Some would say its mission accomplished for the Penrith Panthers – that in making the top four they have all exceeded their expectations and their fans.
Some say that they should be satisfied with that for 2014.
But the mantra that has built within the squad suggests that having tasted success despite against all odds there is a sense that the job is only half done. Perhaps now is the moment to seize their chance of turning what appears to be an impossible dream a remarkable reality.
Yes the finals are a new competition, but if you bring belief and a strong will to succeed, it’s easy to see why the Panthers should not be dismissed as a premiership contender. Let’s consider the factors that suggest why Penrith will be more than just making up the numbers in this year’s finals series.
The injury crisis
Normally an injury crisis would spell doom for one’s season – just ask the Wests Tigers. But in Penrith’s case it has galvanised the team. It’s been well documented the extent of Penrith’s injury crisis which started in the Round 18 clash against the Broncos.
That was a heroic win given the season-ending pectoral injury suffered by Tyrone Peachey and an ankle injury to metre-eater Josh Mansour.
From there, an attempt by Peter Wallace to come back early back-fired as the Panthers lost their co-captain to a season-ending knee injury. The fact that Wallace played out the game despite having a torn ACL is stuff made of legends and has served to inspire his coach and teammates instead of being a source of despair.
Since then the Panthers managed to get through the remainder of the regular season despite losing the likes of Bryce Cartwright, Elijah Taylor (season), Brent Kite (Round 26), David Simmons (indefinite), Isaah Yeo (indefinite), James Segeyaro (Round 26), Kevin Kingston (indefinite), Jeremy Latimore (finals week 1), Adam Docker (finals week 2), Tim Grant (season).
Tough draw
The Panthers were accused of having a soft draw for two thirds of the season. Critics said that post Origin when it came to sorting the men from the boys, the inevitable tough draw would sort Penrith out.
However, as Parramatta proved late in the season, there are no easybeats in this competition. The Panthers deserved more credit than they were given over the closing rounds.
Depth
Ivan’s 17 named to play the Roosters includes seven players with zero finals experience, along with a further three players who have yet to taste victory in the finals. However among the seven who have yet to play finals footy are Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Will Smith, Matt Robinson and Sam Anderson, who have all played on grand final day in lower grades.
Much will fall on the likes of grand final winners Jamie Soward, Brent Kite and Sika Manu to provide leadership.
The fantastic depth at Ivan’s disposal has allowed his side to get his side into the top four. With the likes of Watene-Zelezniak, Will Smith, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Matt Robinson, Kevin Kingston, Tim Grant and Sam Anderson all stepping up from the all-conquering NSW Cup side which won the minor premiership with four weeks remaining.
Ivan still has the luxury of being able to call upon the likes of Kevin and Wes Naiqama, Luke Capewell, Tom Humble, Ryan Simpkins and Nathan Smith.
The spine
The key to Penrith’s success has been keeping the core of their spine intact throughout this difficult period. Penrith’s big three known as the SMS – Soward, Moylan and Segeyaro – have been the shining light through the closing stages of the competition.
Jamie Soward in particular is having one of the best seasons of his career and has responded even more positively to the added responsibility of leading the team since Wallace’s injury
Moylan has taken his game to an even higher level in 2014 as one of the competition’s form fullbacks, often chiming in the attack both sides of the field as the team’s second five eighth.
Segeyaro has been integral to the side’s go forward in attack since taking the role on back in Round 9. His influence in attack and workload in defence can’t be underestimated. It’s no surprise he was sorely missed in two crucial losses to Melbourne and Manly.
No expectations
In 2014, Penrith’s early success was downplayed to an easy draw and due to having no Origin representation. Their expected downfall was further strengthened by the injury crisis that engulfed the club, but unlike previous Penrith teams this side has shown tremendous spirit.
Jamal Idris
The Panthers star signing for 2014 has had quite the journey. Early expectations of instant success did not quite materialise for a player who was returning from a long term injury and personal demons. To Penrith’s credit, rather than punish Idris for a weekend binge on the Gold Coast, they supported him and gave him time.
They have been rewarded with a player who has immense respect for his employers and who wants to give them something back in return for their loyalty in his darkest hours.
