If it wasn’t already clear, Penrith have underlined their position as the team to beat in the finals with a crushing 32-6 win over the Warriors at a packed BlueBet Stadium.
The Panthers advance to the Preliminary Finals, where they might get Jarome Luai back, and have now won seven finals games in a row – and the last four haven’t been close. This was their record margin in the finals.
They only get better and it will take a mammoth effort for them to be troubled this year, let alone beaten.
Nathan Cleary was imperious, never more so than in scoring late on with a try that looked like it should have been scored in park footy, with the ball in one hand, daring tacklers to jump at him.
It crowned a performance in which he played in the proverbial dinner jacket, setting up almost every Panthers try before crossing himself. Ivan Cleary is running out of superlatives to describe his son.
“He played really well today, there were some really good goalkicks as well, and he kept the lead at the right kind of number,” he said in his typically understated fashion.
“I thought he defended really well, which he has done the last few weeks.”
But, like all the best halfback performances, it came on the back of huge effort elsewhere. The Panthers suffocated the Warriors from the opening stages, dominating the field position, then the ball, then the scoreboard.
Andrew Webster knows exactly what it looks like – he was part of the team that designed this system – but stood no chance of stopping it.
Shorn of Shaun Johnson through injury, the Warriors brought all their enthusiasm, played sensible footy and were utterly powerless in the face of the Panthers.
They got a great try in the second half via Wayde Egan, but beyond that, rarely even looked like scoring, never mind challenging for the win. They go again at home next weekend, and that will be their Grand Final.
They’ll hope for Johnson back, and for Tohu Harris to escape from a charge after being put on report for an alleged crusher tackle.
“We got a really good finals lesson that you’ve got to build pressure,” said Webster. “When you build pressure you look a different football team.
“If you look at the bits that we got wrong, Shaun wouldn’t have had any impact. He would’ve had some different touches for some different kicks at times but we had two yardage errors and offside on a kick-chase that Shaun’s not going to be able to change.”
There was a sequence late in the first half that told it all. The Panthers had seven of eight sets in a row, and on the one that the Warriors got, they didn’t pass their own 20m line.
It was a total domination of space. The Panthers can do this. They’ve kept sides scoreless for an entire half on eight occasions, and more often than not, that is the first half.
Manly, the Roosters, the Cowboys and the Warriors themselves have felt that this year. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s the rear naked choke of rugby league, a slow constriction that only ends one way.
From the 12th minute until the 41st, they didn’t make a single error. The game was played almost entirely at one end of the ground.
The Warriors didn’t really do anything wrong, and indeed, played exceptionally well in defence. But there’s no answer to the Panthers when they’re in that mood.
Cleary was the ringleader, of course, though not in the regular manner. Today, he decided it was going to be about his running game, with two darts turning into offloads that led to tries.
One of them, for Liam Martin, was all about his willingness to stay live, getting up after his own offload to put the backrower through.
For all that Cleary has as much talent as anyone in the comp, it’s often overlooked just how competitive he is too. Like the team he leads, he never stops.
The trick with the Panthers is that the collective works so well that it doesn’t really require any one individual to play superbly to win.
Today, they got Cleary and Stephen Crichton in top attacking form, but it was the ancillary stuff, the consistent work of Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards and James Fisher-Harris, plus everyone else, that made this an unwinnable fixture.
The worry, for everyone else, has to be that any fixture against them might be unwinnable at the moment. Since losing to Souths in the opening round of the 2021 finals, they haven’t conceded more than 12 points and, in truth, haven’t looked like doing so.
The Warriors would never admit it, but they might not be too concerned to lose here. If they had won, great, but that was never on the cards.
Plenty has been written about the need to do something markedly different to shock Penrith, and there was absolutely no chance of that coming from Webster’s men.
They’ve been consistently one of the most conservative teams – at least in build-up – of any in the NRL, and that tactic has served them superbly well.
Knowing that they get a home final anyway and were going to be without their talismanic halfback, it might have been that they fancy their chances more next week.
If there is a time to play the trickshot, week one when Penrith get a second chance probably isn’t it. Whether the Warriors will ever do that – or if anyone will – remains to be seen, but it has to be in a pure knockout game.
In the end, this might serve as a warning to the rest of the competition for what can happen. The Wahs did nothing wrong, didn’t play particularly badly and did absolutely everything they tell you to do in finals.
