NRL 2021 Grand Final

[Big Pete]

PENRITH PANTHERS	SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
1. Dylan EDWARDS 2. Stephen CRICHTON 3. Paul MOMIROVSKI 4. Matt BURTON 5. Brian TO'O 6. Jarome LUAI 7. Nathan CLEARY 8. Moses LEOTA 9. Api KOROISAU 10. James FISHER-HARRIS 11. Viliame KIKAU 12. Kurt CAPEWELL 13. Isaah YEO 14. Tyrone MAY 15. Scott SORENSEN 16. Spencer LENIU 17. Liam MARTIN 18. Brent NADEN 19. Mitch KENNY 20. J'maine HOPGOOD 21. Charlie STAINES​	1. Blake TAAFFE 2. Alex JOHNSTON 3. Dane GAGAI 4. Campbell GRAHAM 5. Jaxson PAULO 6. Cody WALKER 7. Adam REYNOLDS 8. Mark NICHOLLS 9. Damien COOK 10. Tevita TATOLA 11. Keaon KOLOAMATANGI 12. Jaydn SU'A 13. Cameron MURRAY 14. Benji MARSHALL 15. Jacob HOST 16. Thomas BURGESS 17. Jai ARROW 18. Taane MILNE 19. Patrick MAGO 20. Braidon BURNS 21. Jed CARTWRIGHT
Ivan CLEARY​	Wayne BENNETT
Venue: Suncorp Stadium Date: 3rd of October 2021 Kick Off: 6:30pm​	Referee: Gerard Sutton Touch Judges: Dave Munro & Todd Smith Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

 

[Big Pete]

Team Changes

Penrith Panthers
IN: Moses Leota
OUT: Tevita Pangai Jr.

South Sydney
No Changes

Extended Squad Changes

Penrith Panthers
IN: Charlie Staines, Mitch Kenny
OUT: Izack Tago

South Sydney
No Changes

 

[Financeguy]

I think Panthers played their grand final last Saturday.

Souths victory for mine

 

[theshed]

I’ll be mostly cheering for Reynolds to not injure himself.

 

[Foordy]

Annesley whinging about the game having an "unhealthy obsession" with match officials"

he says:

“There is too much of an unhealthy focus around what referees do,” he said.

“This game should be about the players and the best team winning the competition, whoever that might be. We generally have an unhealthy obsession in rugby league about match officials.

“We announced the referee today as we always do because everyone needs to know who the match officials are.

“But after that we should be focusing on the 34 players who are going to take the field and the two coaches who are going to guide their teams through that 80 minutes.

“That’s where games are won and lost, not by who has got the whistle and the enforcement of the rules.

“Teams have got 80 minutes to try to win a game of football. While every decision a referee makes has an impact on the game, the players have got the ability in their own hands to turn the outcome of the game.”


Annesley put the onus on players and trainers to do the right thing.

“Referees are not doctors,” he said.

“We saw the incident a year or two ago with Nene Macdonald who had a serious leg fracture and the referees didn’t stop the game.

“It was a massive controversy over why the referees didn’t stop the game. If trainers request the game to be stopped, they are going to stop it.

“It’s not the referee’s job to determine whether it’s a legitimate stoppage or not.

“It’s not something the referees can take a risk with in trying to second guess whether the players are seriously injured or not.”

 

[Huge]

Perhaps if referees simply applied the rules evenly and fairly there wouldn't be such a focus on the selected officials. It's because refs 'control, manipulate and orchestrate' results with such unevenness that fan's interest are raised to such heights.

We don't think about traffic lights when they function correctly but when they don't ???

 

[The Strapper]

I just hope the game goes ahead now we have some covid infections to deal with.
Maybe they should consider bringing it forward to Friday night.

 

[Sproj]

Perhaps if referees simply applied the rules evenly and fairly there wouldn't be such a focus on the selected officials. It's because refs 'control, manipulate and orchestrate' results with such unevenness that fan's interest are raised to such heights.

We don't think about traffic lights when they function correctly but when they don't ???

Such simple logic, it’s mind boggling the guy in charge of it all can’t figure it out.

 

[The Strapper]

Only issue is the extreme weather event due to hit us over the next couple of days.

Between that and covid the game could be in trouble.

