Panthers and Origin

[TheLoneRooster]

Is there a more dislikeable player in the game than Luai? Shame Victor won't be there in 3 weeks to iron the flog out.

Yes, the vermin’s cody walker IMHO.

I didn’t read every post in this thread before responding with my choice of player. Good to see others here feel the same way.

[Bansai Pipeline]

Why are you afraid of the Panthers? They've won nothing and are under more pressure to win a comp than any team in recent memory.

It's literally Premiership or laughing stock for them this year. And now they've got a brutal Origin period coming up.

Let's see how they come out of it and handle the intense pressure of a Prelim/GF. We'll find out just how big Luai's balls are then. Same for To'o under high balls with it all on the line, and so on.

Because last year in the Prelim and GF the Boyz to Men crew went from Men to Boyz, with balls shrinking to the size of peanuts.

I'd personally just love to play them in a Prelim under these circumstances. Win or bust for them compared to a free hit for us with no one outside of the Roosters giving us a hope in hell of winning; with Walker, Joey, Rads and Teddy playing some Harlem Globeteotters stuff behind a big forward pack. Bring it on.

Mate, I can't see us getting close to a full strength Panthers.

[ism22]

Mate, I can't see us getting close to a full strength Panthers.

Did you watch round 1 of the finals last year?

I haven't watched the Riff this year but IMO they're beatable. Forget where we are on the ladder... if anybody's gonna beat them it's gonna be Robbo, Bellamy or Bennett.

Why can't we give them a serious run for their money like we did the last time we played them? I feel we know their team/tactics a little bit better now. Forget what they're doing to other teams... we're one of 3 teams that's got a smart enough coach to crack 'em. Now that the pressure's off us a little bit (no longer defending a premiership), I reckon there's scope for us to shiv those pretend pussy cats.

[Bansai Pipeline]

I thought the Rabbitohs would be the one team to challenge them. And look what happened there.

We don't have the forwards.

[ism22]

I thought the Rabbitohs would be the one team to challenge them. And look what happened there.

We don't have the forwards.

We're only missing Collins (and could sign somebody else). Cords is returning.

TBH I think we have a better roster than them in every single position. We're just inconsistent! While it'd be nice to have Friend, Collins and Keary... that's 3 players and only one is a big man. Happy to hear why you think the following forwards are inadequate...
- SST
- Verrills
- JWH
- Cords
- Crichton
- Radley

- Liu
- Sitili
- Butcher
- Baker
- Fifita
- [Possibly Tapine... we have money to spend by June 30]

If I'm honest, I can't even name the Riff's forwards. What... Kikau, Fisher-Harris, Eisenhuth and Yeo. No offence but we've got better forward stocks than them. They've just been awfully consistent.

[Tommy Smith]

Yep. Even without Collins...

Cordner, Crichton, Radley, Sitili, SST, JWH, Liu, Butcher, young bull Baker...

The biggest myth amongst Roosters fans right now is that "we don't have the forwards."

[Bansai Pipeline]

Well, let me re-phrase that. We don't have the forwards to beat Penrith, Melbourne or Souths.

[OMR]

Well, let me re-phrase that. We don't have the forwards to beat Penrith, Melbourne or Souths.

Are you saying the forwards listed in previous posts are not good enough or are not consistent enough?
I’d take JWH, Radley, Crighton and SST backed up by Cordner, Liu, Sitili and Butcher and Baker over any pack in the comp.

[TheLoneRooster]

I don't know what it is about the pamfers but whatever it is, their 7 has had a big part to play in their success. If he goes down a la Keary, I don't know if they'd be as formidable but the headgear wearer playing six this weekend goes alright too.

Oh, and one other thing, is it just me or has their draw been comparatively easy this year and last?

[ChookMaster]

We're only missing Collins (and could sign somebody else). Cords is returning.

TBH I think we have a better roster than them in every single position. We're just inconsistent! While it'd be nice to have Friend, Collins and Keary... that's 3 players and only one is a big man. Happy to hear why you think the following forwards are inadequate...
- SST
- Verrills
- JWH
- Cords
- Crichton
- Radley

- Liu
- Sitili
- Butcher
- Baker
- Fifita
- [Possibly Tapine... we have money to spend by June 30]

If I'm honest, I can't even name the Riff's forwards. What... Kikau, Fisher-Harris, Eisenhuth and Yeo. No offence but we've got better forward stocks than them. They've just been awfully consistent.

It’s not just about the caliber of the players skills that’s impressive about Penrith but it’s their attitude overall that blows me away. They turn up to every single game with a energetic confident mentality and are currently unbeaten and have only lost one game in what 28 games now? Cmon fellas let’s be realistic here we’ve suffered too much damage in terms of injuries to be able to compete come September with the top teams like storm and Penrith. I reckon we can hang with Penrith for a while but I don’t think we can get them this year. They are just on another level.

[Thirteen]

All this Penrith loving is making me sick.

Unless they are playing Melbourne it’s an easy game for them cause this is such a weak competition.

If we had our full squad in with zero injuries like they do, they’d be our bitches!

Cant wait to see them lose in the GF again.

[BraveTheWorld]

So, I think they'll probably get us when we play them. Victor will still be out, and the squad just probably won't be fully fit. That being said, if we finish 4th and play them week 1 of the finals, I give us a definite chance against them. We won't go into it as favourites, and deservedly so as they're a great team and playing terrifically, but I absolutely think we could beat them.

We have an absurdly good team. I honestly believe if we'd had a fully fit squad for the past two years, we'd be on our way to 4-in-a-row.
The upside is that all of the adversity and injuries we've faced may have assisted in making our team even stronger in the long run. We're not a paragon of consistency as we know, but when we play top-level rugby league, I think we've just about got everyone else pipped, even with our injured squad.

We have an incredible toughness and I'd say the best defense in the comp when it's on point, as well as just enough maturity mixed with youth. What we will need is a fit and healthy Radley, Verrills and Walker. Teddy and Jared will do what they do, along with our usual customers, but those three could really give us a little point of difference relative to last year (where we had none of them).

[ROC181]

Yes, the vermin’s cody walker IMHO.

I didn’t read every post in this thread before responding with my choice of player. Good to see others here feel the same way.

I agree about Cody Walker. To me he is the most obnoxious player on & off the field. With Luai, well he was being arrogant before it all went on the media about them but he’s toned it down. I think his arrogance is partly to do with their form they’ve had since last year and it’s gone to their heads plus the arrogance of Cleary snr. Cleary snr may have played for us but there’s an arrogance streak in him probably picked up from his days in the northern beaches. I’m willing to give Luai another chance. Him Being from a Samoan background I can see his mother giving him a clip on the ear if he misbehaves...lol!

[ROC181]

I am hoping that after this SOO game, Lady Luck leaves Penrith & Storm and they can suffer the amount of misfortunes that we have HD to indure for over a year...

[Mickie Lane]

Luai is a dickhead but the ‘most dislikeable’ goes to Cody Walker, he has the mental fortitude of a toddler, easy to unsettle which is why he’s no big game player never has been.

Honourable mentions of current active players Will Chambers, Jordan Rapana, Josh McGuire, Addin Fonua Blakeq, Mitchell Moses, Nathan Brown.

Retired and good riddance Justin Hodges.

I’m a bit disappointed that Latrell didn’t make your list.