They got battered. Not even close. Status quo isn’t going to work here, not against the Panthers in this mood.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
Ye sorry GB believe it or not I've got other stuff going on in my life I can't just sit around waiting for your response. May I just say before I start that I fully respect and admire what Souths have achieved in there long and successful history. But I'm a bit confused your main point to shut me down was the first 56 years of bunnies' results. I don't understand I thought we were comparing records and you use a time frame where Penrith didn't participate. I guess using the period where you won 76% of your titles makes sense in your mind. Different era to where panthers started but let's compare the two shall we. Back in 1908 all teams started on an equal footing in a competition which was mostly confined to the inner west of Sydney. Basically, it was park footy but hey you can only beat what's in front of you and Souths did extremely well Winning multiple premierships .Fast forward to 1967 Penrith get elevated into First Grade at the end of a Dragons run of 11 straight titles and at the beginning of a Bunnies golden era of four titles in five seasons .Different eras impossible to compare. Are you serious when your Highlighted point of Souths winning 16 titles in their first 56 years to Penrith's four titles in their first 56 years is your main argument. Lets focus on the years that both teams have been in the comp.As you stated in that time Bunnies 5 titles Panthers 4. As a panther's fan I'm happy with that. Hardly the four or five times the titles you arrogantly crow about. Let's dissect it a little further 4 of those titles for Souths came over 50 years ago, in the first 5 years of Penrith's existence. You also had a little sook about having to start a team from scratch when readmitted. You know what GB every new team has to go thru that process .Penrith did in 67 when they were basically a second division team playing against a Souths team full of internationals. So no pity there. You also criticize Penrith fans about getting carried away with recent success, and overestimating our team's history in the competition as a whole. Why cant we celebrate our success or is that just a privilege that Bunnies fans get. Did you not celebrate your 2014 title because in reality it's the only joy you have had in 50 years even though it was a bought premiership and I challenge you to tell me it wasn't. To finish up GB I'm very comfortable comparing our record to yours and while I respect your clubs achievements, I get a bit sick of hearing your constant bagging and rubbishing of a team that over the last 50 years has won FOUR TIMES the titles that your club has. See I can play with numbers as well.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
It took you TWO days to come up with that reply. Is that it? I was giving you a like for like juvenile response but you missed that, clearly. OK. Penrith have been in the competition since 1967. In those 56 years the Panthers have won 4 premierships and the Rabbitohs have won 5 premierships. Remember, Souths were out of the competition for 2 years and took at least another 3 years to rebuild their roster starting from scratch. By comparison, if you look at the Rabbitohs first 56 years in the competition, they had won 16 premierships over a similar period. FOUR TIMES the number of premierships the Panthers have won over the same period. If not for the success of the last 2 years the Panthers would only have TWO premierships to boast about. I think the Panthers fans have gotten carried away with their team's recent success and overestimate their team's history of success in the competition as a whole.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
For a man who can't stand arrogance and smugness quite the comment regarding souths 21 premierships being five times, actually it was FIVE TIMES the titles Penrith have won. I am quite happy to debate the records of both clubs if you're up for it, but you must remember Penrith entered the comp in 67 so souths had 60 years head start. Your call are you willing.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I would hamstring the Panthers and kneecap them too if it were up to me. They have enjoyed every advantage imaginable for the last 4 years. Time to allow the competition to go back to being on an equal footing.
KiwiBear
Roar Rookie
So you want to hamstring the Panthers and boost the other grand finalist you have predicted? You might be right about moving the GF from Sydney but I don't see it happening.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
As it is , the Broncos get another home ground finals game. Penrith won’t get that .
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Tony, two different angles showed the ball was grounded short of the line before rolling forward, but FOX Sports and the bunker only chose to go with the one angle that allowed parallax error to give a false impression.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
There's no doubt Penrith played really well but I wonder whether that effort, on a sunny, dry afternoon against an opposition missing a key player, was any better than what the Broncos displayed on Friday night?
Tony
Roar Guru
Looks like everyone else thought it was a try except you GB
Morz
Roar Rookie
I am with 'Glory Bound' in this thread to a certain extent. The To'o try was ridiculous - definitely short and a knock on. Some of those so called 'crusher tackles' were also ridiculous with the Panther putting themselves in a bad position, and some of the holding down they got away with was completely off the planet ridiculous. A different referee might have blown them off the park such was the egregious nature of their offending in the tackle. However, even if all the calls had have gone the Warriors way, odds on Panthers still would have won by 12-15 - just too damn good -- but they sure as heck should not be given the leg up the officials are giving them for whatever reason.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
Last clanger that we lost a game off was against the Bunnies in our second game when Mitchell scored off a blatant Walker knock-on that wasn’t looked at.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The Panthers flexed their finals muscles today. Whilst the Warriors were brave in defence, without Johnson they had little creativity to worry the Panthers. The Panthers butchered 3 tries with poor options from Crichton and Peachey, but were still far too good for the Warriors. Fisher-Harris, Leota, Yeo and Martin dominated in the forwards and allowed Cleary and Cogger to run the backline attacks. Their back 5 as usual provided great meters to begin their sets with the wingers ever dangerous. For the Warriors , I though Tohu Harris and Barnett were terrific workhorses whilst Fonua Blake was easily contained today. Their backline was completely outclassed. They will need Johnson back next week to continue on this campaign.
Phil Kearns Love Child
Roar Rookie
Panthers v Broncos GF. What a cracker
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
That was a pretty juvenile pointless response. I have heavily criticised Latrell and always praised Cleary's skill, involvement and consistency. I just can't stand his arrogance and smugness. His dad is worse. So what do I say next? Souths have won 21 premierships. That's 5 times more than FIVE TIMES the number of premierships the Panthers have won. Is that where this is headed?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
If a player grounds the ball short of the line and rolls it forward that is a knock on. Same ruling as the Izack Tago no Try against the Rabbitohs after Chee Kam and Milne fumbled the ball. If the player no longer has a hold of the ball and if not for the ground it would come loose that is a knock on. Remove the blinkers.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
As far as our Golden Boy goes, he contributes a lot more to our team than your Golden Boy does.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
Where was the knock on never lost control of the ball.All referees are instructed to let the Panthers win is that what you are saying.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
Embrace and enjoy the ride. How was it at Penrith tonight I live far away these days 2019 last time I got there. Great little ground I luv it actually got to play a semifinal there as a kid in the early seventies. Never forget it.
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Yeah honestly hard to know. Will hopefully have a good crack at it anyway. If we can get through then I’ll do a road trip up to Brissie for the prelim, so that would be fun.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
The ball was grounded short of the line and rolled onto the line. Momentum is irrelevant. THAT is a knock on. It has been ruled that way on several occasions this year. . Clearly the ruling is different for the Panthers. Decisions like that and turning a blind eye on repeated ruck infringements lead to comments like “the threepeat is scripted”. . When was the last time the Panthers were on the wrong end of a howler that cost them a game? The Panthers win over Souths early in the year came off a blatant knock on by Garner leading to a Try that was the difference in the final score. . Souths didn’t need Jack Wighton to beat the Panthers in their second game this year.