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Warrick Nicolson | 07/02/08
VIDEO - Civoniceva honoured to be Panthers captain
AUDIO - We've forgotten about 2007: Luke Priddis
STATE OF PLAY
The dreaded Wooden Spoon was delivered to the foot of the mountains for the first time since 2001 and the fourth time since the Panthers entered the competition in 1967.
When you consider the club won the Grand Final in 2003 and finished just a game short in 2004; things in Penrith can turn around very quickly. The chance of a positive turnaround happening this year, however, seems remote.
Last 3 Finishes:
2005: 10th
2006: 12th
2007: 16th
ROSTER ROUND-UP
Matthew Elliott’s roster clean out began during the first half of 2007 and by the time the off-season was upon us, three regular starters were no longer with the club.
Craig Gower, Peter Wallace and Joel Clinton signed elsewhere and part timers Bryan Norrie, Matt Cross, Brett Firman, Nick Youngquest and Liam Georgetown had been sent on their way.
The end result is encouraging as Elliott managed to entice Australian prop Petero Civoniceva, Adam Woolnough, Joe Williams, Brad Tighe and untested Canberra junior Josh McCrone to the Panthers for 2008.
Gower didn’t have a strong final season with the club, but his presence will be missed unless Joe Williams harnesses his talents quickly and finds some consistency at the NRL level.
McCrone will be a fresh-faced rookie and 21-year-old Jarrod Sammut, who made a nice impression in his first year, could be surprise options in the halves if Williams, and his namesake Richie Williams – fail to deliver in the trials.
Luke Lewis was given three games at five-eighth to end 2007 but the club is best served with him at centre and two ballplayers in the halves.
Luke Priddis looked frustrated with the Panthers attacking structure under Elliott and didn’t play his best football in 2007.
But he is still a quality hooker and has a lot to offer the team if he can buy into the system.
Priddis was not the only Panther to have a down year as Tony Puletua, Frank Pritchard and Luke Rooney all struggled to make a positive impact.
Pritchard’s 14 tries are deceiving if you only equate form with scoring tries when playing as a second rower. His defence was abysmal, and both he and Puletua must rediscover their intensity as defenders, or they will both earn a ticket out of town.
Penrith aren’t short of good players but the team really struggled to overcome the absence of Trent Waterhouse from the pack.
With Waterhouse in the line-up the Panthers won 50% of their matches, making it a pity he only played eight games. Nathan Smith was a nice surprise as Waterhouse’s injury replacement but he was a defensive plug and nothing more.
Civoniceva and Woolnough are a massive upgrade over the Clinton/insert-average-prop-name-here combination of a year ago.
Frank Puletua is as solid a third string prop as you will find, while Tim Grant and Matthew Bell will benefit greatly from Civoniceva’s leadership. The club will expect to see more from Junior Moors and Peewee Moke should they force their way into the NRL team.
Michael Jennings was a super find and if Rhys Wesser and Rooney can find their scoring touch again in 2008, the Panthers have three legitimate tryscorers in their backline. Teenager Greg Waddell could make it four if he’s given an audition in the top grade.
STRONGEST LINE-UP
1. WESSER, Rhys
2. SAMMUT, Jarrod
3. JENNINGS, Michael
4. GORDON, Michael
5. ROONEY, Luke
6. LEWIS, Luke
7. WILLIAMS, Joe
8. CIVONICEVA, Petero
9. PRIDDIS, Luke
10. WOOLNOUGH, Adam
11. PULETUA, Tony
12. RODNEY, Shane
13. WATERHOUSE, Trent
14. SMITH, Nathan
15. PRITCHARD, Frank
16. PULETUA, Frank
17. AITON, Paul
FEARLESS FORECAST
Penrith have made a wise investment in Civoniceva, and Elliott will have had another six months to implement his structure but it is hard to see the Panthers making any significant strides in 2008.
That’s not to say the side can’t improve on their eight wins of a year ago, but a lot is riding on the shoulders of Joe Williams to prove he can be the answer at halfback.
If he fails then Elliott might not get a chance to either pursue a big name number seven, or ease teenage sensation Wade Graham into the NRL in 2009.
PREDICTED RECORD: 7-17
PREDICTED FINISH: Wooden Spooners
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