Anyone else feeling like Penrith are the true dark horse of the comp? Cleary showed what a terrific game manager he is and that kicking game just makes life so hard for the opposition. They'll get Fisher-Harris and To'o back and they're full of energy after a mid-season slump. I reckon they could out enthuse the Storm on the big day. Sleeping Giant they are.
I think we can make a Prelim but are a year away from really challenging.
I have them as the clear favourites, with Cleary playing, however I’m not ready to concede Melbourne will be their opponent just yet (I’m sticking to the probability of us finding the self belief and motivation to get there, we have the talent if the boys want it bad enough) if Melbourne make it, which I strongly doubt, I believe Penrith will win on the back of last years loss and especially with the up tempo game they can sustain against what I will still call a very fatigued Melbourne side, the exception to this theory is if Melbourne win week 1 and earn a rest, then they might be able to find the petrol to prevail, given their mental advantage, providing they win the prelim, which for mine is still not a given, they are as vulnerable as they have been in a long time and south’s or us may just get them yet if it falls that way.
Thinking about how you mentioned Parra turning things around after 4 bad games is very different to what I believe Melbourne have endured both Physically and Mentally to stay up for their record equaling run. Of course they can turn up and last week will just be forgotten, but I’m sure their fatigue was there for everyone to see, it has been showing for a number of weeks now, regardless I’m sure they will start hard and run hard for 60 min no matter what, I’m sure all the coaches will have seen what I’m saying and will use it their advantage and to motivate their side to stay in the game, if a side can’t gain the early ascendency. Melbourne are as vulnerable as they have been in a long time and any side in the finals that can find a strong 80 will be right in it, the last 20 mins will be where they will struggle and can be beaten, stay in the grind and the game is there to win.
It was interesting listening to Bellamy in the pressers, i‘ll say it, I think his demeanor was speaking volumes, his no goose and I think reality was hitting home last night, I know they have Finucane and NAS to come back fresh but I still don’t think that will be enough and Bellamy knows it. He made mention of Kafusi’s mile stone and the importance of last nights game, he wasn‘t his usual self in spite of the loss, it might just be a case of me wanting to see what I want to see but it’s the way I’m seeing it at moment, if I’m wrong no big deal, but I have a strong feeling Bellamy has seen the writing on the wall, they have over played their hand again during the regular season, he was aware of it last year and i think the realisation of perhaps mistiming it again this year (chasing the record winning streak or just over exercising their winning culture, it’s going to make it extremely hard to freshen up his side off the back of their season with what’s left of the year) so only time will tell now, I guess we will just have to wait and see.
In the meantime I look forward to watching our boys play and hone their game for our tilt at this, because we are in it and there’s no better chance than right now, we maybe building as a side, but there is no guarantee at a shot next year, to many unknowns, but we have one this year guaranteed, it’s up to the lads now, I just hope they want it bad enough to find the gut and drive to bring it home, I’m on us to do this until it turns out otherwise.
