The Penrith Panthers have kept their season alive, booking a semi-final date with the Cronulla Sharks next week with a victory over the New Zealand Warriors at Homebush on Saturday. Here are my talking points from the match.
James Maloney stands up in a big way
If there is a more important player to the Panthers than James Maloney, I’d like to hear about him.
Sure, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak played well, Josh Mansour gets their sets off too good starts and Nathan Cleary is strong in the halves. Sure, Maloney is nothing without a forward pack rolling up the middle, but the way he was able to control his side, laying on plays and picking the right options to ensure they would come from behind to beat the Warriors was fantastic.
Maloney is one of those players who just seem to rise for big matches, and his previous finals experiences and record speaks for itself in that regard.
If the Panthers are to go any further in these finals, then the kicking game, the experience, the control, and the expertise of Maloney will be absolutely pivotal.
When it comes to finals, there are few other players you’d take over him.
James gave the Warriors a big old Maloney sandwich (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)
When do the excuses for Shaun Johnson end?
Shaun Johnson is one of the most naturally gifted and talented football players we have ever seen. He shot to fame when he took the Warriors to the grand final in 2011, but since a leg injury a few years ago, he has been all over the place.
You see glimpses of it every now and then. Heck, we saw two months of what could be described as close to his best footy at the start of the year, but it’s fallen away and given in to the usual trend which has developed itself across his career.
Instead of being the best player in the competition – or even the best player in his side – he has only a good game every now and again and comes up with poor options and bad plays far too often.
For a man with his heads up vision, pace, acceleration and footwork, playing so many bad games each year shouldn’t be acceptable.
Yet, Johnson seems to somehow escape a lot of the criticism from the press. Last night, there were rocks and diamonds, but far too many rocks for the amount of good plays he produced.
In fact, after the first 15 minutes, there was virtually nothing to write home about for Johnson and his Warriors.
How many more bad seasons can he have before his position at the Warriors starts to get questioned is the next questions? Surely not many.
No other club would stand for mediocrity year after year after year. He has so many talented players around him, and while you can’t pin all of the blame on Johnson, he doesn’t meet his potential and that should be a big worry.
Viliame Kikau can be the x-factor for Penrith
Viliame Kikau has had a superb season at the foot of the mountains. He has become one of the most damaging ball runners in the competition and knows how to put the big hits on in defence as well.
That was on display last night as he terrorised the Warriors down the left edge at times, finishing up with just 121 metres from 11 carries to go with a couple of offloads and plenty of danger on his runs.
Kikau is quite simply a serious threat to any opposition, and that’s illustrated in the fact he has 75 tackle busts and 40 offloads for the season.
Coming up against the Sharks next week, particularly if Wade Graham is out, running off Maloney, the big second rower could have an absolute field day.
Why do the Panthers still have problems starting games?
It happened again last night. The one sour spot on an otherwise perfect night for Penrith was the way they started the game, struggling to get into things early on.
In the blink of an eye, the Warriors had shot out to a 12-2 lead, only a penalty goal getting the Panthers on the board in the first five minutes.
Even taking that penalty goal showed a sign of negativity – that they were simply happy to score some points early in the game for a change, rather than play from behind.
Regardless, their defence was shredded twice in the next 15 minutes as they played from behind anyway.
Against a brittle Warriors defence, it didn’t take them long to catch up and hit the front, but against a team like the Sharks next week, it’s not going to be so easy.
Start like they did at Homebush yesterday and they are going to be out the back door of the finals quicker than you can click your fingers, because the Sharks aren’t going to open up like the Red Sea and allow them back into the game.
The Sharks are a better defensive outfit than that, and the Panthers know it heading into the game. They can’t afford to play from behind.
End of.
So much promise, so little delivery for the Warriors
While I constantly bemoan about the Dragons and their awful performances during the second half of the season, I’m not quite sure I could handle being a Warriors supporter.
The Panthers (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)
This is a team who somehow, year after year, manage to play so far below their potential it’s not funny.
And this year would have been worse. For the first two months of the season, they looked like they could have been a premiership force. A team who could run a muck in September and create problems for the top teams in the competition.
Obviously, that hasn’t happened at all.