 

[Foordy]

the war in the media has started (not sure what took so long ... maybe they had to run out of Bennett/Broncos stories first)

anyway:

South lodged a formal complaint about the Panthers trainer being on the field so match in the Prelim. was on the field 13 times when on permitted 3 per half (unless there is a stoppage/ injury)

the Panthers CEO has called Souths childish


Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher says:

“It is childish stuff if that’s all Souths have got to worry about,” Fletcher said.

“If they are worried about that (Knowles’ activities), then hopefully it’s a distraction, because they won’t get under our skin.

“Souths were whinging about the blockers before our last game and that is a standard thing. Every team in the NRL does the same thing (with blockers).

“If Souths want to worry about the rules, that’s their problem. We have our eyes on the prize and that’s all we care about.

“They can try and get under our skin but we have experienced people and we are focused on winning the premiership.

“If they are trying to unsettle us, they might have to think of something else.”


Wayne Bennett says:

“I’ve got no comment. It’s got nothing to do with me,” he said.

“Ring our chief executive.”


Fletcher again:

“Hayden is one of the most experienced trainers in the game,” he said.

“He has been involved in State of Origin for NSW and done it for us.

“Out football manager Matt Cameron has reminded Hayden of his duties so we won’t be over-stepping the mark. There won’t be any dramas from our end.

“He is very well-respected in the industry and we won’t be getting involved in a slanging match with South Sydney over one of our employees.

“Is it such a big deal? Like most people watching a game, all I’m worried about are the players and the scoreboard.

“Hayden knows his role. He has been around a long time and he does what he can to help the team. How many times has Allan Langer (Broncos assistant) gone on the field as a trainer?

“We respect the fact that rules are rules and we will abide by them for the grand final.”


p.s. you have to laugh that in a war of words between GF opponents they still manage to drop us into the conversation

 

[Big Pete]

It reminds me of a report I was reading the other day circa 2005/06 about the Roosters getting a caution for having Ronnie Palmer out on the field for 40+ minutes.

It's amazing the go-to is always Alfie when Ronnie is just as if not moreso prevelant.

I wonder how many people know the name Trent Touma?

 

[1910]

It reminds me of a report I was reading the other day circa 2005/06 about the Roosters getting a caution for having Ronnie Palmer out on the field for 40+ minutes.

It's amazing the go-to is always Alfie when Ronnie is just as if not moreso prevelant.

I wonder how many people know the name Trent Touma?

Roosters/Blues trainer/Head of performance that got hit in the head, one minute into the GF?

He's off to the Rabbits next year.

 

[McHunt]

Massive honour for the club: one of our players has been chosen to ring the Foundation Bell.

You’re still the prince of Redfern: Crowe anoints Luke as grand final bell ringer

Russell Crowe messaged Issac Luke during the week to ask him to ring the foundation bell, which he purchased at auction for $42,000 in 1999.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Super Freak]

Crowd capacity has been reduced to 75%.

There have been two allocations for tickets. One to the general public and one that was for the fans of each club. The first 75% of tickets purchased in each allocation will be allowed to attend the GF. The rest of the tickets will be refunded.

So the crowd is going to be under 40k.

 

[john1420]

“If Souths want to worry about the rules, that’s their problem. We have our eyes on the prize and that’s all we care about."
Are you serious? If South's want to worry about the rules? Shouldn't everybody?
They should be sanctioned just for this comment!

 

[Foordy]

Today's Badel article is about how 3 former Broncos, now playing for Souths (Arrow, Gagai, Su'A) are thankful for being sacked.

although two of whom played for other clubs before linking with Souths

Arrow was even released by Bennett

 

[Jedhead]

Today's Badel article is about how 3 former Broncos, now playing for Souths (Arrow, Gagai, Su'A) are thankful for being sacked.

although two of whom played for other clubs before linking with Souths

Arrow was even released by Bennett

So pityful. Once we start winning again I wonder how much quicker he’ll be getting on the winning bandwagon?

 

[Kimlo]

Today's Badel article is about how 3 former Broncos, now playing for Souths (Arrow, Gagai, Su'A) are thankful for being sacked.

although two of whom played for other clubs before linking with Souths

Arrow was even released by Bennett

Is there a single quote or is it just dribbling Pete