Re: Panthers V Sea Eagles Teams, News Stats & Chat
Panthers can reduce these Manly men to pussycats
Greg Prichard | September 6, 2008
Penrith v Manly
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/panthers-can-stun-manly/2008/09/05/1220121528295.html
Tonight, CUA Stadium, 5.30pm
What the Panthers say:
They know they have let themselves down with their overall form this season. "There were a few crucial games where we just didn't turn up," said captain Petero Civoniceva. Now, he says, the Panthers have got to aim to finish on a strong note.
What the Eagles say:
Coach Des Hasler abhors the suggestion his side will be aiming to win by a big margin to make it as hard as possible for Melbourne to overtake them. "We don't care about the maths. We're aiming to win this game to guarantee a top-two finish, so that if we win in the first week of the finals we'll be guaranteed to get the second week off. Penrith have got a number of long-serving players who will be making their last appearance for the club, so there will be a lot of emotion behind them. And CUA Stadium is a hard ground to win at. We haven't done too well there recently, so we can't assume anything."
What Prichard says:
Hasler isn't making it up when he says the Sea Eagles have trouble winning at Penrith. They have lost six of their past seven games on the Panthers' turf. So they really do have to be careful and not come in short on intensity. But, if they do aim up, they should win. They have a huge amount to play for, while the Panthers can no longer make the finals after losing to the Warriors last weekend. Manly have got to believe the Panthers will rev up to try to finish their season the right way, just in case they do.
For Penrith to win:
They have got to give a damn, for a start. It is anyone's guess how they will react to their season being over, since during the 25 rounds in which it was alive they still managed to put in a few too many shabby performances, but Rhys Wesser, Luke Rooney, Shane Rodney, Tony Puletua and Luke Priddis will be making their farewells. That should be motivation enough for the team to lift, in a bid to send them out the right way. The Panthers have got to try to play off that emotion.
For the Eagles to win:
The rules are pretty simple. They have got to ignore the fact Penrith are out of the race for the finals and treat them as a very dangerous side, which they are, at their best. They have got to try to jam down hard on them and dominate from the start, because the longer the Panthers are in this game the more they will believe they can win.
The X-factor:
The attitude of the Panthers. If they are up for the game, they can be competitive. If they have mentally racked the cue on the season, they could cop a belting.
What the bookies say:
They are taking no chances with Manly, who are $1.16 favourites with Sportsbook.com.au. The Panthers are $5.35. The points start is 14.5.
The late mail:
The word yesterday was
Hasler would ease Jamie Lyon into his comeback off the bench, with one of the interchange players making way. That would most likely result in
Shane Neumann starting at centre, for the suspended Steve Matai.
Teams: Penrith: R Wesser, L Rooney, M Jennings, B Tighe, M Gordon, L Lewis, J Sammut, T Puletua, L Priddis, P Civoniceva (c), D Penese, T Waterhouse, N Smith. Res: (from) M Bell, M Blair, A Woolnough, P Aiton, F Puletua, M Iosefa.
Manly: B Stewart, M Robertson, S Bell, S Neumann, D Williams, S Menzies, M Orford (c), B Kite, M Ballin, J Perry, A Watmough, G Hall, G Stewart. Res: J Lyon, H L'Estrange, M Bryant, A Cuthbertson, J King.
so Des wants to punt 2 forwards off the team for 2 backs ?
am I missing something ?
) when I get back.
