Just a few points to keep up the optimism:
1. Dylan Edwards (playing in the key position of fullback) is coming off major surgery and DWZ has not played/ trained much since injuring himself in the test match.
2. Sione Katoa is no world beater and he is playing in the key position of hooker.
3. Kikau and Peachey are not there to conjure up late points, as they did so many times in 2018.
4. Panthers don't appear to be carrying a genuine utility who can cover an injury to their spine (in the event this occurs)
5. Their bench is as underwhelming as our bench.
6. The Panthers preparations took a solid hit following the sex tape scandal and it may still be impeding their porformances.
Replies
JBG , I’ll assume you are still very young or think like one. A ball hasn’t been kicked our star front row recruit may not play, we have teenagers making up 50% of our spine, we are playing the slowest centre in the game for speed (taka).
The “ Riff” have the current SOO & half & 5/8, perhaps percentages wise 2 of the best kickers in the League. Watch a very simple game plan for the “the Riff” kick deep and watch us self implode even more so if we are behind on the score board.
Plus don’t forget we are away from home, enjoy your optimism but got to be real mate. Makes loosing a little bit less painful
Kick deep to Fergo and Sivo. May not be as effective as last year.
JJ, don't be so presumptuous. The blog was never intended to be a balanced evaluation of each teams strengths and weaknesses. It merely highlights the opposing teams weaknesses to maintain some optimism for the weekend.
Its Rnd 1 and the Riff are far from unbeatable, despite their roster being highly rated. If you recall, the Tigers knocked off the Roosters in Rnd 1 last year.
If you have read any of my blogs leading to this one, you would know I'm certainly not a young hearted eternal optimist when it comes to Parra's prospects of success this year. I am just upbeat because the NRL season is kicking off again and I'm very excited to see D Brown and Sivo debut.
Go Parra!!
That's not exactly true regarding the 2001 spine. Jason Taylor was no spring chicken, he retired after that season, Michael Buettner passed 200 games that season, Brad Drew had been playing since 1993. Really you could only consider Brett Hodgson a rookie that season but he'd still been playing for four years heading into 2001.
There's a big difference between the 2001 side and this side. The 2001 spine didn't have a debutant or a rookie hooker. They also had a heavily experienced set of halves. JT was already past 200 games before that season and Buettner passed 200 games during the season. So that's more games in two players than the 2019 spine's combined.
They were called the baby Eels though and there were a lot of young players in that team. The experience in the halves probably got us to the GF (still can't believe Taylor was sitting on the bench...). I don't think anybody is suggesting that is going to happen this year. Mind you if Moses and Gutho get through a full season, they would be regarded as experienced players.
Hopefully we run a lot at Maloney and tire him out plus his d is ordinary. He carries Cleary to an extent doing most of the organising. When he was out for a bit last year I think Cleary struggled to organise the team.
Yep, Shaun Lane will be lining him up all day.
Your right Kikau and Peachy are huge losses for Panthers. To say Clearly is not an organiser is ridiculous as he is their highest paid player ever and they moved mountains to get his Dad back. Name one player ever who has been given so much and still so young.
Brad fitler hayne
Oh boy there were plenty overpaid around 1996, 1997. I don't want to research though.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next