Rugby league. You can’t script it.
The Panthers were camped on the Raiders line late with seconds to go, searching for the 50 point mark that would end Canberra’s Premiership hopes for another year.
Nathan Cleary found Jaeman Salmon on the crash line, he barged through some horrendous tackling for teh try that brought up the milestone. As he stood to celebrate, the Panthers man could be seen to scream “weak-gutted dog” into the night sky.
“Good karma, that’s how I’d describe that,” said coach Ivan Cleary.
Nothing could have hurt the Raiders more. 53-12 it ended to the Panthers, who were excellent value for their win, albeit assisted by some generous tackling. Ricky Stuart has plenty of work to do.
“The second half was unacceptable,” said Stuart. “Doesn’t matter who we play, if we play like that. I’m sure a lot of fans would like to know exactly what I’m thinking but it’s better if we keep it in house and deal with it.
“I’m disappointed for all our fans and it’s going to be a tough week for us to get through that. There will be a lot of deserved criticism. I apologise for that performance.”
It’s a 1-4 start for Ricky’s Raiders and they are lucky to get one. Cronulla might well have snagged that game, and in truth, 0-5 might be fair.
They’re not as bad as the Tigers, but it’s hard to say that Canberra have been the better side in any game that they have played.
Granted, it’s a team that is somewhat scrambling to get their best parts in order. Some of that isn’t Ricky’s fault: he lost Danny Levi to injury and had to roll in Zac Woolford then has had Jamal Fogarty out last week and Jack Wighton suspended this time around.
Xavier Savage was gone before the season, but the decision on his replacement gets more confusing by the week. Seb Kris is game, but is a centre and not a fullback, Harley Smith-Shields, is a fullback and not a centre. That’s on Sticky.
The defence was horrendous on the left edge last week and bad on the right tonight, with Penrith’s attacking left able to get it together for the first time of the year.
Jordan Rapana, back in this team, will be very lucky if he is next week. This was a nightmare, with two misfielded kick offs, bad defensive reads and penalties.
Ricky has serious questions to answer on how this team is currently set up, They’re not a bad team, but they look like one in this configuration.
Seriously – people thought they might have lost it. The Panthers were 1-3 before tonight, with an added World Club Challenge defeat too, but they’d lost by a combined total of three points across that.
The defence had gone nowhere, with two tries per game allowed, but there had been whispers about Penrith’s ability to attack without Api Koroisau calling the shots and Viliame Kikau hitting the holes.
On tonight’s evidence, rumours of their demise have been greatly exaggerated. Nobody had ever doubted Nathan Cleary, but he was back at his string-pulling best, and had a supporting cast to go with him.
Jarome Luai, who had been disappointing, was excellent and Izack Tago returned to his best form as well.
Zac Hosking seems to be the better replacement for Kikau. Luke Garner, injured tonight, is far from a certainty to take his place back when fit again. His second half try was the most deserved of the lot.
It really doesn’t take much to make Penrith truly elite, because all the constituent parts are so sustainably good. The back five keep going and the middle haven’t dropped off at all.
It was the other stuff, the one percenters that turn those tight defeats into wins. Ivan Cleary has never once looked like panicking and backed his side to find that extra inch when it mattered.
“Once we could get a bit of flow and keep the ball, the second half just everything went our way,” Penrith coach Ivan said the coach.
“It was nice to get a bit of rhythm and score some points. These guys have been working very hard for a long time and it’s just good to see them have some fun out there.”
Artesia
Roar Rookie
Repeated infringments. Ref had already told Nathan that we were giving away too many 6 agains and that if it continued someone would go.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
It just goes to show the inherent bias of a fan (short for fanatic); I thought the ref was trying desperately to keep the Raiders in a game. Goes to show the biases we all have; we can watch exactly the same game and get different subjective views of the refereeing.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I think Salmon was perfectly within his rights to give the reaction he did after scoring. :thumbup:
Full Credit to the Boys
Roar Rookie
Yes. I rewatched the incident on a highlights package and Im not sure what Critta was sin binned for.
Full Credit to the Boys
Roar Rookie
Agree. His grand final performance was out of this world. He just took the wind out of Parra sails early.
Full Credit to the Boys
Roar Rookie
Hey John. I think Jaeman fried a bigger fish when he was part of a Panthers premiership team. I'd imagine that having a powerful man in League call you a 'weak gutted dog' on television, and then having his best friend suggest there were reasons he couldn't tell anyone, probably warranted court action. He didn't do that. He scored under the posts in an extremely robust way, not remotely like 'a weak gutted dog', in a 50 point defeat of Stuart and screamed something like whose the weak gutted dog now. In the succinct words of coach Cleary - KARMA!
