NRL Round 21 teams: Pearce and Moses return, but still no Cleary for Penrith

Every time Brisbane gets even the slightest whiff of momentum we get key injuries or suspensions. this time its our only strike player, Staggs and our main dummy half Turpin.

No sense in whinging / hypothesising but fair to say in my books that of Origin was end of season like 2020, that Panthers may be still undefeated after 20 rounds, and talk is more about how the hell do you beat the Panthers. Origin turned then the season on its head, and when all is said and done they are only exhibition games that any team would rate 2nd to their premiership hopes. Bellamy and Hasler have long practiced this view. Cleary , Ivan needs to take some lessons.

Yep, it won't be through lack of talent but getting that momentum back after a few losses won't be easy where ol' coach will have Souths flying into the semis. I it would be agreat redemption fairytale for your boys.

Mob is pretty fair description. I’m not as hopeful. Everyone says they will be fine once the best team is back, but what about what the thrashings in the meantime take out of the rest of the team. Not just in extra tackles: missed tackles, but mentally weaker - the biggest side effects of losing. I’m thinking when they are strong on paper, they may not be so strong between the ears. Hoping I’m wrong of course.

If any team can threaten Melbourne this year I think it is your mob. A bit too much disruption out west to find their previous form. I've got you top 2 by finals (so sry if that just weighed too heavily on them. My tipping is s-house). I'm just giving ol' Steveng a bit of perspective about who they've actually played to get his numbers. :happy:

Ha! I heard that as well. Appartently there was a portly looking bloke with some type of horse on his hat spotted scribbling on that tree.

Yeah, it's an old, old story there...

Barrett's treatment of young Flanagan is atrocious. To me, he's being punished for Barrett's (a rep half) inability to develop a young half. I watched Flanno last year with the chooks, he put in some good games and clutch kicks, he has talent. He should be thriving under a rep half coaching him, the 'guy who developed Penrith's attacked and enhanced Cleary's performances'..

All those who are suspended took early guilty pleas. JWH and Danny Levi didn’t, and both were cleared. So those who fought the charges got off and those who didn’t are suspended. Regardless of their clubs. So what was your point, please?

Only beaten Melbourne once in 8 years. That’s what Souths and their fans will continue to lose sleep over in the next 2 months.

Is anyone surprised that tonight 4 players got banned. They are Tyrone Peachey (Titans), Felise Kaufusi (Storm), Stephen Crichton (Panthers) and Tyrell Fuimaono (Dragons) will all miss their club’s Round 21 matches. But of course, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters + Nick Polities) successfully avoided a suspension for the umpteenth time this season. Charmed life for some.

Heard he picked up a low grade calf injury. Absolutely no chance of playing him.

Failed his HIA last game and has been ruled out from that.

fair point. the top 3 may all be thinking the same, not rushing Cleary back, Souths haven’t rushed Campbell Graham, or not rushing AJ back either.

How many times has JWH been placed on report this year? Appears in a suit at the judiciary....and WINS. Uncle Nick and the boys must have the best lawyers in town, and tonight (no surprises) the verdict is in: not guilty. Waerea-Hargreaves

If I was Holbrook I'd put Fafita in the middle just to drag Lolo back inside . Hey Nat it's rumoured a tree in New Farm has been vandalised and it now says KEVIE doesn't LUV MILF 4EVER

Truly amazing given they showed no ability to stop 50 being scored by both teams above them.

Failing to factor in that Storm weren’t fazed by finishing 2nd last year and resting all their players a couple of weeks out. Wouldn’t be surprised if their first side only play a couple of times in the last month and may not care if Panthers even Souths finish first.

The Panthers know that whatever happens they will come 2nd or 3rd, and home ground advantage wont matter if finals are not played in Sydney. My take is that Cleary is to be well rested ahead of the finals, if Panthers lose their next 2-3 games without Cleary it wont matter from a positional finals perspective.

I think the Bunnies based on current form can beat every team in the NRL except for the Storm at the moment. having said that I am expecting a loss for the rabbitohs from either Eels, Panthers or Roosters in the next rounds. A South’s loss will be because of attitude (complacency) nothing else as they have confidently secureda top 3 position. Should they lose 2 or 3 of these games then its more of an issue – start to panic. However one loss can be a good wake up leading into the finals, something which they may well be thankful for.