The worst thing any professional sporting team can do is live in the past, but of course, the fact that former Panther Michael Jennings scored two tries for the Roosters against his old club on Sunday makes for good headlines and newspaper copy, so such coverage was expected.
Jennings’ feats combined with the fact that Luke Lewis produced a man-of-the-match performance for Cronulla against Newcastle added to plenty of talk on Twitter, Facebook and the media in general about the Panthers’ decisions of the past and where the club is headed.
But the bottom line is this: what’s done is done.
For some time now, the focus of Phil Gould, Phil Moss and Ivan Cleary has been on the future. The senior management know, however, that long-term vision must be matched with at least some short and medium-term success, hence the signings of players like Jamie Soward and Brent Kite, who will help take the club through the next two or three years while the rejuvenated junior development system starts to show its fruits.
As for 2013, things are looking a little rough. Last weekend’s loss to the Roosters was nowhere near as embarrassing as the scoreline may suggest, but there’s little doubt that the side didn’t have the cattle to compete when the going got tough.
THE LITTLE THINGS
Penrith face an enormous task this weekend against a Melbourne side that rarely loses two games in a row. If the Panthers are to put up a competitive showing, they must get the little things right. It was in this area where the side really let itself down last Sunday. David Simmons not being back for a 40/20 attempt, Clint Newton and Sika Manu dropping the ball at crucial moments, and a lack of commitment in defence once or twice really hurt the Panthers against the Roosters. Whilst it’s true that the Roosters were by far the better side, it was Penrith’s errors that really allowed them to score the points they did.
THE BIG THREE
Looking at the match day program this week and seeing the names Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk would make any Panthers player want to call in sick on Sunday. Nobody can deny it’s a tough task, particularly with the number of injuries Penrith have, including the long-term losses of Lachlan Coote and Sam McKendry.
Any side, however, is beatable on their day, and as Canberra showed last weekend, the Storm do have some weaknesses – particularly when it comes to their left side defence. Whilst Melbourne do boast impressive players all over the park, there is little doubt that the key to stopping them is putting the brakes on Slater, Smith and Cronk.
Luke Walsh must do that with a smart kicking game that ensures a stop-start approach to the match. Hopefully the enthusiasm of Isaac John, on debut, will ensure he has a big game against the Storm’s feared halves combination.
THE FINAL WORD
Melbourne are deserved short-priced favourites for this game and will probably win. If a Mother’s Day upset is to be caused, it’ll require an almost perfect game from the Panthers. Right now, that just doesn’t seem likely. But if the side displays as much courage and passion as they did in chunks last weekend against the Roosters, then they’ll certainly ensure Melbourne have to fight hard for the two competition points – and that’s all any Panther fan can ask for at this time.
Penrith play Melbourne on Sunday at 6.30pm at Penrith Stadium.