His attacking abilities have gradually returned and he looms as an x-factor in the final series.
Ivan Cleary
In Ivan Cleary, Penrith has a coach who is no stranger to adversity in the finals campaign. As the most successful finals coach in Warriors history, he prepped the side to defeat some big guns.
His achievements in taking a team from 15th to fourth in just two seasons – after being prepared to rebuild from scratch – is fully deserving of the Coach of the Year honours. In fact the way in which Penrith has gone about rebuilding their club from the bottom up in order to sustain success in the long term serves as an important model for other clubs.
Phil Gould
All of Penrith’s success in 2014 would not have been possible without Phil Gould. Like him or loathe him, he is one of the smartest footy minds in the business.
He got Penrith set into a rebuilding phase and they have never looked better. His experience at finals footy time is an additional bonus for Ivan and his players to draw upon. Don’t underestimate the guidance he will provide to Ivan Cleary behind the scenes.
As you can see there is plenty to like about the chances of the Penrith Panthers. Continue to write off the Panthers at your peril.
Stewart Moses
Guest
Well well the score infact was 19-18 which way ? deal with it !
Albo
Guest
I am sorry ? My daft posts ? Where did the finishing positions of seasons 2013 & 2012 come into your initial post that I was responding to, about the Panthers supposed "easy draw" for 2014 ? You based your summary of evidence solely on how many of the eventual 2014 top 8 teams they played as compared to Canterbury and others ??? So Penrith played 9 times , the Roosters played 10 times, & the Dogs played 13 times, teams from the eventual top 8 of 2014.So the Roosters too must have had nearly as easy a draw as Penrith, that's why the got the minor premiership ? In my opinion, the draw had very little to do with the finishing positions of the top 8 to10 teams. Form, Injuries, rep duties, and refereeing decisions had far more impact ! But for the odd refereeing blunder or injury toll, a number of teams might have switched in or out of the top 8 ( eg Warriors, Eels, missing out on for & against ) , making your eventual top 8 teams and therefore the games the Panthers played against them, completely different and your Panthers "easy draw" argument, still irrelevant. So who would you prefer your Bulldogs to play this week ? The Cowboys who finished 5th and just beat Cronulla in the final round, or Manly who finished 2nd ? Surely, you would go for the 5th placed team ( Cowboys) rather than a mighty top 4 team (Manly) ? I know who I would like my Panthers to play in two weeks ! Give me the 2nd placed Manly, over the 8th placed Bulldogs who we have already beaten twice this year ! Bugger the draw & the 8 finishing positions ! There is much more to it than that !
yewonk
Guest
Bhahahahahahaha
Tricky Ricky
Guest
Gould is a mastermind to sign Soward who has had a stellar season at the Panthers. Price has gone from the Dragons. Doust and Albert Young should also fall on their swords and depart the Club. Maybe Gould could go in and sort the Dragons out too.
Jay C
Roar Guru
The NRL does this every year. Why is everyone getting excited about it now? You would find that it happens with most teams every now and again. Probably because the NRL expected the Panthers to be easy beats who wouldn't draw much of a crowd. The same teams seem to play each other more often every year. For instance, I can't recall a year in which Cow v Broncos didn't happen at least twice. Given the Broncos propensity for finals (not including recent years, obviously) This has affected the Cows chances, etc. I thought the same thing about the Panthers season too, but they seem to be beating teams I don't expect them too, regularly. Don't bet for a secong that Phil Gould hasn't completely orchestrated the media's obsession with calling them battlers etc.
Clark
Guest
And Penrith beat the Bulldogs both times this season. The Panthers are in from where as the Bulldogs have just been downright pathetic
The Barry
Guest
Why don't you think about things before you write daft posts. Roosters, rabbits, storm and manly were top 4 in 2013. Rabbits, storm and manly were top 4 in 2012. It's not based on this years table. Panthers played the top 4 teams from 2013 once each in 2014. That is absolutely ridiculous seeding for the following years draw. How do you not understand that? The easy draw was not penriths fault but they certainly benefited from it. It's definitely not a myth.
