NRL Grand Final Discussion - Penrith vs Broncos
- Thread starter 1995warriorsfan
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What a fantastic game to finish the season on. Whether you like them or loathe them, there is no doubt that these two teams were the best in the competition this year. It was fitting they went at it in the title decider, and it was great to see two teams with distinctly different styles of attacking play and points of difference. Prior to the game I thought the Panthers would probably be fairly comfortable winners, but by midway through the second half it was definitely the Broncos game to lose.
I think the game was won in the first half as the Panthers were very dominant with possession and field position. At 8-0 and the Broncos making errors I thought the Panthers would go on with it just because of the energy the Broncos had used up. To go in at halftime 8-6 would have been a massive boost for them and that’s what it looked like just after halftime. Broncos came out with energy and the Panthers strangely looked out on their feet at times during that third quarter. For the most part, Penrith did a good job of limiting quality offloads and that second phase ball that Brisbane like to exploit with their speed. Reece Walsh had far fewer opportunities with the ball but still managed to look dangerous and created the final Brisbane try, though it was very unlike the Panthers and Cleary to rush out and get beaten like he did. But fast players can make your decision making harder and it looked a little like a panic play from Cleary. Walsh looked electric at times but just had fewer opportunities to take advantage of, yet still found a way to break the game open for the Broncos. Ezra Mam showed how good a player he is and will continue to be. Three tries in a Grand Final to give your side a 24-8 lead late in the game is an amazing effort. The Broncos have to be one of the most exciting teams to watch with their speed and ability to create opportunities. That last twenty minutes was all the Panthers though. I think the first half effort took its toll on the Broncos and it started to show. Adam Reynolds kicking game wasn’t great and he needed to be that calm head when the Broncos most needed it – possibly a bit harsh, but quite probably a big factor in them losing the game in that last quarter. Luai going off and Jack Cogger coming on straightened up the Panthers attack. Interestingly Yeo was off for an HIA for much of the comeback as well. This may or may not have forced Cleary to take the game on, but that would be the most clutch 20 minutes of play and in the biggest game of the season I have seen. And it was controlled and in the structure that they have used all year. There wasn’t any risky play, chancy offloads or 50/50 kicks. They just backed themselves and their process. Stephen Crichton was huge for them too with some key plays.
Broncos should be very proud of their season and how they have played even though they will be obviously disappointed with the loss. Panthers deserving winners and is there a slight Chicago Bulls type three peat feel about them?
Fantastic season and Congratulations to both teams.
Some final points that I see that relate to the Warriors.
We need to trust in what we know works for us and players need to own their roles. When we have individuals doing their own thing, particularly in defence, is when we struggle.
Our bench is too small. Nothing that hasn’t been mentioned before. Its fine to have Walker and a utility like maybe CHT, but the other two need to have some size to them and be impactful with the ball in hand. We are short one good hard running prop.
We are a couple of steps behind both of these teams. They make you work hard all game and are always looking for opportunities with and without the ball. Broncos trying for one-on-one strips, Panthers forcing up on Reece Walsh when he was running across his goal line - we probably hold our line and slide there rather than spot the opportunity. We are probably a season or two behind in that regard, where it becomes instinctual as a team.
Goal kicking in big games is crucial. No missed goal kicks by either team in the grand final when a miss could have been the deciding factor.
The more I think about it the more I think RTS is going to make a massive difference for us if he adapts quickly. I like Berry and Pompey, but mainly because I think they are good hard workers. RTS is going to add that explosiveness, speed and X-factor that provides us with that extra threat and point of attack we need to go up a level.
This off season is going to be huge for us. We aren’t starting from scratch. We have a year of Webolution under our belts. Will be interesting to see which players can take it to that next level and which ones have reached their peak.
With some notable players leaving these two top teams I think this coming season is our best chance to close the gap and challenge for the title. 2024 will be our best opportunity for a while so hopefully we get a good run injury free and a fairly favourable draw – we are 5-0 against the top 4 sides this season…. And not a good record against the Roosters and Bunnies either – funnily enough sides that have a bit of size about them in their forward packs.
