Best of luck to
@ivanhungryjak @tommy and
@Waynesaurus ahead of tomorrow's game.
I have a similar feeling going into this game as 2019. Both teams are in eerily similar positions where Penrith are one of the all-time great teams looking cement their legacy while Parramatta have the motivation of breaking a long premiership drought.
Now that game ended up going down to the wire and there were a few what ifs for Canberra. What if Cummins' hadn't incorrectly signalled 6 again and caused Canberra to burn an end of set? What if Leilua had have passed to his unmarked winger? etc.
The thing was, Canberra hadn't beaten Sydney all year whereas Parramatta have beaten the Panthers twice. The Eels tend to match up well against the Panthers, better than most sides since 2020 with the exception of the FW1 game.
The Eels just could not get themselves in the game. They had to rely on Moses' kicking game to create momentum and they surrendered momentum too easily. Waqa Blake in particular struggled to defuse Cleary's kicks and it eventually took it's toll 50 minutes into the game as the Panthers ran away with it. If the Eels can address that, it will go a long way to making the game a lot closer.
The Eels need use both sides of the field more. In their last encounter, the Eels largely tried to play down their left hand side. The Eels have always looked their best when they've been able to go sideline to sideline and attack their short sides. In fact when they shifted right, they got a defensive error out of Taylan May which saw him sent to the bin and later on a defensive error from Leniu which could have easily been another stint, instead it just gave the Eels the lead momentarily. I'm sure Arthur would have recognised this, so I expect to see both Brown and Moses sweep over.
I also would not be shocked at all for the Eels to set up for a sweep only to turn it inside to Gutherson to catch out one of their forwards. The Panthers don't have many weak links, but they can be caught on the inside.
Penrith themselves could be better. Kikau blew two opportunities in the first half that kept the Eels in the game. Also their tactic of resting Koroisau for the opening 20 or so minutes has yet to pay dividends as the defence has been able to get away with better spacing. Like the Eels, the Panthers largely like to attack left but with Simonsson marking up against Crichton, you'd have to think Cleary will try to get him more quality ball.
I think tomorrow night, we'll see the Panthers cement their legacy as one of the all-time great teams. I think 2022 has largely been a one horse race but I expect a more competitive game than their last encounter.
But who cares what I think, Morkel has the inside line, so as long as he doesn't get tracked down and sent away you're better off listening to him.
