Wayne Bennett reckons he’s studied Penrith less than any team this season, but the South Sydney coach has a week to study up before the preliminary final.
They’ve been the hottest ticket in town but Bennett has barely taken in a moment of Penrith’s record-breaking run this year.
And now the South Sydney master coach has seven days to study up ahead of the biggest game of the Rabbitohs’ season in next Saturday night’s preliminary final.
Penrith and Souths have not faced off since Round 7, when Nathan Cleary put aside a skin infection in his face to lead the Panthers to a 20-12 win.
That win was just Penrith’s second in their streak of 16, while the Rabbitohs have lost just four of 15 since ahead of the grand final qualifier at ANZ Stadium.
Souths will also enter as arguably the competition’s most dangerous side, with their 38-24 semi-final win over Parramatta on Saturday night making it 144 points scored in just three weeks.
“To be honest, they (Penrith) are the team I’ve watched least all season,” Bennett said.
“We played them early in the season at (Kogarah) and haven’t come across them again.
“I’ll be honest, we’ve hardly looked at them.
“A lot of times, you play a team when you’re going through the rounds and you see other teams they are playing.
“We just never seem to have been playing teams (after them).”
What Bennett will see when he pores over footage of Penrith is a team that has gone to another level since June.
The battle of the halves will be enticing, with Adam Reynolds the ultimate controller and Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary and Cody Walker all in the form of their career.
Damien Cook and Api Koroisau are the best two running hookers in the competition, both benefiting supremely from the NRL’s new six-again rule.
Both packs are also punching well above their weight, while each side has young stars in the backline.
But while Penrith have improved, Bennett has no doubt his side has too with the Rabbitohs clearly playing at their best at the right time of the year.
“We’ve been getting better,” he said.
“The round-seven team aren’t the major semi-final team you’ve just seen here tonight.
“I think we played about 70 per cent of our ability tonight. I thought we were better last week (in the win over Newcastle).
“We’ve got to find a bit more, and we’ve got the opportunity to do that.”
steveng
Roar Rookie
We are not Andy but, all us Bunnie fans are getting sick of all these predictions and wraps on the Panthers that they are unbeatable and will put 30 on us etc. It will be a hard game for the Bunnies and I hope that when we beat them its not our GF lol
steveng
Roar Rookie
True BM, with the Panthers its not only Cleary but add that Luai and they are gone, the last game against the Chooks they let these two kick whenever they wanted, even 10m out. The Panthers kicking game has to be stopped.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Phil, when Cleary didn't play in Rounds 3 & 4 (his Tik Tok misadventure), Panthers drew against the Knights 14-14, beat a hapless Warriors (who at that stage were looking like wooden spooners), and in his first game back for the Panthers (Round 5 v Parra) they lost. So not convincing when Cleary is out or not on his game (which I admit this year has been rare). As I said keep Tedesco / Keary quiet and there is a good chance Souths would win against the Chooks (60 points to 8); keep Pearce/Ponga and there is a good chance Souths would win against the Knights (46 points to 20); keep Gutherson quiet and there is a good chance Souths will win, they did in the 2nd half (2 Half Souths 30 points to 6). Keep Cleary quiet (plus missing Kikau) and the Bunnies may well just get the chocolates.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I’m sure Bennett has it all worked out irrespective of what he said post game on Saturday :laughing: the only thing is to execute and annul the Panthers, that is the biggest job!
Andy_p
Roar Rookie
Panthers we're not at their best and when rabbits played chooks, chooks tanked and it backfired, and knights were not exactly elite competition. Wouldn't be getting carried away if i was rabbits fan...
Andy_p
Roar Rookie
Sssssh mate, don't let that out...
Andy_p
Roar Rookie
Gee i wonder if it will occur to coach Cleary to nullify souths halves...
Phil
Roar Rookie
Geez Big Mig, that's a big statement saying Luai and co are rudderless without Cleary. I've seen Luai take control of plays on the opposite side to Cleary and get results. If Souths aim their barrels at Cleary it could be at their peril. Penrith is more than a one trick pony type of team, as their position on the points table shows.
Rob
Guest
Don't like the Bunnies at all but have a feeling they will get the Panthers this week. Think they match up quite well with them. Think the Roosters showed that they can be a bit vulnerable on their edges in defence and we know how good the Bunnies are in attack when they get going.
Greg
Roar Pro
How exactly have they gone to another level? The big improvement is Luai. Earlier in the season people were questioning Luai's place in the side, with people suggesting Burton was a better option. Since then Luai has gone on to not only secure his position but sit 2nd in the NRL for try assists. Similarly, Edwards started the season only fairly. There were some suggestions that he may not get his spot back from Atkin after missing a few games. Since then hi form has steadily improved to the point he is now putting up numbers as good as any fullback. Additionally, Crichton's suspect defence has improved tremendously since he was first selected at centre, as has (or possibly as a result of) his communication with those defending next to him. Meanwhile, over on the right side Naden has jumped Whare as the starting centre as he offers a little more in attack and To'o has lost nothing after returning from a lengthy injury. Not to say that Souths can't win, there game has also gone to another level but Penrith has certainly improved.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yep spot on GH, as Su'A is a big hitter and should give Cleary a few lol in the old days Cleary wouldn’t be kicking like he is without a any consequences, there has to be pressure put on him every time.
Guy Hazlewood
Roar Rookie
Sua can be the man to shut down Cleary. Bennett should be giving Sua the mission to put him off his game.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Spot on BM and I fully agree, that is what I was thinking, the Panthers are rudderless without Cleary’s kicking, they wouldn’t have won against the Chooks if Cleary wasn’t allowed to kick like he was as the Chooks hardly put any pressure on him. Bennett has to designate a player just to stop Cleary’s kicking, that is the key, he has to be pressured/bolted over every time, 100% pressure has to be put on him for 80 min! Should be a great and I have all the confidence in my Bunnies that they can beat the Panthers, as even 1 point is good enough but I think it will be more.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Rabbitohs will beat Penrith easily, it comes down to nullifying Nathan Cleary. Luai and co are rudderless without Cleary. Souths managed to nullify Keary/Tedesco (and won 60-8), they managed to nullify Mitchell Pearce/Ponga (and won 45-20). Let Cleary run and he will do a “Gutho” on you ((as per those 15mins in the 1st half Parra v Rabbitohs), in the second half against Parra they worked out they needed to nullify Gutho and they did! (and they scored 30 points v 4).
Paul
Roar Guru
hmmmmmmmm? Not entirely convinced, Duncan. I guess we'll see in the next week or two
steveng
Roar Rookie
“Penrith is a team that has gone to another level since June” since when? We’ve beaten the Chooks by 52 points while the Panthers only beat them by 1 while the Raiders beat the Chooks by 4 there’s not much in it. For mine, the Panthers have their strengths especially with Cleary and his skills in the kicking game. That is where the game will be lost and won, same as what the Panthers do every game. I predict a very close game but, the Bunnies have to stop Cleary, Luai and Mansour who’s playing the best I’ve seen him and does allot of the heavy ‘one up’ work out wide, yes Koroisau is there too but their key players are out wide and that is where the Bunnies defence is a bit sus and could be the key and a worry for us.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
You could probably say that in June, they had won four in a row, but now they've won fourteen in a row. That's another level of form.
Paul
Roar Guru
"Penrith is a team that has gone to another level since June." How exactly have they gone to another level? They were playing pretty good football then and they're playing pretty good football now.