They have stumbled, bumbled and fumbled their way through the second half of the season and in a lot of ways, it’s fitting that they squandered an early lead to be bombed out of the finals at Homebush last night.
It’s embarrassing frankly. This club should be better than they are, and now, just when they thought they had the answers, it’s back to the drawing board to see if they can finally live up to their potential in 2019.
After another season being burned by them, the majority won’t be expecting much.
Roarers, what did you make of the game? Drop a comment below and let us know.
Knight Vision
Guest
Shaun Johnson is a 5/8 not a halfback. So as they shift him to 5/8 and take the responsibility of steering the side around he will boom
simon furman
Guest
Despite the panthers thrashing us 36-4 earlier on this year, I think that the only reason that the Warriors lost that game was because Roger Tuivasa-shek got injured. .
Sylvester
Guest
Agree with Stu. The Warriors got dominated in the forwards (as they have against good teams many times this season). They're two line-bending players away from being a top 4 side. SJ was on a hiding to nothing with the ball he was getting. I will say there were a few of sets he could have stepped up on but didn't, particularly that final set before HT (one of their worst of the game).
Kiwijack
Guest
Your right Johnson & Green both went missing in the second half , the forwards did get very tired. The player who contributed most to the Warriors being on the back foot was Kata, shocking discipline, he either doesn’t care or think she knows better. Penalties twice in the play the ball. Put them under a lot of pressure, not a first grade player. Losing RTS was a definite turning point. Warriors need a couple of savage forwards and a Dean Whare type defensive centre to replace Kate. L
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, it's frustrating. I love watching Johnson play. If he was consistent, he has the potential to be the best player in the competition.
Scott Pryde
Expert
It's not that I don't think they can come from behind against top 4 teams - they have been doing it all year. It's that this is the finals. They can't afford to keep doing it or they will get caught out. The Sharks aren't going to give them the same opportunities the Warriors gave them last night. Fall behind by 12 and it'll be curtains.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I would never repeat Blocker. Anyway, we agree on Maloney. Maybe a little harsh on Johnson, but I see him get so many positive wraps and given his consistency, can't work out why. I don't think I've been that harsh on the Warriors all year. At times, yeah, but they deserve it. Sure though, I agree with you. They can take a lot out of this year, but again, can they string enough together? The reason people are harsh on the Warriors is because, with RTS, Johnson, Luke, Mannering (won't be there next year), Harris, Passi, Fusitu'a, Maumalo, Kata... This is a side who should be winning the premiership or going very close.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, Maloney is the X-Factor, wildcard-type player isn't he. Could bring a performance capable of knocking anyone out on his day.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, actually, you're deadset right about that. Still, monster battle for Lewis.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Think you're harsh on the Warriors. 15-9 season is a massive improvement on last year. This year was about instilling belief - they now know they are good enough, and can see the value of hard work. If they don't make the 8 next year without significant injury excuses, then you can slam them. Unsure how Wade Graham's absence will affect Kikau's performance next week - they both play left side, so wouldn't oppose each other anyway. Luke Lewis will be marking him next week.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I didn’t think this match was finals quality... even without Wade Graham the Sharks should be too powerful for the panthers but you never know in finals footy.... specially when a side contains Maloney.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I agree with a lot of that Stu. The Warriors lost the battle up front and being a half is not much fun in that circumstance. Just ask JT. The Warriors were great to watch this year. One of my favs when they fire. The only issue I have with them is the lack of fight they sometimes show when things don’t go their way. Having said that they were a lot better this year. I reckon the warriors need a Finucane or a Josh Jackson type. Somone who is a workaholic , lead by example player. Anyway best of luck for next year . As you said all considered this year was a success anyway.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
No Maloney, no Panthers. He's the only reason they have a serious chance of beating Cronulla next week. The whole team need to feed off his experience and composure. Johnson went missing in the second half. I remember seeing him do something in the 60th minute and had completely forgot he was playing. His running game terrorised Penrith a fortnight ago and went absolutely missing. Green made it no easier for him. Although I do agree with Stu - the Warriors' forwards did him no favours at all - they were struggling for any metres and relied a lot on their outside backs. Kikau has always been Penrith's x-factor. His offloads can come off sometimes but he can be like Bryce Cartwright when he doesn't execute them. Still would rather he throws them as otherwise we don't have a whole lot in attack. Anyway, I've been very impressed recently with Mansour and think he could be their other x-factor, as could DWZ.