On to next season! Looking forward to it and whatever it may bring.
I think the game was won in the first half as the Panthers were very dominant with possession and field position. At 8-0 and the Broncos making errors I thought the Panthers would go on with it just because of the energy the Broncos had used up. To go in at halftime 8-6 would have been a massive boost for them and that’s what it looked like just after halftime. Broncos came out with energy and the Panthers strangely looked out on their feet at times during that third quarter. For the most part, Penrith did a good job of limiting quality offloads and that second phase ball that Brisbane like to exploit with their speed. Reece Walsh had far fewer opportunities with the ball but still managed to look dangerous and created the final Brisbane try, though it was very unlike the Panthers and Cleary to rush out and get beaten like he did. But fast players can make your decision making harder and it looked a little like a panic play from Cleary. Walsh looked electric at times but just had fewer opportunities to take advantage of, yet still found a way to break the game open for the Broncos. Ezra Mam showed how good a player he is and will continue to be. Three tries in a Grand Final to give your side a 24-8 lead late in the game is an amazing effort. The Broncos have to be one of the most exciting teams to watch with their speed and ability to create opportunities. That last twenty minutes was all the Panthers though. I think the first half effort took its toll on the Broncos and it started to show. Adam Reynolds kicking game wasn’t great and he needed to be that calm head when the Broncos most needed it – possibly a bit harsh, but quite probably a big factor in them losing the game in that last quarter. Luai going off and Jack Cogger coming on straightened up the Panthers attack. Interestingly Yeo was off for an HIA for much of the comeback as well. This may or may not have forced Cleary to take the game on, but that would be the most clutch 20 minutes of play and in the biggest game of the season I have seen. And it was controlled and in the structure that they have used all year. There wasn’t any risky play, chancy offloads or 50/50 kicks. They just backed themselves and their process. Stephen Crichton was huge for them too with some key plays.
Broncos should be very proud of their season and how they have played even though they will be obviously disappointed with the loss. Panthers deserving winners and is there a slight Chicago Bulls type three peat feel about them?
Fantastic season and Congratulations to both teams.
Some final points that I see that relate to the Warriors.
We need to trust in what we know works for us and players need to own their roles. When we have individuals doing their own thing, particularly in defence, is when we struggle.
Our bench is too small. Nothing that hasn’t been mentioned before. Its fine to have Walker and a utility like maybe CHT, but the other two need to have some size to them and be impactful with the ball in hand. We are short one good hard running prop.
We are a couple of steps behind both of these teams. They make you work hard all game and are always looking for opportunities with and without the ball. Broncos trying for one-on-one strips, Panthers forcing up on Reece Walsh when he was running across his goal line - we probably hold our line and slide there rather than spot the opportunity. We are probably a season or two behind in that regard, where it becomes instinctual as a team.
Goal kicking in big games is crucial. No missed goal kicks by either team in the grand final when a miss could have been the deciding factor.
The more I think about it the more I think RTS is going to make a massive difference for us if he adapts quickly. I like Berry and Pompey, but mainly because I think they are good hard workers. RTS is going to add that explosiveness, speed and X-factor that provides us with that extra threat and point of attack we need to go up a level.
This off season is going to be huge for us. We aren’t starting from scratch. We have a year of Webolution under our belts. Will be interesting to see which players can take it to that next level and which ones have reached their peak.
With some notable players leaving these two top teams I think this coming season is our best chance to close the gap and challenge for the title. 2024 will be our best opportunity for a while so hopefully we get a good run injury free and a fairly favourable draw – we are 5-0 against the top 4 sides this season…. And not a good record against the Roosters and Bunnies either – funnily enough sides that have a bit of size about them in their forward packs.
On to next season! Looking forward to it and whatever it may bring.
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The Mam histrionics / Walsh doing the pukana wound me up in the prelim.
Bit in fairness the Warriors crowd singing "Na Na Na Naaa Goodbye" against Newcastle was pretty disrespectful.
