Why I Like the Panthers

As some readers would know (and I know you’re reading so please comment!) part of my job involves watching rugby league during the winter. On Saturday I sat down to cover the match between the Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers. In all honesty it wasn’t a match I was really looking forward to. I didn’t think the Panthers were much chop this year and while the Tigers are entertaining enough, with Brett Hodgson gone and Daine Lawrie absent there was no one in the side I really enjoy watching. I tipped the Tigers and needed the win, but even in the match preview I found myself cheering the Panthers.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the Panthers. I’m a fan of the coach, the captain is a Queensland legend and the young guys have talent. I just didn’t think they had enough in them creatively to get to the top eight…now I’m cheering them on every week!! They’re a team that will have you pulling your hair out but that’s what makes watching them so damn exciting! They’re in need of a halfback…Sammut seems a fullback to me and Lewis is a decent enough five-eighth or lock he isn’t a real creative genius.

BUT…they do have guys like Lachlan Coote, Wade Graham and Michael Jennings lurking around and these boys have talent. They’re far from superstars but boy they’re worth watching. Jennings especially screams danger down that left side. Each time he got the ball in any semblance of free space the word ‘TROUBLE’ went off like a siren in my head. New South Wales could use a bloke as dangerous as him but that’s their problem.

Coote showed his talent in the opening seconds of the game when he instigated an 80 metre break from the kick-off. The kid is elusive and skilful at the back and is probably a major reason for Rhys Wesser playing at Souths this year.

The other guy I rate is Graham…he looks a decent half or five-eighth but is still very green. Coach Elliott dropped him to start the season; something aimed at improvement rather than punishment, and has started him from the bench the next two weeks. I think Graham is a good 60 minute player right now but if he stays fit and plays well will be in the six jersey fulltime by seasons end.

Yeah the Panthers will give you the shits from time to time. They’ll drop their bundle and at times they might not even be able to buy a try. But my word they’ll entertain and give you something to watch. Plus they’re a good team to cheer on…they have no real enemies in the NRL world but they won’t back down. Plus they won’t quit and their coach is one of the two or three character coaches (Brian Smith is the other and Wayne Bennett to an extent) left in the game.

Get on the Panthers for the top eight!! Even if you don’t tip them every week just try and enjoy watching them…and don’t be afraid to cheer them just a little bit!

Now that I’ve mentioned tipping…DON’T even get me started on the state of my tipping this year! Abysmal is one term that comes to mind but there’s heaps of better judges worse off. I heard ‘Gus’ Gould on Triple M for Monday Night Football last night say he was sitting on 0 and had tipped the Cowboys! A big old duck for the great man we all love to hate.

I can’t believe this but if you want an upset this week…take the Eels over the Dragons. No team has won four in a row this year and on paper this should be the Dragons by 20plus. But it’s that sort of competition where Parramatta, who are probably the worst team I’ve seen in three or four years, could just pull this one off. I’m not tipping them though! NOTE – I wrote this before the Brett Finch stuff happened today!

Tips this week: Brisbane, Dragons, Melbourne, Canberra, Cowboys, Manly, Warriors, Bulldogs
Last week: 3/8 (Total: 16/32)
Winning percentage: 50%

That’s all from me this week, I’m off on holidays for Easter. Please feel free to drop me a comment at http://keytonrlhits.blogspot.com or at andrew.keyte@gmail.com .

Catch ya later,
Keyto