Parramatta coach Brad Arthur reacted to the team’s latest finals heartbreak by suggesting Penrith counterpart Ivan Cleary’s “whingeing” might have helped the Panthers get some lineball decisions in their semifinal epic.
Penrith won 8-6 after a scoreless second half. A key moment happened late in the game when the Eels broke away only for play to be called up for an injury to Penrith’s Mitch Kenny.
Asked about it afterwards, Arthur said: “They (Penrith) have been complaining over the last couple of weeks.
“They got what they were after from the back of the whingeing.
“We’re trying to make the game faster, how many stoppages were there when we started to get on top?
“Bunker gets involved and we had a 7-2 penalty count, the bunker gets involved, for what reason?
“We make a linebreak out of the backfield and Will Penisini gets tackled off the ball and Mitchell Moses is running there to chase and he gets tackled in the background off the ball.”
Cleary had been critical of recent decisisons in his team’s games, and then accused other coaches of trying to influence referees.
Both coaches were under intense pressure coming into this game.
“It might have helped them tonight,” said Arthur of Cleary’s statements.
The Panthers, aiming to bounce back from their shock loss to South Sydney last weekend, struggled to break down a resilient Eels team.
After losing winger Brian To’o on match eve to an ankle injury, the Panthers made a fast start and almost scored when Nathan Cleary backed up Api Koroisau’s break but the Eels managed to haul the Penrith captain down just short of the line.
It set a tone for the evening as Penrith knocked repeatedly at Parramatta’s door but were constantly turned away.
The Eels took the lead when Dylan Edwards allowed a towering bomb from Mitchell Moses to bounce and ex-Panther Waqa Blake scored in the 11th minute.
The Panthers quickly responded when a Cleary grubber in the 17th minute bounced kindly into Kurt Capewell’s midriff for the Queensland State of Origin representative to level the scores.
From there both teams traded blows without scoring until a penalty to Cleary gave the Panthers a two-point buffer heading into the break.
Penrith dominated the second half but just couldn’t find a try to extend their lead, with To’o’s replacement Brent Naden going closest when he pounced after Blake Ferguson fumbled a Cleary bomb.
The bunker however saved Ferguson’s blushes with replays showing Jerome Luai was offside when Cleary kicked the ball.
After soaking up wave-after-wave of Panthers attack the Eels mounted a strong finish in the dying minutes but were unable to score themselves and when Junior Paulo dropped a pass in the final minute inside the 10, the game was done.
Parramatta forward Marata Niukore was twice placed on report during the match, for an off-the-ball shot on James Fisher-Harris and then a crusher tackle on Scott Sorensen.
Former Panther Reagan Campbell-Gillard was also placed on report early in the game for a high shot on Moses Leota.
Panthers forward Viliame Kikau also spent some time off the ground in the second half after appearing to tweak a knee, with coach Ivan Cleary hoping it’s not a serious knock and that To’o is also fit to face the Storm at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday.
Parramatta’s defeat also extends the club’s unwanted record of failing to win back-to-back finals games since 2009.
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
Are you going to post the same thing for the Sea Eagles next week? :laughing:
Wait a minute!
Guest
So what you’re saying is that it’s fine for Bennett to seek advantage for his team by secretly going to see the referees before a game . Say anything he likes to the media before & after games. It’s fine for BA to say whatever he likes to the media, before or after a game. However, Ivan Cleary shouldn’t do that or look to stand up for his team? Interesting!
Onya.
Guest
You’re assuming that South’s defeat Manly. Even if that happens, the Storm will steamroll South’s. Maybe Wayne can find something to go to the referees about , about the Storm?
Paul
Guest
I didn’t know that a try from a kick was somehow worth less? It’s the same amount on the scoreboard. You were still saying about teams working Penrith’s attack out. They certainly created plenty of other opportunities , not taken . Against South’s & Parramatta. In 2 games conceded just 3 tries. South’s only won by 6. Again, if played at Penrith, Penrith wins...
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Regardless of how it happened, Penrith are a better side. I still don't know how Parramatta ended up in the Top 4 for most of the season. I don't think I can even name a current noteworthy Parramatta player. All other teams in the top 8 have at least one stand out player. Soft draw?
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
why is Pangai even playing for the Panthers!! No other team got to select players not on contract & at other clubs
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
as much as i hate the Storm, hope they smash Penriff (& lose to the Bunnies in the Gee Eff)
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Against Penrith, Souths scored their two tries from both the left and right sides of the field, The only Panthers try came from a Cleary mis-kick who was trying to hit the post, but missed, and flukey to get the bounce.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
The link is Grant Atkins is a Member of the Penrith Referees Association, knows all the Panthers well and is mates with Ivan Cleary. Ivan also worked with the referees for awhile too in between coaching stints.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I just saw this Brad Arthur fella on the Seven TV News complaining about why his team lost because of the referees. Immediately after a replay showed the final minute or so featuring a great big lazy Parramatta player dropping the ball cold about 3½ feet from the line, smack in front of the posts. There wasn't a referee in sight! Both the player and later and his coach should have gone to Specsavers!
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
Ivan Cleary has now been spanked publicly in two successive weeks by two NRL coaches. Perhaps it's time Cleary learns to shut his mouth before captain cranky Craig Bellamy tees off on him after the Panthers go down next week to the Storm.
The Final Word
Roar Rookie
Souths scored two tries. Zero from kicks. Both tries were from breaking down the Panthers defensive line and not subject to a lucky bounce of the ball. Souths also scored a try in each half and kept the Panthers scoreless in the second half. How many tries did your Dragons score in the finals, Paul? :laughing:
Short Memory
Guest
Spot on BM. I'm not a supporter or hater of either team, and was happy for either of them to win. But the nature of the win left a Todd Carney level bad taste in my mouth. The double hold back was the worst, but I counted four other pretty standard and pretty obvious penalties not given to Parra, all in kickable positions. Given Moses is an 80% kicker, you expect he gets probably 4 out of the five.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I wonder whether there would've been so much conjecture if those 4 points were taken from right in front. I applaud their initiative in going for the tries but this is finals footy. You take the points where they aren offer to apply scoreboard pressure. 12-6 with time running out may have made their task a little easier.
Paul
Guest
That may be true? How many tries did the amazing South Sydney left side score against Penrith? Despite dominating most of the game , according to most people. Just 2 tries. Parramatta scored just 1... So I guess Penrith must have worked out their attacks as well? If the Penrith/ South’s final had been played at Penrith, as it normally would have been given the finishing positions of both clubs. Penrith would have won that game as well.
Mycall
Roar Rookie
I think he’s talking about Atkins??
OnReport
Guest
The penalty against Niukore (for not disappearing before Fisher Harris ran into him) changed the course of the game.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
That's right mate and he's coaching the side that made it to next week too... go figure
Albo
Roar Rookie
And the 6 again re-starts went to the Eels 5-2. The Panthers also turned down 2 penalty shots for points right in front. Its swings and roundabouts. Both teams played very tough semi-final footy .The better team won because it controlled the match better and maintained its strong defence.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Probably being a bit harsh on Smith but he had lots of goes . It's probably more his demeanor I'm referring to.