, Anthony Milford, Benny Barba or anyone else came close to Moylan this year. If Hayne wasn’t a fullback, Moylan would have played Origin for NSW this year.
Bet your house on it, and your family, too. He might be a winger for the Blues next year, no matter how much I wish he was a Queenslander.
Speaking of Queenslanders, how’s James Segeyaro’s form? He makes Cam Smith look a bit average, really. I see a bench spot for the Maroons in his not too distant future.
He’s young, and has a longer playing future than Friend has, but I see Friend being the replacement for Cam, and in turn Segeyaro being his replacement in two to three years time.
He is in the emerging and train-on sides, so it’s not impossible. He has 10 tries, a bunch of assists, a stack of line breaks and more skill than you can poke a stick at.
Then we have Josh Mansour, unlucky to miss out on a NSW wing spot this year but a certainty for 2015, barring injury. The bloke makes metres like he is running from his ex-girlfriend, scores tries with brute strength, tackles like a machine, and hits the ball up like he plays in the second row.
This guy has it all, as far as winger is concerned. The beard helps with the ladies, too, or so I hear. How he isn’t a star is beyond me.
Finally, we have the revelation of 2014, Tyrone Peachey. That famous surname isn’t holding him back like it did young Mitchell. If there was a single standout at Penny in 2014, it’d be a tie between Sowie and Tyrone.
Save for that season-ending injury to ‘the Peach’, Penny probably could’ve beat Manly, challenged for the minor premiership, and taken it all the way to the grand final with him backing up the above players.
Metres, tries, line-breaks, try assists, offloads, this young gun makes it look like Sonny Bill Williams or Greg Inglis against the Colyton U14s. He was single-handedly dismantling teams for Penrith this season. Behind on the scoreboard? Send in Peachey. Bang, Penrith win.
Now all this has left out form players like the consistent Peter Wallace, old Brent Kite, Kiwi front rowers Sam McKendry and Lewis Brown, big hitters Nigel Plum and Adam Docker, and solid performers like David Simmons.
You’ve got Kiwi rep Dean Whare in the centres, and future superstar Dallin Watene-Zelezniack in his debut season.
So tell me, how does Penrith not have genuine star power? After that, surely you can see it?
Albo
Guest
As a Panther fan myself, I agree with much that you have said. Except for that "easy draw" myth ! 2014 has been the closest competition in my living memory with nearly every team in finals contention till the last couple of weeks of competition. So Penrith played just 9 games (won 4 / lost 5) against the eventually resolved top 8 teams. The Roosters played just 10 games against the eventually resolved top 8 teams ! So did the Roosters have an easy draw too ? At best, other teams now in the eventual top 8 had 11 or 12 games against each other , up to 3 more than Penrith ! The fact is that Penrith's supposed "dream" draw , was based on playing the eventual" also rans" early in the season when all these teams had full squads and everything to play for, not at the end of the season when they were decimated and had given up ( Titans & Tigers led for early rounds) . Penrith's run into the finals was 10 weeks of tough matches all against finals bound teams ! Hardly a favourable draw ! Especially with the teams growing injury toll ! At best their draw has been swings & roundabouts , not favourable ! As for the summation of the Panthers performance, it revolves solely around the culture that Ivan Cleary has developed around the squad. He got rid of Jennings, Lewis & Gordon ( and was backed by the Board) to put faith in a bunch of fringe players and up and comers, and these players have rewarded him all the way. They have bought into the team culture and despite a serious injury list, they have always had another fringe player champing at the bit to come in and resume things as normal ! A key aspect of the Cleary strategy has been the use of seriously committed Kiwi players who Cleary had identified from his time at the Warriors . Guys like Elijah Taylor (buy of the year till injured), Lewis Brown (metre eater), Sam McKendry ( finally at top form) and Matt Robinson ( improving each game) have formed the basis of a committed Panthers pack to join and infect enthusiasm into the likes of Nigel Plum, Adam Docker , Brent Kite ( experienced) , Sika Manu ( having his best year) and Jeremy Latimore ( also having his best year). This pack is as good a pack going around and their strength is their defensive line speed, which I think will be key to closing down the Rooster's pack on Saturday to give the Panthers a serious shot at an upset !
Crober
Guest
Segeyaro and Soward to have a blinder for them top beat the chooks!
Muzz
Guest
Did Samantha Burgess play last Thursday night?
Chris morrison
Guest
Lol. Just lol. Everyone keeps talking about this road kill Maguire. They don't even know the facts. The road kill signs in the sheds are from instances where players wipe out opposition with legal hits. Eg Sam Burgess running straight over SBW it was road kill. Souths players have done the crime and done the time. Teo 4 weeks for his, Guerra 1 weeks for his which was far worse. Double standards to say the least. No doubt politis would have ensured that.
