Latrell’s cheeky comments lit the fuse. Penrith has a big ‘advantage’ though… and may have the last laugh

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As minor because it was, the incident between Luai and Salmon has made headlines all week. Both Panthers gamers and people from rival golf equipment have persistently mentioned it’s no huge deal, that these sorts of conversations occur on a regular basis.

That might be true. But once you’re shedding, notably once you weren’t alleged to, these form of incidents will at all times be given extra consideration than they often warrant.

Although in Penrith’s case it wasn’t a lot that it spoke to any fractions within the group. Instead, greater than something, it was proof of the disconnect on the group’s new-look left edge.

And in accordance with NRL 360 co-host Braith Anasta, with a bye across the nook, it’s only extra necessary that the Panthers go into subsequent week’s break with some sense of readability.

“They haven’t had doubt for a long time, they’ve been so confident, they’ve been a powerhouse, they’ve had no weaknesses,” Anasta mentioned.

“But from experience if they lose one, you lose two of your best players, all of that self-doubt [creeps in]. That little Luai-Salmon [incident] wasn’t huge or a big deal but then they become bigger and more often and then all of a sudden you’re not that team you were.

“I think they’re going to bounce back but if they decline a little, that self-doubt is huge in our game and you lose confidence. It’s a big challenge in the next few weeks.”

Self-doubt is one thing rookie halfback Lachlan Ilias battled at instances throughout his first yr as South Sydney halfback.

But with one other low season behind him, the 22-year-old put these doubts apart in a dominant efficiency because the Rabbitohs outclassed the Sharks 27-18 final weekend.

And in accordance with premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk, the Panthers may gain advantage from taking after the Rabbitohs and including extra selection to their assault.

South Sydney, well-known for its deadly left-edge assault, scored all 4 of its tries final week down the suitable facet of the sector and lock ahead Cameron Murray performed a key position.

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“I’m going to give Jason Demetriou a bit of a rap here because we all look at the left-hand side with Cody and Latrell,” Cronk mentioned on ‘The Matty Johns Podcast’.

“They still had Cody on the left but a very clever thing they did to help Lachlan was they put Cameron Murray over that side. So they split both sides of the field with Walker, Latrell and everyone’s eyes go to them but then Cam Murray was first receiver on a couple of those tries, out the back to Ilias and then Ilias comes up with a play. Good coaching.”

It’s teaching that Cronk believes Ivan Cleary and the Panthers might replicate after the predictable sweeping performs down the left edge faltered with out Kikau’s imposing presence.

“I think the other thing I’d love to see Penrith do is become a little bit more right-side dominant,” Cronk mentioned.

“The Cleary and Martin combination can be really strong. Edwards out the back, Crichton in the centres. I think that could be an area they can go to.”

Obviously Penrith already makes use of Isaah Yeo closely on the suitable edge however even having Cleary on the left facet and as a substitute getting into the wrong way might open one thing up.

Matty Johns although additionally believes the best way Penrith makes use of star halfback Nathan Cleary in assault is at instances working him “into a dead-end”.

“Nathan will sometimes slip into the mode where he’s going off sweep shots. They serve a purpose but I think for guys like Nathan they’re a cul-de-sac,” Johns mentioned.

“You’re running into a dead-end. It doesn’t give you the 90 degrees of scope. He did that a lot in Origin I. In Origin II, he was up, first-receiver on the advantage line and a lot started to happen for him.

“I understand they’re trying to find the balance between him and Isaah [Yeo] but I just love Nathan up on the advantage line.”

The match-up between Cleary and the much-improved Ilias shapes as notably necessary one, a possibility for the 22-year-old to essentially announce himself after final week’s recreation.

That consistency in Ilias’ recreation will include time and expertise, though Cameron Smith is already impressed with what he has seen from the younger halfback.

“[I was] super impressed with his performance in round one,” Smith mentioned on SEN’s ‘The Captain’s Run’.

“You could see his performances through last year, the way he built through the season, he’s going to be a special half. He’s going to be a special talent in our game. He’s still got a lot to learn, he’s only a young man. A good test for him coming up against the reigning premiers.”

As a complete although, it looks as if all of the strain is on Penrith. Champion groups raise within the face of that strain, and it is a champion group. One loss — by one level — doesn’t change that.

“I think Penrith at some point have got to respond,” Kent mentioned on Wednesday.

“Penrith are a champion team. That’s not said flippantly. They are full of players who have tasted defeat seldom in the last three years. They have made the past three grand finals, they’ve won the last two.

“The Latrell stuff will just be sitting in the back of their minds. As far as sledges go, it was as mild as they come. But they’ll sit there and remind themselves of that and at some point it’ll get a mentioned when they are ahead, there’s no doubt Luai is going to get into them. “There’s no doubt something will be said.”

But phrases are simply that. Last yr, Mitchell additionally warned the remainder of the competitors “to look over your shoulders” and take discover of the Rabbitohs.

“We’re coming,” he added after that 26-0 win over Parramatta.

For three-straight seasons although Penrith has stood in the best way. And each single time, it has ended the identical method.

“There’s no feeling lost between these two clubs, that’s for sure,” Smith mentioned.

“They’ll be fired up for this one, particularly Penrith I believe, they’ll be stinging out of that first-round loss. If they lose this one it’s three-straight at Penrith, which they haven’t done for a long, long time.”

And heading into the bye of the again of two-straight losses at house is hardly the opening coach Cleary would have been after. It can be simply the second time since 2011 {that a} defending premier has misplaced their first two video games and the primary for the Panthers in six seasons.

“They’re not invincible anymore,” The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis mentioned on ‘NRL 360’.

“They’ve come back to field. It’s pretty obvious for everyone to see.”

Maybe it’s. Maybe the air of invincibility isn’t there anymore. But perhaps that can also be OK? Maybe the Panthers are ‘just’ an excellent group and that can nonetheless be sufficient.

If there may be one group that’s higher geared up to cope with the added strain and psychological drain of defending one other title it’s this Panthers facet, in accordance with Kent.

“One advantage I think Penrith’s got that very few teams have had is the core of junior players that have come through and are now playing in the first-grade team,” Kent mentioned.

“Their whole junior career they were in those junior championship teams you see that just win the comp every year. So, they’ve lived with it their whole junior careers.

“I know it’s NRL now, but they were the hunted back then and it was as important for them. I don’t think that pressure really weighs on them. It’s all mental energy and I think from a mental energy point of view, Penrith handle it better than any other team I’ve seen.”

Thursday evening is one other likelihood for them to show that.