In a shocking turn of events, Penrith suffered a surprising defeat last week against the underdog Sydney Roosters, ending with a score of 38-32. This defeat, categorized by many pundits as the biggest upset in NRL history, took place at CommBank Stadium last Friday night, where the reigning champions displayed a performance that left fans and players alike disappointed.
Coach Ivan Cleary was visibly irritated during the press conference following the game, refusing to engage further about the loss, stating, "I’d rather not talk about it. I said what I said after the game, we reviewed it and got what we needed to out of it and we’re looking forward to this week." With the coaching staff's stern approach, players also echoed a desire to move on, indicating the team's determination to bounce back.
Critically, the Panthers missed an alarming 46 tackles and recorded a staggering 13 errors, which contributed significantly to their downfall. Liam Henry, one of the players who scored a try during the match, elaborated on the mistakes made: "We had a lot of missed tackles – that was the biggest thing – and just getting our ruck control back. Credit to the Roosters, they showed up and they played better and ran harder and tackled harder." This from Henry indicates an ethos of accountability and growth within the team as they prepare for their next game.
Paul Alamoti, another standout player who scored for Penrith, reflected on the unusual feeling of losing after enjoying a long streak of successes. "No one likes to lose and we haven’t lost much in the past five or six years. That loss definitely wasn’t good and the vibe hasn’t been great but we’ve flushed that and we’re looking forward to Thursday night against Melbourne," he said, showcasing the team's resilience.
As the Panthers look ahead to their next game on Thursday night against Melbourne, the atmosphere within the locker room was still building positively as Henry noted, "He’s been really good, absolutely. We addressed what we needed to. There’s been a lot of lessons and learnings throughout the week, so we’re excited for Thursday night’s game." Aiming for redemption, the match against Melbourne could indeed serve as a critical turning point for Penrith.
On the opposite side, Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy expressed anticipation for the rematch, highlighting that he expects the Panthers to show marked improvement after their recent loss to the Roosters. He stated, “I suppose you could be surprised by the result when you see what happened in round 1. But we all know in sport ... upsets happen.” Bellamy's comments indicated that, while the Storm had a commendable performance in their opening round with a solid 56-point win against Parramatta, he respects the capabilities of Penrith to recover.
There’s still uncertainty regarding the inclusion of key player Nelson Asofa-Solomona for the upcoming match; however, Bellamy confirmed he won’t commit to any lineups too soon, saying, "He’s available. He hasn’t played much footy this year because of the suspension, but we’ll just see what happens today." Meanwhile, Will Warbrick’s absence due to a head knock raises questions about Melbourne’s depth, which Bellamy noted would affect their strategy.
Historically, Melbourne has performed well against Penrith, winning eight of the last nine contests at AAMI Park. With Penrith having lost five players from their Grand Final-winning squad, including star playmaker Jarome Luai, the season’s development from both teams becomes highly significant. Jack Cole’s initiation alongside Nathan Cleary in the halves has yielded mixed results so far, making the upcoming clash even more intriguing.
As expectations build for Thursday's game, Alamoti recognized the weight of this match for the Panthers: "The game’s actually come at the right time. We have a chance to bounce back after a loss." With the confidence of past victories and a determined mindset, Penrith seeks redemption in this grand final rematch.
The stands are expected to be filled with passionate fans, eager to witness a contest that could define the trajectory of both teams for the remainder of the season.