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Yeah - funny about these coaches who don't seem to have a clue - they pretend they know what the problem is but don't see the need to share it with the media or supporters. That way they can't be held accountable.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Ricky says he can fix it Geoff, that's exactly what Griffin says.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Not sure where that send off of Crighton came from. Seemed to come right out of the blue. And I'm astounded that the penalty count wasn't more in favour of the Panthers when I saw the stats. I can hardly recall Frawley or Fogarty kicking for touch. Not saying the ref contributed to the final result as the Panthers were far superior in the second half. But he certainly favoured the Panthers in the first half from what I was seeing which helped the Panthers to a 13-6 lead at the break.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Ricky thinks he knows what the problem is and that he can fix it - but he's not telling us what it is. I think we can all see what the problem is and Ricky is not capable of fixing it.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
That is a very tough question John. And that's probably why Ricky is still in his job. Craig Bellamy would have been a perfect fit you would have thought. Former player. Someone who demands good performances. But he was happy to stay at Melbourne and with the talent he had at his disposal why leave? The Raiders turned down Bellamy in favour of Matthew Elliot back in 2002. Not looking like a terribly good decision now. Not sure if Madge is the answer. He looked like he ran out of petrol at the Tigers. The Warriors and Bulldogs look to have made good decisions in recruiting Andrew Webster and Cameron Ciraldo. Not sure who is available to be honest. I'd be throwing money at Billy Slater but I think he is being groomed for the Melbourne job once Bellamy leaves. Would Bellamy consider putting 3 or 4 years into the Raiders in order to get them that elusive premiership? Would be nice to thinks so. Maybe find another job for Ricky at the club.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I think a lot of other club’s supporters view Wighton as a very good centre. He’s a player, who’s been pushed into 5/8 , at a later stage . Lockyer did that move from fullback late on , but doesn’t mean everyone is suited to doing that job permanently . No matter how good a player they are in general. There are a few good halves at different clubs now. With little chance of playing first grade any time soon. This is the place Canberra should be looking to start with. I think $900,000 for Wighton is a good amount. Even if the Dolphins will pay overs, again. Then there’s always someone else coming along , with only 3% of all players getting even 1 first grade game. So not all is lost ! They’d probably be cheaper than $900,000 too. At least to start with.
Full Credit to the Boys
Roar Rookie
I agree. The people that brought you Trump, Brexit, weapons of mass destruction, Boris Johnson, stolen election, insurrection, covid is a hoax, will be outraged by Salmon’s behaviour, not that of the boorish, maniacal Ricky Stuart who should have faced legal charges.
Ian_
Roar Rookie
A competent board would ask him 2 questions. Do you know what the problem is? And, what is your plan to fix it? Then probe him to understand if they believe his answers or not. And if not, sack him.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Raiders were actually competitive in the first half. Put pressure on the Panthers but couldn't convert their good play into points. The ref didn't help. The Panthers were very good in the second half and didn't let up - some of their forwards such as Leota had very good games - the Raiders attack was awful and the Panthers made them pay for their mistakes. I remember two tries being scored after Rapana and HSS dropped balls 20 metres from the try line. The Panthers had a few bounces go their way but they were the ones making the plays. I think the Panthers wanted to make a statement to make after the weak gutted dog comment by Stuart last time. Sometimes you just wish Ricky would keep his mouth shut. Still a lot of bad blood between these teams. It would be nice to have a coach of the Raiders who could string two words together and you actually wanted to listen to e.g. Trent Robinson or Billy Slater. Even Big Mal again. But unlikely to happen.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
At the start of the game & then again later, Canberra had a load of six agains , after penalties. Plus Penrith had a player sent to the bin for repeated infringements as a team. Then before halftime, they were saying each side had conceded the same amounts of penalties (in the way of 6 & penalties) as each other. Yet Canberra didn’t have a player sent to the bin? So not so sure that the ref decided anything one way or the other?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
I’ve only seen the highlights. Panthers ran in some good tries, and some with good bounces that wouldn’t have been scored otherwise. We’re Raiders that bad or more that it was wrong place wrong time?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Confess I don’t know the list nearly as well you. Who is getting big bucks there? A bit surprised Cnb can’t match the Dolphins offer. Or are you thinking one or both of the parties have had enough of the relationship?
John Allan
Roar Rookie
Sometimes a coach can stay too long however “too long” is measured by results. I shouldn’t compare NRL with English football however whoever has coached Man U since Sir Alex, has been “batting after Bradman” as Ferguson’s record was amazing. Arsenal fans thought Arsene Wenger had stayed too long & it took that club a few years to find the right person & they look like breaking the drought this season. What I am trying to say (in a round about way) is that the Raiders, if Ricky goes, need to have someone in mind for the long haul. If it was up to you based on availability, who would be your choice?
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
He looked a bit lost yesterday after the suspension. I think he wants to bring some aggression to lift those around him but sometimes goes too far. Ricky probably told him to pull his head in. He probably backed off a bit yesterday. Those errors were uncharacteristic – he’s normally pretty safe under the high ball. When I saw them I knew we were stuffed.