Almost 12 months ago, the Penrith Panthers surprised almost the entire competition and rounded off a huge winning streak and stormed their way into a grand final.
Their style of play, their youth and exuberance had other teams’ fans riding their bandwagon, to bring home a premiership to the foot of the mountains. Going into the grand final, they were a huge chance, and although they came up short at Stadium Australia, they gained a lot of, let’s say ‘bandwagon’ fans, who just rode the joy of the Panthers for 2020.
Fast forward 12 months, and the seemingly “enjoyable and exciting” Panthers team have almost tipped the other end of the scale, as a team that overall rugby league fans despise.
In the past few weeks, the Panthers have had their fair share of dramas that have definitely accredited to this new found hate. In the weeks leading up to their qualifying final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary publicly stated that his son Nathan should be taken care of, in regards to kick pressure.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
Just the past week, albeit in a victory, a lot of fans seem to believe the Panthers scraped through after some very contentious officiating calls, which ended up sinking the Parramatta Eels. To make matters worse, a trainer involved in stopping the game when Parramatta were on the front foot has just been fined and suspended from further participation this year.
Crazy two weeks for the Panthers, hey?
These circumstances have had so much bile and disgust pointed towards them, and it just shows how things can change in a 12-month period.
What else about the Panthers are people not attracted to?
Is it the constant dancing and larrikin like behaviour prior to games from players such as Brian To’o and Jarome Luai? Is it a personal grief with their fans? Is it the success, possibly? Or is it a culmination of everything rolled into one big ball of hatred?
The Panthers are a very young side, and show that in how they play and act off the field. Players like Luai and To’o tend to enjoy singing and dancing prior to games and always bring humour to their post-game interviews.
Their “over the top” try celebrations where they tend to high jump on top of each other seem to rub people the wrong way, as well as their overall mannerisms in the winning of a penalty or an opposition sides’ mistake. Players like Luai are known for getting in opponents’ faces when they make mistakes, and it seems to have people offside with the star playmaker.
The cry for protection of Nathan Cleary has seemed to throw people offside as well, as his father is his head coach, and it’s more like coddling than protection. The addition of a non-fan favourite in Tevita Pangai Jr has also attributed to all this newfound hatred.
Based on social media and comments made online, it seems that out of the remaining teams, the majority of fans want the Panthers to lose more-so than the other three remaining sides.
Personally, I can somewhat agree with the cockiness that they ooze. A moment last year seemed to tip me off, when winger Stephen Crichton carried in an opposing player into their try celebration circle, and when that player retaliated, played it off as if he had done nothing wrong.
I do, however, love the personality of To’o, as he is only having fun and seems to never niggle in a game. The likes of Luai, who seems to be a very confident kid at that, the antics of Liam Martin, can sometimes irk me, but even I am surprised by the abuse they’re copping in regards to fans not liking them. A huge difference to 2020!
What are your thoughts, Roarers? Do you love, or hate the Penrith Panthers?
BillV
Guest
When you write such articles, should you not firstly make it clear that you are a diehard Storm supporter, so that readers all know to take such literature with not just a grain, more like a pound of salt ?
JediKnight
Guest
I think we all know what irks people about the Panthers. There’s just no one man enough to say what they feel. Hide behind the cover of calling it arrogance.
Kathy Merriman
Guest
Hate
Mike
Guest
Fair observations about how the Panthers are evolving from being a bunch of up-and-comers to rep stars that'll be hard to keep together. I'm an old Raiders fan and we had to let Lazarus go because of the cap and a bunch of young players all coming through at the same time like Walters, Daley, Stuart, Clyde, Mullins, Belcher. What a loss Lazarus was! He went on to lead the Broncos and then the Storm to premierships - what a career, he won for three clubs and each was their first premiership - I digress. My point is, even if a club wins, it's difficult to hold a talented generation together. Penrith have to make hay while this young group are together. Seizing your chances is what makes champions and champion teams. A talented group for Balmain lost two years in a row (88/89) and we kind of forget how good they were (Pearce, Sironen, Roach, Freeman, Elias, Jack etc). I wonder how Penrith will go this weekend in the GF. If they win then they could go on for another couple of titles as Canberra did, if they lose then they could slide down the table over the next few years as Balmain did.