Muzz
Guest
Understandably Robbo wasn't happy as he doesn't coach players to go out and deliberately hurt the opposition.I wish i could say the same for - Roadkill Maguire
Matt
Guest
No Nu'uausala , no Friend, no Guerra, no Napa. Not to mention Mansour was out injured last time these teams met. The chickens are foolin themselves if they think they are going to win the forward battle here.
Chris morrison
Guest
Friendy is defined by the word tough. Full credit to him and always want to see the best players playing even if he is a Rooster! Happy to see Napa get two weeks. No way did his actions deserve possibly missing a GF. Missing two finals game is hard enough punishment. Can't say the same about Guerra. 1 week was a piss weak penalty for deliberately popping out a players shoulder from its socket. Filthy on that one. Would have felt no sympathy for him missing 4 weeks+ You know you have done something terribly bad when even your own coach is embarrassed by your actions.
Muzz
Guest
Friendy is a tough bugger.Stoked to have him back but can't see him playing against the Pennies.Napa had his charge downgraded and will miss 2 games.I think it does these young bulls the world of good to sit out a few games when they get it wrong.
Chris morrison
Guest
Couldn't help myself but to have a little stab there Muzz. Good news for you fellas Friendy up and running at training.
Muzz
Guest
Couldn't help but think of GI and Souths when i read that, Chris
davey
Guest
Because star power is measured in more than just talent, and as talented as Soward and others are the general fans just don't see them as stars. The real question is this; does that even matter at the end of the day? Most coaches prefer as little attention on their squad as possible anyways. "Tough, get over it." You should take your own advice there champ. P.S. I told people before the season this year that Storm wouldn't be a top 4 squad and that Parra (after seeing them in the nines) would be a contender for the 8. Even my parra fan friends thought I was nuts. I know I'm not the only one who made these calls either. The point I'm making is that you may have not have predicted it but don't be trying to pin it on the rest of us :)
Casper
Guest
As much as they've overachieved to date, I'm with The Barry on a few points. Jamie Soward has at least got that 'stand at fullback to kick' habit out of his game compared to his Dragons days but yet to see if he can lift for finals. He'll get more traffic his way than the M1. Mansour makes dumb unforced errors, 2 disgraceful play the ball mistakes against Manly were costly in the long run. Peachey has only shown flashes of brilliance, same as last year. Moylan is a quality fullback but it takes more than 20 games to get a run in origin, Brett Stewart has struggled to get a game for a few years, Segeyaro is a quality running hooker but his passing game needs to improve before he becomes Cam Smith's understudy. The Panthers have assembled a solid squad with good young players on the up for the future, but they have had a dream run with the draw.
Brett the manly fan
Guest
Moylan would not have been the fullback for nsw...I can assure you that
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think you've written this article before Ben. Get over the draw. No one is blaming Penrith for it but they got an easy run. It probably didn't look like it when it was done but that was how it panned out. Soward is playing brilliant footy and you could argue that he is a 'star'. Hasn't been for a couple of years though and his career has very much been resurrected off the scrap heap by Ivan and Gus. There is no way Moylan would have played Origin this year if Hayne was out. Stewart and Dugan would have been picked ahead of him and probably still would be. Probably Gordon and Minichello would have been picked in front of him at the time. Peachey is immensely talented. We knew that already. For all your hype he started this season slowly (was dropped at one stage) and only strung together about four good games before getting injured. He had done that at Cronulla as well. His big challenge will be to play to the best of his ability consistently over a season or more. Segeyaro is one of the best players in the comp to watch. Mansour would be devestating for the Blues with his yardage out of dummy half but he needs to learn to play the ball properly. I would estimate that he's made more errors playing the ball than any other player in the comp. Penriths strength is that they have a bunch of 'middle of the road' players playing above their weight and playing well as a team. That's a big wrap - don't be upset because there is no so called superstar.
Ken
Guest
All of those players are high class and have been in great form which is why the Panthers are flying high this year. Not a one of them would gain a mention in a discussion of the Top 10 players in the game though and I think that's the point being made when people say they lack a superstar. Moylan and Segeyaro could be considered in that elite realm in the future though if they keep this up over a few seasons.
MAX
Guest
Penrith got Gus on the job. Foundations re - laid. The Stars are in transit, already one has landed. Gus penned an excellent piece in the SMH. He understands better than anyone, the art of recruitment for every position, on and off the field. They will make their own Superstars..
peeko
Guest
i see them as very similar to the dragons in 2010. no weaknesses and plenty of depth but without a top 10 NRL player.
The eye
Guest
Very true Ben,said exactly the same thing in the Cleary story that appeared here yesterday..today's Tele quotes Sheensy talking up Docker as a bolter for end of the year reps..wow
Chris morrison
Guest
There is a saying that goes a star team will always beat a team of star players. For Penrith fans who cares if you don't have a top line superstar. Penrith play as a team. They do not rely on one player to break through and win them the game, they rely on 17 players pushing together. Can't wait to see Docker send some Roosters feathers flying in the finals!