Nat
Roar Guru
Agree with your comments about Johnson, not sure he was evened mentioned in the 2nd half. Losing RTS was massive for them for 2 reasons, 1) obviously he is brilliant in attack and very much better in D this year. 2) Hiku has been very good in right center. His late offload set up their 1st try. Moving him to FB and Beale in center, Beale had no chance on Kikau. Kata doesn't know how to defend, it's either a big hit or nothing. On the whole the Warriors were terrible highlighted by Mannering running with back turned in defence and DWZ running straight past him. Jimmy though, started off very poorly with penalties and missed tackles but after that kicked the 40/20 and went on with it. Against the Sharks without Graham, half a chance only.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Due to the lack of good 5/8's running about Blake Green has had a lot more attention than his ability warrants I believe. I wasn't disappointed when he left Manly because I never thought he would be our 5/8 when we next challenged for a title even though he might have steadied the ship this year. Apparently he has been good for the Warriors as a club as a whole and appears to have been a good signing overall.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Good point on the Warriors kicking game ! The Panthers limited their field position especially in that 2nd half. In terms of the Warriors, I think they had a pretty good season and they have the platform to build to even better next season. I think they still need a dominant player in the halves to run the show. Neither Johnson or Green offer that with any consistency. Also they need a couple more dominant forwards. I'm a fan of Isaiah Papalii and Jazz Tevaga, and I trust they will continue to improve to become regulars, but I think they need a couple of beasts in the front row to give them some real grunt.
Stu
Guest
Fisher Harris and Kikau got them rolling all night. They were so good. Unfortunately the warriors never really got into position the bomb to the wings, most kicks were from 40m to 50m out.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I always felt the Panthers would be too strong for the Warriors if they could just eliminate their awful error count of recent weeks, and handle the Warriors bombs to the flanks where they had those dominant towers in Fusitua & Maumalo over the Panthers pair of Mansour & Crichton. Well the Panthers eliminated their errors (34 / 39 completions) , their Origin halves got their kicking game right to control possession( 4 line drop outs), and the Warriors inexplicably failed to bomb the wings all night ! For mine Kikau, Fisher-Harris, Katoa, and DWZ had big games though the halves will likely get all the plaudits. And for the Warriors their pack toiled away but were generally out muscled with Luke, Tevaga & Harris the pick. The contrast between the sets of halves was stark, but a lot of that was to do with the dominance of the Panther forwards . Whether the Panthers can repeat the control next week against the Sharks remains to be seen, but their confidence should remain high.
Stu
Guest
God this new format is a punish
Stu
Guest
Scott, you should spend more time watching the game than blogging the game - you then may have legitimate insights rather than repeating the thoughts of Blocker. Panthers last night were fantastic, the control Maloney showed was an example to all halves in the NRL. He was head and shoulders above anyone on the ground. As for Johnson, I'm not sure if you read or listen to anything outside of the Roar but he has been blamed for every loss since 2011, hell the Big League Wrap ripped into his game managment during a loss he wasn't involved in earlier in the year. He played well during the first 40 - was involved in all of our points and kicked us out of trouble on numerous occassions. He had no impact in the 2nd along with the other 15 players. The forwards were totally dominated so were rarely out of their own half. No half will win a game with 30% possession and especially when that posession is entirely in their own half. I was extremely disappointed in Blake Green - he had no involvement what so ever. Kikau ran at Johnson and Harris all night which blunted their performance so Green should have been fresh to take control but he never did. You're being overly harsh on the warriors (you have been all year) they were tipped for the spoon by all experts and have managed to come away 2 points from top with the greatest away record in their history. Don't forget the hard the hardest draw playing the eventual top 8 13 times and not getting the chance to play Sea Eagles, Bulldogs and Eels at home. A home final would have made a massive difference. There are a lot of positives to take away from this year and they will be the better for the experience.