According to James Fisher-Harris, he is playing in the best-ever Penrith team.
“Everyone gone before us, much respect. But as I said last night – we are the greatest Penrith team ever,” the two-time premiership prop said.
In saying this, James may have fallen prey to two serious factors. First, an excess of alcohol, and second, the fallacy of ‘recentism’ which one dictionary says is “focus on recent events to the exclusion of history.” In other words, we forget the significance of events that happened more than a few years ago.
Are the 2022 Panthers the best? Having won back-to-back titles and over 80 per cent of their competition games, there is plenty of evidence in favour of this theory. But before getting carried away, it’s worth remembering a team should also be judged on the quality of the opposition they beat.
While Parramatta are a very good side, they aren’t of the calibre of the early ’90s Canberra Raiders, who the Penrith 1991 side had to beat to win their first title.
Parramatta in 2022 were worthy grand finalists, but there’s not a single player on their team who is anywhere near Immortal status.
The Canberra 1991 team had names like Mal Meninga, Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley, Gary Belcher, Glenn Lazarus, Bradley Clyde, and Walters. The Raiders were also coming off the back of two premiership wins, in 1989 and 1990. When you consider the calibre of that team, Penrith winning the 1991 grand final was a mighty effort.
If you could invent a time machine, and adjust for relative fitness levels, it would be interesting to see if the Penrith of 2022 could beat the Canberra Raiders of 1991.
You could also argue that the 2003 Penrith team had a tougher challenge to overcome to win their comp, having to face a very strong Roosters team who were in the middle of three consecutive grand finals.
Compare that to the opposition in this year’s decider. Parramatta had endured a 36-year premiership drought, and scraped into fourth spot on the ladder.
Penrith’s whole finals campaign involved beating Parramatta twice, and also South Sydney, who came seventh. They did not have to face the teams who came second or third. Nor did they have to meet powerful clubs, the Roosters or Storm.
Mind you, Penrith would probably have won all those games, for they are deserving premiers. But are they the best ever Penrith team? Perhaps – but you should never underrate what the 1991 side achieved in beating a team as good of the Canberra Raiders.
Winning that game was a far tougher assignment than beating up on a club that hasn’t won a grand final for 36 years.
Penrith this year have a 20-4 win-loss record and finished four competition points ahead of the second-placed Sharks. In 1991, Penrith had a 17-4 win-loss record, but finished six competition points ahead of second-placed Manly. The Panthers also had some handy players back then – like Brad Fittler, Royce Simmons, and Greg Alexander.
Of today’s spine players, only Nathan Cleary would rate as high.
If Penrith win again next year, it’s fair to call the current team the best ever. Until that happens, we can file Fisher-Harris’s statement under R for Recentism.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Raiders 1994 would win that one - maybe 36-10 lol :)
jammel
Roar Rookie
Daley I reckon for sure. Inspirational - controlled games, and could do the impossible. Daley scored the inspirational tries; the big plays. And big hits too. Stuart next for mine. Then Meninga, Clyde, Steve Walters and Badge.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Yes, it's a bizarre stat when you think about it. To win four finals and not be premiers.
Gary
Guest
100% agree, I've always said Alexander was one of the most gifted footballers I've ever seen.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
That’s sweet, just like the new van der Voort flavour that’s sure to have your kids asking you to pass the dutch!
Pickett
Roar Rookie
There is no way you can say Cleary is better than Alexander. The current quality of 6 and 7’s are the weakest I’ve seen. Alexander played in an era where halves were probably at their zenith. There was a conveyor belt of halves in the 80s through to 2010’s that make Cleary look like Mitch Pearce. Edwards however is probably the best FB they’ve ever had. Maybe even Api because the quality of FB and hookers currently is the best I’ve ever seen. If Fittler had stayed at Penrith and family tragedy had not occurred the Alexander Fittler combo may have challenged if not usurped the Wally Langer, Sterling Kenny and Stuart Daley combos. Alexander was the most gifted half I’ve seen. Due to events, that was not fully realized especially at the rep level.
Robbo
Guest
There not gonna be getting major corps looking at sponsoring them with the current attitude but they do have the largest leagues club in the southern hemisphere to bail them out.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
"Solid at the back" was gold but then you topped it with the Van Der Voort tasting of molasses. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Rellum
Roar Guru
That Bulldogs and Manly teams were very good. Just as good as the Newcastle team of the 90s and just a little better than the Panthers, Bears, Dragons and Steelers
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Not including 4th and 5th place playoffs (and that caveat may not even be necessary), the '98 Bulldogs are surely the only team to win 4 games in the finals and not end up as premiers.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
The Barwick bar: "Solid at the Back." Don't ask me what that means; it came from the marketing department. I picture van der Voort ice cream being only available at a wholesale store (like Bibina), and tasting of molasses.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
The 1995 finals run was the best I've seen in my time watching football. To beat Brisbane, Canberra, and Manly was a huge ask. The other two great final series by Canterbury were in 1998 (beat St George, Norths, Newcastle, and Parramatta, before losing the grand final), and way back in 1979 (beat Wests, Cronulla, and Parramatta before losing that grand final too). I have very good memories of the 1995 finals. 1993-99 was a great era for the club overall.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Mate - I’m realistic enough to know they’ll never go down as an all time great team, but few teams have played as well as they did over that month I’m not sure any team has had as tough a semi final run either when you look at the premiership and grand final appearances of each of their opponents in the five years before and after They were led brilliantly by experienced players like Lamb, Pay, Dymock, Britt, Smith and Polla-Mounter, but lesser known guys like Ryan, Gillies, Williams, Silva, Timu, Price played out of their skins Outscored the best teams of the day 78-28 Anyway, I don’t mind too much how others see that team, it was the best month of footy for me as a fan and I relive those four weeks every couple of years…
Brett
Guest
You could replace nostalgia with recent bias and use the opposite argument.
Gary
Guest
Must need my eyes checked, thought I read people leaving out Alexander and choosing Salmon over Gower.
Mike
Guest
I would rate Dunn better then JFH ,12 games for Australia and a CC medal, not that far fetched. Clarke was also a member of the great Balmain pack but was unlucky through injury. Was a great Penrith font row. Would take Carter over Luai too, brilliant attacking player.
Colin
Guest
Brandy was a rare talent, carried Panthers in the 80s and got them a lot of club respect.
Roger
Guest
Still rate Brandy as one of the best ever, shame he had a personal tragedy. Ask anyone who played with him, the fastest player as far as footy speed.
Reg
Guest
Panthers were over and used an unregistered player in 2003. I'm not fussed though as a lot of teams have been over the cap as long as it's not like Melbournes case. I do think it should have been a black and white rule from the start
Dave
Guest
To be fair they missed 60 tackles in last year's grand final and 34 in this one, ok stats but not great.