There’s one thing I can promise you about this Sunday’s clash between Penrith and the Warriors: the scoreline won’t reflect the 62-6 shellacking the Panthers handed out back in round 10.
Too much has happened since then for a scoreline like that to repeat itself. In fact, much has been said about how Matt Elliott and the Warriors used that embarrassing
May night at Penrith Stadium as a line in the sand; a moment in time that changed their season.
Don’t think for one second that the Warriors won’t be thinking about that game this weekend.
They will want to right the wrong.
Now, in round 23, the Warriors find themselves above Penrith on the ladder and very much in the mix for a position in the top eight.
Some have said the Warriors’ run has come to an end following losses to Cronulla and Manly, but the Auckland-based side was exceptionally competitive in both of those matches; so much so that a bounce of the ball their way could have changed the result in both cases.
Manly were a class above them last Sunday but the Warriors never gave up and the 27-12 final scoreline was hardly an embarrassment.
I really like the Warriors’ brand of football and with matches against the Panthers, Titans and Raiders in the next three weeks, their destiny is in their own hands as all of these clubs are right there in the top eight mix with them. They finish with the Dragons, a match that could ultimately decide their fate.
As for the Panthers, disappointing is probably not a strong enough word to describe their effort against the Cowboys last Sunday night.
While they were still in the match at half-time, down 12-4, the second half was a shambles and Penrith simply couldn’t do anything right.
Injuries have taken their toll, and one never likes to question a team’s commitment, but a few players out there looked like they were thinking about their end of season trip rather than the task at hand.
There’s no doubt that the return of Lachlan Coote and Sam McKendry boosts the Panthers, and both will be better for the run when they come up against the Warriors this Sunday.
Coote in particular added some much-needed spark last weekend and it looks like his return will provide some attacking flair in the last month of the season.
The Warriors will be deserved favourites for this clash; and for Penrith to be competitive, someone needs to put their hand up and lead the side through what will be a tough afternoon at Mount Smart Stadium.
Perhaps that person will be Kevin Kingston, who tries his guts out every week but simply failed to make an impact against the Cowboys.
Or maybe Tim Grant will give us some of the form that earned him an Origin call-up last year, but has only been seen in patches this season.
There’s no doubt that the Panthers are hurting – their dressing room resembles a hospital ward and it’s been a long, tough season.
It’s kind of like being at the gym – you’ve been working out for an hour, you’ve given it all you’ve got, you’re covered in sweat and you feel you can’t do anything else.
Your trainer is telling you you’ve got five minutes left in the session.
The real champions will fight the pain. They’ll rise above the adversity, and do that extra set. The pretenders will rush straight to the change room, content with “near enough is good enough”.
Just which category Penrith falls into could well be determined on Sunday.
