The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Matt Moylan is the four points Panthers have missed

Matt Moylan has led the Panthers on a five game winning run going into the finals (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay)
Roar Guru
27th March, 2016
4

The Panthers have gone to a 1-3 record after going down to the Dragons by just two points in Wollongong yesterday.

It was another close loss for the chocolate soldiers, capping off a disappointing first month of a football. They had a set to win it in Canberra in Round 1, a kick after the siren that felled them against the Dogs and now a missed conversion by Soward ultimately the difference against the Dragons.

Their average losing margin out of those three games is just four points. The win that they did jag was against the Broncos, one that they were fortunate to get away with after Soward missed two goals for the lead.

The Panthers can’t get Matt Moylan back soon enough. Anthony Griffin has stated that Moylan is all but a certainty to return next week from a back injury that has kept him out of the season to date.

Moylan is the key to the Panthers’ attack. It will take a few games for him to find his groove after months out, but last year he has a try assist and line-break assist per game as well as a couple of tries. That in itself is the difference for Panthers in games to date, that extra try or opportunity that gives them the go ahead try.

While Soward has kicked duly at times, his confidence under pressure isn’t quite their and maybe if he had Moylan to take conversions under pressure he would be using him, he has had the clutch plays in the past in the form of goals and field goals and as skipper may want that responsibility too.

The Panthers will take away from a first month of football their potential. They have Moylan, James Segeyaro and Dean Whare to come back and those players can give them both steel in defence and a dimension in attack. They have been very close in each game without two members of their spine and a rep centre for three matches.

It has been disappointing to see the Panthers get the one win to start the season. But get Moylan back and get some confidence and other sides should underestimate them at their peril.

Advertisement
close