Pre-Game Panthers V Manly [Round 8, 2025]

[Jethro]

100% win percentage with her reffing our games

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Here is a little bit more information on the 2020 Rnd 2 game, Chooks (H) 8 v Manly (A) 9, was played under the Two Referee System where Ben Cummins was the Primary Referee and she was the 2nd Referee.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Right down the bottom after this game , gee that's something to look forward to isn’t it.

And just to think , a month ago we were touted as top 4 material.

 

[nightster]

This one might get very ugly I think. I just can't see any way we contain Penrith in the middle of the park. Our defence is horrible, really horrible, and we just don't seem to be able to tough out a win against sides who like to go set for set. Our wins come off the back of gaining continued possession, which is something I can't see happening against Penrith.

Lock up Cleary, Yeo and Dylan Edwards and we have a shot at not being embarrassed

 

[manly al]

Much will depend on the general fitness level of Alioia , Bully and Brown , if they can hold up all right , should be able to stay relatively competitive in the middle .
And that does not take into account Turbo of course .
In the circumstances , more likely Navale to come on to the bench instaed of Gordy and also presumably Faulao .
Jass can always revert to a 9 role if necessary .
T T 2 could even end up playing in the backrow into the match at whatever time
Not sure of the latest weather forecast , just hope that Manly 's attack can gell pretty much from the get go .
No reason why the side can not put in another quite reasonable effort defensively but somehow to stick a bit better at times to restrict the off loads .
Shouldn "t be a lack of motivation from both sides but again like the last game, think that D C E and Brooks have to go quite well , didn "t really sufficiently happen last week unfortunately

 

[mickqld]

This one might get very ugly I think. I just can't see any way we contain Penrith in the middle of the park. Our defence is horrible, really horrible, and we just don't seem to be able to tough out a win against sides who like to go set for set. Our wins come off the back of gaining continued possession, which is something I can't see happening against Penrith.

Controlling possession and field position, yep that would be up to your halves. Ohh that's right we a persisting with a halfback, captain, leader who has shat on the club publicly and can't wait to bail out. Currently phoning in his efforts. Yeah don't think I'll even bother watching.

 

[Rafferty]

If we can’t turn up for this one, it’s well and truely over, Tom back is a big boost, our season is pretty much hanging on us winning this one, a loss is not an option for the playing group, dropping to equal last (yep the chooks will be winning latter today) it will just about spell the end.

Kenny is a huge out for them, he leads their line speed and defends his arse off in the middle.

Funnily enough I think this game is one where we should play expansive footy, there’s no way we go through their middles, it’s there left edge that holds the key for us, Talagi, McLean, Jenkins (is Saab definitely out? that’s a killer blow, with Turbo back, they were our key, young McLean can get caught out and Jenkins is a bit erratic, he has the odd error in him and Talagi’s defensive reads at five eight can be exposed, his still on his L plates there.

Our big men should go at Talagi every chance they get, then turn Tom and Koula back in at him latter in the game off our spreads. If we can’t hold the ball and have good discipline, not much will matter anyway, I think we have a slight chance if everything goes our way. If Penrith turn up and their on, we will just struggle, but if we turn up and start well, stranger things have happened, at the end of the day I would remind you to gamble wisely.

Last note, we need our captain to turn up, if he wants to play origin, his running out of opportunities, we need his kicking game to be bang on, get us down town, earn us a 20/40 or 2 and put on some quality end of attacking set kicks together, here’s hoping, it may not be as bad as everyone thinks.

 

[stoodamire]

Weather looks to be ass tomorrow night. Won’t suit our game style at all.

Completion rate will be lucky to be above 70%

 

[Chunkytuna]

Even if we did somehow jag a surprise win tomorrow (which you just never know with this team) we’re likely to turn around and lose our next home game vs Cronulla. We’re just so inconsistent. The exact same thing happened last year. We somehow turned up and beat Penrith and we all got excited at the positive progress. Then the next week (or the week after that) we bomb a very winnable game. It’s just rinse and repeat sadly.

 

[Darknstormy]

Haven 't looked or not looking that far ahead
, Just would seem so much better for a range of reasons to somehow jag a win this week and added to the subsequent bye points the next week, would make it 5 from 9 which sound even marginally , a bit better and hope then 4 from 9 including the bye .
The Sharks then i think who are not that dominant at present .
After that absolutely no idea

Yeah well you never know they may jag a win this week but consistency is the key and we lost that key10 yrs ago…gee it would be nice to be consistently competitive again

 

[Pete W]

If we can’t turn up for this one, it’s well and truely over, Tom back is a big boost, our season is pretty much hanging on us winning this one, a loss is not an option for the playing group, dropping to equal last (yep the chooks will be winning latter today) it will just about spell the end.