Mike
Guest
I can see why some people get irked by their over-the-top enthusiasm but personally I see them as a bunch of young blokes that genuinely are mates off the field. One thing I respect about the Panthers is that they haven't raided other clubs for established stars - which is, of course, where the old hatred of Manly came from. I remember hating Manly back in the day as they took Ribot, Dorahy, Ray Brown, Cleal, Gerrard, McCabe, Schubert etc etc etc over the years from other clubs. So many internationals bought from other clubs yet they lost two years in a row to Parramatta ('82/83). A long time ago but it's strange how I don't hate Manly now. I can never hate a club that has a team based around it's own juniors or players bought unheralded and developed. It's why Tom and Jake are great for the Manly image and why I can't hate the Storm. Time and time again Bellamy develops players, that other clubs don't want, into fine players and sometimes champions. The Panthers are a team based around local juniors and well-sourced players. There is nothing wrong with youthful naivety and exuberance. If they weren't qualities of the young then we'd have no use for the "experience" of older players like Benji Marshall and Adam Reynolds. Reynolds will be taking experience to the Broncos as they desperately need that. I think one of the unheralded heroes of the Panthers team is Isaah Yeo. I think he brings that levity and control to the Panthers that the team relies upon. He is only 26 and I he think plays, between the ears, as though he's a good five years older. Penrith are far from being my fave team but good luck to them - I wish my team (the Raiders) were doing as well and playing with the same cohesiveness, enthusiasm and brashness.
Anna_B
Roar Rookie
As an observer in Hobart I hope anyone but the storm win the GF. Go Panthers or Bunnies.
mushi
Roar Guru
Not all you said...
Lapunman
Roar Rookie
The beneficiaries were fully paid up members for the previous 2 Covid affected seasons. Please explain exactly how this gets their numbers up.
Rob
Guest
I think the Panthers had more than a dozen interchanges and a 7-2 penalty count. That helps a lot.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Storm have 28,000 paid members (2021), for 2 years and no games (thanks to Dan it may also continue in 2022) it is reasonable to assume that some members would not be willing to take up a 2022 membership. So offering free 2022 memberships to all the 2021 members should by inference keep 28k members + new numbers. If the club didn't offer this, one could see how their numbers may well drop below 28.000. That's not hard to see, offering “free membership” will ensure the numbers are at minimum status quo or up, offering nothing and you may have a drop in numbers (due to covid, financial hardships etc )
Rob
Guest
There is nothing more fitting of a professional foul than a supporter player being pulled back by a player from behind when the defensive line has been broken. Ridiculous to say that doesn’t warrant sin bin IMO.
Phil Hill
Guest
Success leads to jealousy in all walks of life. The media beat things up after last week's cracking Parra game. That was a great game of footy from two very committed sides. No credit at all to the Panthers defence and whole hearted play. A shame really. Watch the attitude change if the Panthers can get over the Storm tomorrow and win well....????????
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
(but now have decided to get their numbers up by offering “free membership” ). And there's your fake news.
Rob
Guest
Panthers have received more penalties (138) than an other team in the competition this season. The bottom 4 teams received less than (90) penalties? As for sin bins they have the least? Kikau’s hit on CNK was not a Sin bin? Luai’s trip on Su’a went unnoticed as did his late interference on Moses? Cleary’s shoulder charges aren’t worth talking about and I do remember a gentle bit of boot heel falling on a Queenslander’s head. I don’t watch a lot of Panthers games but I’m sure there are things the equal of Cowboys Burr and Robson’s sin binning in most games.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Rob - all I said was "Souths have the most paid -up members 30,000+ , Storm have 28,000 (but now have decided to get their numbers up by offering “free membership” ). " Then "agreed the free membership is a good initiative".
Rob
Guest
BM you can’t possibly think giving members( that have missed 2 years of football ) a season of appreciation for their support is some sort of evil ploy? That is a very honest thing to do IMO.
Rob
Guest
I was really loving the way the Panthers played their football through last year and I didn’t think I’d have a problem with seeing them become successful. Unfortunately things have now soured that opinion. Firstly the Cleary father and son covid breach got me thinking. I had not really been to worried about the video gang thing but when you lie and continue to validate a lie after getting caught? I starting looking at you as dishonest and arrogant. Then they started being cocky and it was more collective than individuals just having a moment. Far to often I can see a smell of entitlement in their nostrils along with milky dishonesty in their game which isn’t something I like watching.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
The article is about supporters of other clubs hating the Panthers more than anyone else.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
"...and it is acknowledged by all that the eels had some pretty bad decisions..." "These are facts, no agenda." You have an interesting definition of 'facts'.
Lapunman
Roar Rookie
I believe the Storm gave 2022 memberships to paid up 2020 & 2021 (both seasons) members who have been unable, through Covid19, to attend a single game. Hardly swelling the numbers is it?