It’s been some sort of season for the Penrith Panthers, who all but locked up the minor premiership with a clunky, yet still classy win over the Brisbane Broncos on Thursday.
Let’s call a spade a spade. It was an average performance from the Panthers, but every club is entitled to a few over the course of the season.
For the Panthers, it was their first performance which could be classified as less than brilliant for three months, and even when they did dish it out off a five-day turnaround and tough day trip to Brisbane, they still won, extending the streak to 12.
It’s an incredible run of games, and while next week’s game against Parramatta will likely have to see a better effort if they are to walk out of the Western Sydney derby with two competition points, the Panthers bandwagon is a big one and unlikely to slow down anytime soon.
While it’s difficult to pinpoint any particular weakness for the men from the foot of the mountains, last night proved despite the clunkiness of their performance that they have the best halves combination in the competition.
It would have taken a bold and brave person to make that claim at the start of the season, but even not playing well, Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary combined enough, held the fort with their kicking game and created enough opportunities. They managed to take four of them, recovering from conceding the first try to win.
The try they combined for against the Broncos, a deft Cleary grubber which sat up for Luai to score – well, allegedly score – was superb, but just another chapter in a marvellous 2020 season for the Penrith kids.
While Cleary has rightly taken most of the plaudits in the media and is almost unarguably one of the top players this season, it goes without saying he wouldn’t be in the position he is in without Luai next to him.
That’s not to say the rest of the side haven’t played a role. Apisai Koroisau’s signing from Manly has brought untold success to Ivan Cleary’s team, while the continued improvement of Dylan Edwards, who clocked more than 200 metres for the fourth week in a row last night – 298 to be exact – have both been tremendous to the Panthers.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
But it’s Luai who could put his hand up for most improved player in the competition.
Filling the shoes of James Maloney, who left a club battling to make the eight, he has taken over, running the ball freely and contributing to the kicking game required.
It’s given the Panthers a lethal one-two punch in the halves which has been brushing every side who dares to stand up to them by the wayside.
Luai sits second in try assists with 14 (only behind Shaun Johnson who is miles ahead), but has also scored four of his own, while Cleary leads the competition in line engagements, kicking metres, 40/20s and has ten try assists of his own. All that, and he was suspended for a fortnight over his COVID breach during the lockdown.
Between them, they have eight tries, 24 try assists, 20 line break assists, 21 offloads and an unreal 33 forced dropouts. They have been simply the best.
It’s quite staggering what the pair have been able to bring to the Panthers throughout the 2020 season, given they came into it without a long-term combination or a great deal of expectation as to what they’d be able to provide immediately.
And while it might seem like weird timing to bring these points to light after last night’s effort, they still had the structure and intent to do what they had been doing throughout the season. The men in pink were simply let down by some clumsy ball control and lack of attention to detail.
They were also potentially slightly shocked at the way Brisbane played during the first half, which deserves plenty of credit. For a team with their season long gone, the first 40 minutes might give fans something to cling onto.
But back on the Panthers, and the results we have seen from Luai and Cleary this year are the results of the long-term plan Phil Gould put together during his tenure at the club.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The veteran rugby league figure cops plenty of his bungled timeline on the five-year plan, but he won’t get the plaudits he deserves now. When you look through this Panthers side who are (temporarily at least), five points clear on the competition ladder, the vast majority come out of the Panthers junior catchment and representative teams.
This is one for the true believers of the club, the fans who have stood by and watched the juniors develop, because led by Cleary and Luai they are here now. All NRL standard, and all making a difference under the coaching of Ivan Cleary to make a run for the premiership.
In fact, the only players who aren’t classified as Penrith juniors in last night’s 17 are James Tamou, Apisai Koroisau, Kurt Capewell and Zane Tetevano.
It’s rare in this day and age to see 13 of a matchday 17 actually originating at the club, and it’s a tick of approval to the long term vision.
Every side is allowed a bad day, and every side, even the best, are allowed to lose the odd game. The Panthers didn’t even have to lose to get what should be a wake-up call.
Don’t bet on average days becoming the new normal at Penrith. This side is far too talented for that to happen, and at the head of the charge are their special young halves pairing who have spent 2020 setting the rugby league world on fire.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Ok, lets look at what you are seriously saying. They beat the Roosters in round 1, that was literally a different competition, where there was no 6 again. That was entirely a different competition. Now when I said round 6, it was because that was when the played the Storm and credit to them, they won. Since round 6, they've played top 8 teams four times (2 of which were against the Sharks who, lets be honest, are making up the numbers). Given they have played the Storm, Roosters (pre-covid), Raiders, Rabbitohs and Eels once this season, you can't suggest they have had a difficult draw. In addition, given their light travel schedule (leaving Sydney 3 times, including a trip to the Central Coat) they have had the perfect season to set them up for success. Fair credit they've beaten the Storm, Roosters and Raiders once this season. But like I said, the games against the Roosters (pre-covid) and Storm (round 6, the round they relocated to QLD) and you aren't exactly looking at an even playing field.
