The Wrap - NRL Grand Final Recap

1. NRL Grand Final. It is almost unbelievable that Penrith won every layer of rugby league in 2022. What an outstanding achievement of high performance. They are applying for a NRLW licence next year too. They are set to extend their dynasty for some years to come yet. 

Four premierships (equal to Parramatta now) and more to come. Arrogance seems to be their only hurdle and we all love to see the tall poppy knocked over...eventually. No tears are ever shed for Melbourne. However winners can be a little loose with comments about the Tigers never winning premiership rings. 

Interesting that there was no HIA issues in the game either. 

The game itself. Hard to nail any really bad Parramatta performers, but some tactical areas were poor:

• Waqar Blake. He is a complete liability at times (29 errors for the season and 50 missed tackles and only 117 tackles made, admittedly playing on the wing). His tackle busts and running metres from his own area have been strong. He averages one error per game, so that was inevitable.
• Weaker players cannot be hidden in Grand Finals. Waqar played in the line and was clearly under instruction not to get in the way of the high ball.
• The absence of a centre with wisdom and pace. Young Penissini was absent early and needs an experienced, talented head next to him. I note they have missed out on some centres more recently (Gagai, Curtis Scott...).
• This cost them in defence at critical times as well.
• Short drop outs - low percentage, impatient tactics of panic.
• Kicking high balls to Brian To'o endlessly. Did they remember he has played State of Origin? Charlie Staines struggles under the high ball and did not get one all night.
• Failure to adapt: kicking hard and low to hit the ground and gaps to turn Dylan Edwards around with a strong chase?
• Not dominating the ruck, fearing another Ashley Clown penalty - and failing to bend back any of the Panthers forwards early in the set. Quick play the balls then result with greater flow.
• Slow Parramatta play the balls.
• Not playing the ball wider and getting the Panthers forwards running more earlier - especially when it was obvious that tactic of beating it up the middle was not working.
• Lack of genuine pace. Dylan Brown looked good when he can play with the ball. Arthur stifles this flair. He is a match winner. The forwards looked tired and spent from a torrid semi final campaign.
• Mitchell Moses. No running game.
• Offloads. There was fear early of errors and no creativity. No surprises allowed Penrith to fix and lock in their defensive patterns.
• Lack of leadership. Look at the Jack Gibson era... Sterling, Price, but Steve Edge and Bob O'Reilly were there...Stumpy Stevens. Even Mick Cronin. Parramatta need voices and wisdom under pressure.
• Absence of Parramatta juniors in the Parramatta system. Year after year there are no players coming through their system. Forging combinations and friendships early make it happen later. Division 1 players fade out and leave at the highest levels - clearly no data tracks this at all however. Why is this occurring? It cannot simply be talent. What pathways programs do they have? The NSW Cup area is a big weakness for the club. Second rate purchases prevail when local product should dominate.

2. Parramatta Under Pressure. Time and time again across the season, Clint Gutherson, for all his talent and perseverance, makes some bad decisions under pressure. The team lacks leadership.

In Grand Finals things go wrong, but the winners iron out the dips and troughs better than the loser. 

There were so many close challenge and other refereeing decisions where the leadership of the Panthers got it right. No emotion, just sensible leadership. 

Many will not have noticed, but at half time, Isaiah Yeo was being interviewed as the team left the field and the whole Panthers team waited for him before entering the sheds. Respectful and united. 

Where has the short drop out come from in the last twelve months across the NRL? Horribly low percentage. It has risen as a tactic for the desperate. The first effort goes out on the full...then Gutherson tries a short grubber drop out and misses out again. Send it deep, suck it up and play field position. Those desperate tactics send an awful message to the team. 

Here's an idea... when will the driving drop kick OR kick off to the sideline along the ground - at high pace - enter the minds of the NRL coach? Clearly you get the ball if it goes out, yet the silly low percentage drop kick is utilised. We used to do this in U/8s!

3. NRL Grand Final Media. It is hard to find any angle not explored in the media in the run up to the Grand Final. There were ex-players interviewed, Wally Wynn has never seen business like it, blue and gold donuts and sausages, wives, girlfriends, hard luck stories, inspiration stories and 'where are they now' stories... brothers, ex-coaches, signings, exits... nothing left in the journalistic draw. When Kevin Kingston was getting a run, it was time for the game to start. 36 years... was it 36? Of course it was.

4. Panthers. Awesome. An incredible first half without an error and with complete dominance. Their forwards - Leota, Fisher-Harris and Liam Martin were outstanding. Aggressive and disciplined. Cleary didn't really have to do much at all in the first half. Dylan Edwards was gifted the ball too often and what do you know he weaved and wound his way through the tiring defence. His tackle on Simmonsen was outstanding. Made better by sliding him over the sideline. Edwards is quicker than you think. A deserved Churchill Medalist.

5. State Cricket. The Marsh/ ING/ Gillette/ McDonalds/ FAI Cup is a sign that footy is over. NSW look to have a long season ahead, being rolled for 76 by WA! They like flat tracks that don't turn.

6. ManU. Any time you lose 6-3 in football, the lazer heads to the coach. A terrible loss as Man City surge back to greater things. Arsenal are proving more durable season.

7. AFL Trade Period. This is a good feature of the AFL, keeping interest in the off season. The losses GWS are set to experience are immense. They are right up there with North Melbourne for the spoon again... especially with Alistair Clarkson under fire. The request of North's young Horne-Francis to move clubs is interesting. Port are moving quickly and look good for 2023.