Charge downs and try-savers that rescued Penrith’s year
Scott Bailey |
From dressing-room rev ups to charge-downs, last-minute try-savers and games without their State of Origin stars – these are the moments that saved Penrith’s season.
Penrith can on Sunday become the first team ever to reach a grand final after sitting last in round 12 or beyond, if they beat Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium and set up another decider against Melbourne.
In the space of four games the Panthers were able to put their pursuit of a fifth-straight title back on track, recovering to be in the top eight and never looking back.
So fragile was Penrith’s season at that point that any slip up could have killed off their pursuit of another title.
Penrith’s first decisive moment is the one most spoken about – the brutal honesty session from players after the round-12 loss to Newcastle without their Origin stars in Bathurst.
“That was our rock-bottom moment,” Penrith captain Isaah Yeo told AAP.
“It was just a kick in the teeth, and the only way from there had to be up.”
While Penrith players talk about the response in training being obvious, the difference on the field was too.
Their scramble defence returned a week later against Parramatta, but it was a late Scott Sorensen try-saving tackle against Wests Tigers in round 14 that first truly showed Penrith were back.
With the game on the line, Sorensen ran from the opposite side of the field to help Nathan Cleary deny Jahream Bula, before Cleary and Lindsay Smith did likewise on the next set.
“Scoring a try is awesome and great, but saving one is definitely just as good,” Sorensen said.
“It was just one of those moments where I had to do my job and keep moving. And I was lucky enough to get myself in the right spot at the right time.
“But while it’s always nice to get a get a pat on the back for doing something well, I feel like Dyl (Edwards) does that every week. So it’s almost expected of us.”
Two weeks later Cleary was at it again with his charge down on a kicking Matt Burton setting up the Panthers’ only try in an 8-6 win over Canterbury.
“It’s definitely up there with one of the bigger plays of the season, that’s for sure,” Edwards said.
“But it’s Nath, he does that sort of stuff, so you’ve just got to expect it to come with the territory.”
Penrith’s dynasty has largely been built on those effort plays, but by their own admission had been missing over the opening months of the season.
“We just weren’t making stops like that earlier,” Yeo said.
“Scotty Sorensen’s tackle against the Tigers, Nat’s charge down. They’re all effort plays.
“Things like that, they turn the season around and they give everyone else confidence.”
Yeo’s point is evidenced by the fact that in the first half of the year Penrith leaked 24.8 points per game, compared to 15.5 after round 12.
And crucially, they began winning the big moments again.
“We were clocking off at certain times,” Sorensen said.
“Which is probably a little bit out of character for us. You could say the first part of the season we probably weren’t fighting for every play, competing for every play.”
The other match players point to is the 28-18 win over the Warriors without Origin players.
“That was probably the biggest moment, if I’m being honest,” Edwards, who was left checking scores while on a plane home from Perth, said.
“The way that group and our squad responded to the disappointment in Newcastle and getting another chance, and let us Origin boys have a break too, that was big.”
AAP
