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Jamie Soward produced one of his best kicking games in recent memory to lead Penrith to a hard-fought 20-16 win over the Sydney Roosters in the wet and slippery conditions at Allianz Stadium.
Panthers halfback Soward hopes coach Anthony Griffin will persevere with both Te Maire Martin and Peter Wallace when James Segeyaro returns from injury.
“Wal’s [Wallace] been controlling things at dummy half while Chicko’s [Segeyaro] been out and I like to think I’ve been controlling the kicking game so for us T’s [Martin] been able to just go out there and play some footy and enjoy himself at the moment,” Soward said.
“I know he’s been playing good and doing his job [Martin] and I’d love to have all five of us [Moylan, Martin, Soward, Wallace and Segeyaro] in the team if we’re playing well but we’ll just have to wait and see what’s best for the team.”
“That’s why Hook [coach Anthony Griffin] gets paid to make those decisions.”
Soward’s long kicking game in the first half was replaced by a brilliant short kicking game at the back-end of the second half which allowed the Panthers to finally close out a win for the first time in 2016, having previously been involved in several agonising losses.
But despite Monday night’s much-needed victory over former club Sydney Roosters, the often-maligned playmaker says there is still much for the team to improve on, especially in regards to putting the opposition away when playing from in front.
“We’ve got to continue what we’re doing by putting ourselves into positions to win games so that we can then close them out,” Soward said.
“We have put ourselves into winning positions from the first minute through to the 80th minute but it just been a matter of not been able to close them out how we wanted to.”
“[Where we sit at the moment] is probably a reflection of what we deserve at the moment and if we don’t [keep] getting better then it’s going to continue being an up and down year.”
After having a season to forget in 2015, Soward admitted that his 2016 form can be attributed to being in a much happier state off the field.
“I’ve definitely made some changes. I have a new missus and we’re very happy together,” Soward said.
“I’ve been enjoying life a bit more and I think it’s reflected in the way I’m playing my footy at the moment.”
“I’m quite comfortable with the way I’m going and yep [happy to see out next year with the Panthers].”
Soward’s love of all things sports-related, especially the Western Sydney Wanderers and NBA team the Boston Celtics, also helps keep him relaxed between games.
“It’s a good chance for me to unwind,” Soward said.
“The Wanderers have got the week off and I’ve been texting a few of the boys there to make sure they’re good to go as they play in the semi-final which is on the same day as us.”
“Hopefully they make the GF so I can try and get to the game.”
“[As for Boston], we play Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.”
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