RT
Guest
I think the panthers form coming into the finals is not as good as you might think. They almost beat manly at home but manlys subsequent performance v cowboys and bunnies show where they are. The gave the cowboys a fair shellacking but just have a look at what the roosters did to the warriors at home and you get a good indication of the real value of the panthers win. Roosters will miss friend and lestrange and guerra and the rest but they just look too strong across the park for mine. I think it will be closer than people think but I'm thinking roosters by 7. Roosters need the week off as well and I think they will play like it.
RT
Guest
I think the panthers form coming into the finals is not as good as you might think. They almost beat manly at home but manlys subsequent performance v cowboys and bunnies show where they are. The gave the cowboys a fair shellacking but just have a look at what the roosters did to the warriors at home and you get a good indication of the real value of the panthers win. Roosters will miss friend and lestrange and guerra and the rest but they just look too strong across the park for mine. I think it will be closer than people think but I'm thinking roosters by 7. Roosters need the week off as well and I think they will play like it.
Albo
Guest
The Panthers "easy draw" bleat is a ridiculous myth ! You can only fashion evidence for your claim after the season proper has ended ! And you take nothing into account except the final finishing positions of the teams following one of the closest NRL competitions we have ever seen, where most teams were alive till the final couple of weeks. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day ! That's why our tipping record has been so poor this year ! Like Penrith losing its "easy" two games to the eventual wooden spooners Cronulla during the year ! Wow ! that was favourable ! But then again a very depleted Sharks also beat the Broncos & the Roosters away from home , so maybe they weren't that easy ? You use the comparison with the Bulldogs having played 13 times against eventual top 8 sides ( including two losses to Penrith) and yet you claim Penrith's success is flattererd by an "easy draw" ! So are they unworthy of their finals position or should we really knock that Bulldogs stat back to 11 games against "real" top 8 sides ? The fact of the draw is that early in the season all teams are alive with full rosters and everything to play for ! There was nothing between the teams week in and week out. That's why we saw the Titans & Tigers leading the comp for the first quarter of it ! And Penrith have been always thereabouts too. So whilst Penrith might have played twice some teams that eventually finished down the bottom of the table, they played them when they were competitive early on. On the other hand, Penrith's last 10 matches have been all against teams vying for and mostly ending up in the final 8 ! Hardly a dream draw at the end of a tough , injury ravished season ! So the draw for every team is pretty much "swings and roundabouts" and there are many more factors that go to influence the outcome of a teams season. Mostly its injuries and dodgy refereeing throughout the year. NOT THE DRAW ! And Penrith copped a lot of injuries and dodgy referreeing decisions. Hopefully those two aspects will not come into play in tonight's game and we see a great contest between two "worthy" teams !
The Barry
Guest
Are you serious? The storm, roosters, manly and souths were top 4 last year. You didn't have to be Einstein to have them fighting out the top 4 again. What sort of seeding is it that one team plays the previous seasons top 4 teams 4 times and one team plays them 8 times? Explain to me how that's fair or couldn't have been predicted. 3 of those teams were also top 4 in 2012 and two of them top 4 in 2011. The draw was inequitable and shows a complete lack of any sort of foresight. It's not the panthers fault but you can't deny facts.
Luke M
Guest
I've heard all this before. Are you saying the NRL knew the final make up of the 2014 ladder when they made the draw at the beginning of the season?
Mouz
Guest
yeah and the panthers beat the dogs both times this year
The Barry
Guest
Heard it all before. Great season from the panthers but I expect roosters 13+ tonight with a score line of something like 20-2. The easy draw is a reality. Deal with it. Panthers played the other 7 top 8 teams only 9 times. The bulldogs played the other 7 top 8 teams 13 times. Panthers played top 4 teams three times (although they were one of the top 4) if you include the 5th place cowboys they played the top 4 excluding themselves only 4 times. The dogs played the top 4 sides 8 times. Panthers played the bottom 3 teams six times. The bulldogs played the bottom 3 teams only 3 times. That's completely inequitable. People say the panthers had an east draw without realising exactly how big an advantage it afforded them. The bottom 3 teams weren't exactly a surprise.