Penrith are on a collision course with reigning premiers Melbourne after being stunned by South Sydney 16-10 in the qualifying final in Townsville.
Ivan Cleary insists Penrith’s title charge has not become any harder despite facing the toughest possible path to reach a second straight grand final.
The Panthers’ 16-10 loss to South Sydney in Saturday night’s qualifying final has turned the finals series upside down, placing the top two seeds on the same side.
Penrith will now not only miss out on a week off, but must face the winner of Parramatta and Newcastle next week.
Beyond that, an even tougher challenge awaits, with minor premiers Melbourne their preliminary final opponents if they get through to the third week.
“That’s the challenge ahead of us,” coach Ivan Cleary said.
“We had to win three games once we hit the finals and nothing has changed.
“I don’t think we will lose many friends tonight. It really came down to opportunities we didn’t ice that you need to win those games.”
The coach’s words were echoed by son Nathan, with Saturday night’s loss his first in 19 games at all levels this year.
The halfback reckoned that one loss won’t set their resilient playing group back and that they’ll continue to adopt their ‘no regrets’ mentality after falling at the final hurdle in 2020.
“We have to win three games to win it and nothing’s changed,” he said.
“We’ve got to pick ourselves up, we’re still filled with belief and just do it the hard way now.”
Penrith also face a nervous wait on whether Isaah Yeo will be charged for a crusher tackle on Tevita Tatola, with Liam Martin also penalised for the same offence.
But fullback Dylan Edwards, who missed Saturday’s match with a minor injury, is expected to return for their elimination final in Mackay next week.
Raffaele Spallarossa
Guest
It was a great game. Almost like a grand final. Souths the better team. Panthers seemed lost, as Souths were in control.
Muzz
Guest
A missed window of opportunity.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Really tough road from here. Looking way forward, it will be interesting to see how the Panthers respond in 2022, especially if they get bounced before the GF. Panthers will be turning over some key players in their roster, Matt Burton, Kurt Capewell, probably Kikau (pending on being released for 2022), Brent Naden and Tevita Pangai to a lesser extent. They have some good young players coming through, the pick of them being Izack Tago, but because they are resigning current squad members, they haven’t got the cap to go to market for anyone else. Ivan will need to reinvent the team to some degree, or risk having the premiership window close as it did for Sticky and the Raiders.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Albo, some Storm supporters are very precious petals. They think RL started in 1998. The history of the game eludes them. But I do think the Panthers prayers go too far. Fancy huddling together after a match to say thanks for your many gifts . Pure arrogance.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
? $ 100 MILLLION.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Don't bother. Cognitive dissonance.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Isn’t Burns already at the Dragons ? The price of success is salary cap pressure and losing players. I don’t think the Panthers window is starting to close, they will be in the mix for a while. They have plenty of great young talent. I’m a Bunnies fan and feel our window could be closing for the short term at least. Reyno, Gagai, S’ua and Mago all heading off. It will depend on who makes the 7 jersey there own. Lachlan Illias has the game to potentially be the long term replacement.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Thing is, I dont really mean that.. purely sticking up for the Panther brand.
Muzz
Guest
They needed to win last night. It was their most important game of the season. It's near impossible now.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The Storm have been very successful and played in many grand finals in their short history. They are Rugby League's brave expansion into the spiritual home of Australian Football and it is very good for RL that they are giving Melbourne a winning team. Cronulla-Sutherland were given a small shire that is surrounded by St.George-Illawarra, Canterbury-Bankstown and Western Suburbs. Cronulla would've won more GFs if not for an inability to beat Manly-Warringah. Cronulla always seem to beat St.George in both forms.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! Its hard to take all those tall poppies displayed from Mount Druitt and St Marys . They should be kept back in their suburban box without those nasty try celebrations and prayers at fulltime ! :crying:
The Mexican
Roar Rookie
I admire passionate fans & your passion for HATING the Melbourne Storm is unrivaled in any sport, you are certainly at the top of my list for passionate fans, good on ya for expressing your feelings openly Souvalis! :thumbup:
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Panthers are goners. They have huge problems with Cleary's shoulder and it effects their whole attack. Cleary is trying to play the best teams in a dinner suit. He refused to run the ball, wouldn’t go near the defensive line, passed well before the line. The bloke is busted and should’ve opted for surgery. This in turn has a massive effect on Luai, he wasn’t spotted off knobbys last night. Their attack didn’t trouble the rabbitohs a much and they got one flukey try off a kick.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
self report v whistle blower then denials for a start.. that's quite a significant moral difference.. but anyway.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
What's the difference between the Storm cap felonies and the Sharks cap felonies? The Sharks went unpunished and kept their premiership!
Walter Black
Guest
Oh come on Souv, it was a light hearted comment on how I feel about the Panthers and you try to compare them to the wonderful Melbourne Storm.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
It will take a little more than an after try celebration to wrest that title away from the unrepentant felonies the Melbourne club shamelessly committed.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
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souvalis
Roar Rookie
This coming out of a supporter's mouth whose 5/8 chronically kicks opponents when on the ground, who gave us Cameron Smith, wrestling and cheated the rugby league community with the most fraudulent cap crimes in the history of the sport..well, yeah, I guess their after try celebrations beat that feloniously hands down.
Chris
Roar Pro
Nowhere near the most disliked, but I think people are starting to see the cockiness and confidence remain while the results and dominance have left. They're back in the pack now but their attitude is still 'we are the top dogs'.