Kenny is a huge out for them, he leads their line speed and defends his arse off in the middle.

Funnily enough I think this game is one where we should play expansive footy, there’s no way we go through their middles, it’s there left edge that holds the key for us, Talagi, McLean, Jenkins (is Saab definitely out? that’s a killer blow, with Turbo back, they were our key, young McLean can get caught out and Jenkins is a bit erratic, he has the odd error in him and Talagi’s defensive reads at five eight can be exposed, his still on his L plates there.

Our big men should go at Talagi every chance they get, then turn Tom and Koula back in at him latter in the game off our spreads. If we can’t hold the ball and have good discipline, not much will matter anyway, I think we have a slight chance if everything goes our way. If Penrith turn up and their on, we will just struggle, but if we turn up and start well, stranger things have happened, at the end of the day I would remind you to gamble wisely.

Last note, we need our captain to turn up, if he wants to play origin, his running out of opportunities, we need his kicking game to be bang on, get us down town, earn us a 20/40 or 2 and put on some quality end of attacking set kicks together, here’s hoping, it may not be as bad as everyone thinks.

Love your optimism, and we should be optimistic given this kind of feels like the last stand.

Unfortunately, I see nothing but an almighty shellacking coming our way. Probably the most feeble middle third in the comp, now missing Jake with our other defensive stalwart Croker. No Paseka, and guys like Bullemor and Brown most likely not at full fitness. DCE saga, Saab possibly out. If Penrith come with their big names in form, this will be a depressing 80 mins.

 

[Brookie1973]

Weather looks to be ass tomorrow night. Won’t suit our game style at all.

Completion rate will be lucky to be above 70%

We have a game style?

 

[Rafferty]

Love your optimism, and we should be optimistic given this kind of feels like the last stand.

Unfortunately, I see nothing but an almighty shellacking coming our way. Probably the most feeble middle third in the comp, now missing Jake with our other defensive stalwart Croker. No Paseka, and guys like Bullemor and Brown most likely not at full fitness. DCE saga, Saab possibly out. If Penrith come with their big names in form, this will be a depressing 80 mins.

I don’t disagree with any of that and I’m not really optimistic Pete, definitely more a case of the last stand. I’m certainly not declaring us by any means, actually a big loss is the most likely outcome, however I’m thinking there is a small window of opportunity if everything goes our way and strangely enough, I’m looking forward to the game, hopefully we’ll put in a spirited effort, if we dial this one in, the whole lot of them can get fuked.

I tipped the Donkeys last night, however the most impressive thing was the Dogs and their second half effort, down 34 nil, they didn’t throw in the towel, sure they lost but they won the second half, which is pretty impressive, must feel good to follow a side that digs in no matter what, I bet Des is looking forward to playing them next week, not.

 

[Wombat64]

I had been working on a special lube blend specifically for this game but after some thought and considering the round I've decided to put the lube away for the game against Panthers. I will be raw dogging this match #rawdogformanly

In the words of the immortal Clubber Lang

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I had been working on a special lube blend specifically for this game but after some thought and considering the round I've decided to put the lube away for the game against Panthers. I will be raw dogging this match #rawdogformanly

In the words of the immortal Clubber Lang

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Going in DRY

Lots of pain coming

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Here’s the thing , Penrith lost 4 ( or was it 5 ) in a row and won last weekend, their mojo is back ( although maybe not the same as the last 4 years )

Unless the wheels absolutely fall off ( for them ) there’s not a chance in hedes we’ll pull an upset , not in the fog that currently exists surrounding our team.

I think it helps your mental state when you don’t get too hopeful and it’s ends in disappointment so I’m going with an absolute shellacking , and if it’s anything different , well that’s a bonus.

 

[The Who]

Here’s the thing , Penrith lost 4 ( or was it 5 ) in a row and won last weekend, their mojo is back ( although maybe not the same as the last 4 years )

Unless the wheels absolutely fall off ( for them ) there’s not a chance in hedes we’ll pull an upset , not in the fog that currently exists surrounding our team.

I think it helps your mental state when you don’t get too hopeful and it’s ends in disappointment so I’m going with an absolute shellacking , and if it’s anything different , well that’s a bonus.

Agreed. I've tipped against Manly in the past three matches, hoping to be wrong. I'd much rather a Manly win than earning a point in my tipping competition. Sadly, I feel our season is cooked, again.
I had thought we'd finish 5th or 6th but I've lost all confidence in a revival.
I imagine I'm now going into each match with the mindset of an old North Sydney supporter; Expecting a loss to mitigate any feeling of dred, but jagging a win will evoke a week-long celebration.