It's the NZ based Broncos fans that had me all in on Panthers - they're the worst local fanbase here by a long shot.
Yeah I wasn't a fan of the hey hey goodbye song in the context of that game, I've always associated it with bad guy wrestlers/managers that are ejected from ringside in dramatic fashion by WWF/WWE refs after some dastardly cheating, so didn't seem right against the Knights.
Would've been better for a despised team like Storm or Broncs in which case I'd be perfectly fine with it
And the Heeeeeey Baby (Hoo Ha) song is generic stadium singalong #3 so I wouldn't read too much into the crowd using it as a jab against us, I must've heard it a thousand times at various events in the last 20 odd years
Cause of all the saltiness that peeps want to put on on Reece Walsh (which i get) this seems to be massively overlooked.
Imo the 2 most costly plays (or lack of them) came from their experienced play maker who was supposed to provide the cool head.
The set leading up to Clearys try Bronco's were down the Panthers end and strangely he elected a nothing pass to take the tackle on the last to meekly hand over possesion which Panthers then rolled up the field from.......didnt even need a kick to try and catch them in the in goal but at least put it deep in a corner to try and pin them down their end shouldve been the play.
Then following that after Penrith had rolled up the park and engineered a kick restart. The drop out he went for shouldve of been either short to try and regain possession, or long to soak up some tackles. Looked like he was trying to go for the sideline which ended up being a nothing in between kick which Panthers got back to the Broncos line after 2 tackles.......Cleary scores next.
Tbh these were the 2 most costly match defining plays imo.
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What a game to top off a super season.
Although they lost , the Broncos did show that speed is essential in the NRL.
Although they lost , the Broncos did show that speed is essential in the NRL.
He played well for sure but the score was still only 12-8 to the Broncos when he came on........it blew out to 24-8 not long after that.
Cleary owning the moments after that the difference for them.......imo.
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I think that's what happens when you have bandwagon fans. They haven't been through the tough times and don't understand to respect the opponent, they just here for a good time and slam the warriors when they do badly.
It's like Mexican wave, I haven't seen one in ages until nearing the finals and of course at the Newcastle game.
We wouldn’t have beaten either team in the GF. I hope the panthers arnt this dominant our whole premiership window
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Defence
Contributor
Especially if your fullback is walking behind the posts having a drink of water instead of following the ball in case it gets tapped back……
Haha i thought that sort of thing only happened to us.
U would think its short kick restart 101 to have players behind the ball for the tap off......not only Reece wtf was anyone? lol
Also old mate Herbie got up high, 2 hands to it......almost uncontested.....why not just catch the bloody thing?
Beastmode
Contributor
oh please, its not just bandwagon fans that are disrespectful... the problem is society and social media in general... you can call someone a karnt and not get punched in the face ...
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"He unlocked me": Cleary credits exiting half after stunning grand final performance
Cleary has paid tribute to a departing Panther.
www.zerotackle.com
Not a glowing endorsement for Luai but felt the game changed when Cogger came on. For whatever reason, Cleary owned it from that point on.
Yeah I wasn't a fan of the hey hey goodbye song in the context of that game, I've always associated it with bad guy wrestlers/managers that are ejected from ringside in dramatic fashion by WWF/WWE refs after some dastardly cheating, so didn't seem right against the Knights.
Would've been better for a despised team like Storm or Broncs in which case I'd be perfectly fine with it
And the Heeeeeey Baby (Hoo Ha) song is generic stadium singalong #3 so I wouldn't read too much into the crowd using it as a jab against us, I must've heard it a thousand times at various events in the last 20 odd years
Songs like that and the guitar riff from "Kashmir" (much as I like it) need to be told by every Stadium Music Controller/Ground Announcer that they're being benched for the next 5 years at least. Take a hit for the team.
The ultimate insult for me would be opposition fans doing their team's victory chant at you at Half Time...
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Matiunz
Contributor
This interview with Cleary sauced after an all nighter certainly shows a different side to Ivan
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