Joey
Guest
Yep, let’s delete the first third of the comp to make your point against Penrith’ seem even half plausible. Let’s not forget, it wasn’t just the Raiders who were managed back into it. Storm couldn’t have had more help in their 2nd half against Penrith.
PaulC
Guest
Albo, You are being too kind to Kikau. He has taken the tackling rule book out from Tavita Pangi Jn. It means leaving your brains behind in the "Shed" & going out & hurting the opposition without thought of his technique. Pangi was hunted down & suspended on numerous occasions. The only thing that is saving Kikau is that he is playing with a Sydney Club & the Fox & 9 commentators love him & he can do no wrong. How many times was the late high hit on Dearden replayed? When the cameras were on the Broncos Shed after the game & Deardon was being examined for a Jaw injury, did the commentators who had full view say anything? The answer was no. (I was watching on Kayo which is Fox & they are taking the 9 steam). I only hope that Dearden's injury isn't serious & he can run out on the field next week.
Adam
Roar Guru
My theory to what was the Siebold defensive structure was thus: 1. Centre is to rush up and snipe the main ball player for the play. 2. If the ball moved outside the backrower was meant to fold in behind the centre to subsequently defend the centre/wing channel 3. the winger stays out for the backrower to come across. 4. The winger panics every single time, comes in and creates an overlap. EVERY SINGLE TIME
Adam
Roar Guru
I don't know as much about defensive structures in League compared to Union, but in Union centre (particularly outside centre) is the hardest point in the field to defend. There are a lot of decisions that need to be made at at probably the fastest area on the field.
Adam
Roar Guru
God that Wallabies defensive structure still hurst my head. I think it works MATHEMATICALLY but once a game is sped up to full speed it makes no sense.
Adam
Roar Guru
The best thing for the Panthers was getting rid of the powder puff that is RCG. That forward pack is full of high work rate players now
Adam
Roar Guru
YEah it was simply clumsy, no malice. But the NRL should be giving him a week, but they won't be
Adam
Roar Guru
I was happy enough with most of the decisions. The contentious try was sent upstairs as a try so really had to stand if they follow their own guidelines. But the captains challenge that was unsuccessful for the Broncos was ridiculous
Adam
Roar Guru
It's all very stale. Makes me weep a little bit the lack of halves passing to each other, or worse the lack of centres on the same side of the field at once
Muzz
Guest
Let's see how they perform when the blow torch is applied. Finals footy is a different proposition. IMO they won't make the big dance.
Harry
Guest
There was a classic bit of Anasta commentary on Fox last night: Braith gushing about how Staggs was ready for Origin and about how good his defence was because he could put a shot on. 10 minutes later the Panthers scored their first try with Staggs running around in the defensive line like a headless chook. Yeah there’s a bit more to it than just hitting blokes, Braith...
PaulC
Guest
Thanks for that comment Matt. The citing of Riki now makes a criminal out of him before he has even played a full game. Cleary should have got at least 2 weeks for milking the penalty. Mandatory suspensions for "crushers" will stop when Sydney favourite player gets charged!!
Aiden
Guest
Same thing happened to the WBs. Weird defensive structures. In attack, be creative, in defence, knock over the guy in front of you. That's it. Players don;t need to hare about all over the place, opening up gaps.
Aiden
Guest
Agree 100%. Thought he was an awful pick for Origin and largely a passenger, a play-making who had no imagination in attack. He's been incredible this year, and while Luai is a few rungs down, they do have a very consistent combination and seem to read each other well. For a half in such a hot streak, I like the way that Clearly 'allows' Luai to have the spotlight at the right time, and while he was slow to start in the season, it's impressive to see Luai take the game on when he has his chances. He attacks the line a bit more than Cleary, although Clearly will do the same more often this year, which I think has teams a bit dazzled. Who's going to kick it, is it going left or right, are they going to run or pass. There are always six things about to happen simultaneously, when other halves combinations seem to telegraph who is going to do what at precisely what stage in the game.
Nat
Roar Rookie
He's a tank that Leota. Dearden is a decent defender for his size but it's more balls than brains to get in front of him.
Tony
Roar Guru
I think that they really missed Yeo in the middle last night.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
There’s noise that Tamou is on the Tigers hit list. I say let them take him. In the middle JFH Leota Leniu Tatevano Yeo on form, ball skills and impact on the opposition are all more dangerous both sides of the ball than him.
matth
Roar Guru
I agree on Staggs. Despite being a gun attacking player with the best fend over seen since Greg Inglis, I’d be wary of taking him to rep level if I was a NSW selector. Actually, I’d encourage NSW to pick him :stoked:
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Moses Leota ran over him later, didn’t deserve it, but I could hear him squeal in pain from under Moses’ wheels.