Penrith’s defence was outstanding in the battle-of-the-west shootout against Parramatta on Saturday night – but the Panthers’ attack has become a concern.
The team that was scoring tries like they were going out of style in the first half of the season has now managed just one try in each of the past two weeks.
And the man the spotlight has to fall on is classy five-eighth Jarome Luai, who seems to have lost his way in a long and demanding season.
Luai was the form pivot of the NRL up until State of Origin, with 14 try assists and an average of 73 running metres per game in the opening 12 rounds.
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But during and after Origin, Luai has struggled.
From round 13 until last weekend’s tight win over the Eels, he has come up with just four try assists and his average running metres have dropped to 46.
Up against Luai next weekend is the Storm’s in-form five-eighth Cameron Munster, who gives the premiers a clear edge in attack.
Luai needs to regain his confidence and that sparkling combination with halves partner Nathan Cleary from a few months back for the Panthers to have any hope of progressing to the grand final.
Eels end Arthur speculation
The Eels dipped out of the finals in Mackay – but their brave display against Penrith should be enough to end the constant speculation over coach Brad Arthur’s future.
The critics who claim that Parra couldn’t aim up against the NRL’s big guns have been silenced by the win over Melbourne leading into the finals and the narrow loss to the Panthers.
Indeed, plenty of neutrals thought the better team lost on Saturday night.
The Eels took it to the Panthers pack throughout, with Marata Niukore, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo relentless.
Mitchell Moses’ kicking game was superb and Clint Gutherson his usual busy self at the back.
Had a couple of close calls gone their way, it would be the Eels and not the Panthers preparing to face Melbourne next weekend.
Sea Eagles power on
Manly set records galore in Friday night’s impressive 42-6 defeat of the injury-ravaged Roosters in Mackay.
Marty Taupau – in his 200th NRL game – finally got to notch his first victory in finals football and was all power up front.
Remarkably, Tom Trbojevic notched his maiden finals win as well – and also equalled Phil Blake’s club record 27 tries set in 1983.
Kieran Foran is one Manly player who HAS tasted finals success – but not since 2014 – a long time between drinks!
The Sea Eagles were clinical against a ‘spare parts’ Roosters side – but will find the going a lot tougher against Souths next weekend for a shot at the grand final.
Brave Roosters run ends
It’s not often a team can hold its head high after bowing out of the finals with a 40-point thrashing, but these are strange times we live in.
Missing 10 of their best players through injury or suspension, the Roosters did an amazing job to stay in contention as long as they did with a team held together by sticky tape.
When you consider skipper Boyd Cordner retired without playing a game, and fellow veterans Jake Friend and Brett Morris were also forced to hang up their boots, the Roosters could have thrown in the towel.
Add to that serious injuries to star playmaker Luke Keary, boom prop Lindsay Collins, star centres Joey Manu and Billy Smith, highly-rated rookie Joseph Suaalii, consistent prop Siosiua Taukeiaho and Sam Verrills’ suspension and it’s amazing the Roosters didn’t lose by more against a rampaging Manly outfit.
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