Penrith Panthers (1st) vs Parramatta Eels (4th) – Sunday night – Accor Stadium
I'm going to talk about the number 9's - Api Koroisau and Reed Mahoney. Both players will be joining other clubs next season, and Penrith and Parramatta will have a difficult time replacing them. I'm stealing this description from someone else (and I would credit them if I could remember who said it first) - Koroisau is an incredible liar. He lies with his entire body. What they mean is that it's almost impossible to detect which way he is going to go when he's at dummy half. Because of that, and because his delivery is almost always spot on, it gives his team a half step advantage over defenders. Half a step is plenty, particularly when you have a team like the Panthers all around you. Last week Koroisau started off the bench, and his side was down 12-0 without him. They went on to win 32-12 (and they had a few tries disallowed). All the Panthers attack starts with him, and he gets through a ton of work in defence to boot. Mahoney looks to have graduated from the Danny Buderus Dummy Half Academy - to my eye half his passes look forward, but he keeps getting away with it. Perhaps they are pinpoint flat and he's so good at it that they look forward compared to all the other number 9's. In any case, he gets away with it and it gives his team a half metre advantage on every play he gets away with. Like Koroisau, his work in defence is top-notch, and I would argue that technically he is one of the best tacklers in the business. Those two players have played a huge role in the success of their teams. If I came up with a list of the 5 best number 9's this year I'd run with Koroisau, Mahoney, Robson, Cook and Grant. It's a crucial role in the modern game, and it's no surprise that their teams all made the top eight. I'll be fascinated to see if the Panthers coach starts Koroisau off the bench again in the grand final. Could the Eels steal a lead early and back their defence to hold the Panthers at bay? Souths tried, and they just got steamrolled. I say it almost every week, but to beat Penrith you need to put pressure on Nathan Cleary, something Parramatta were unable to do in week one of the finals. I think they know what they have to do, but I'm not convinced they can actually do it. I'm not going to lie to any of you - I genuinely want them to. I'd much rather an Eels victory on Sunday night, after such a long premiership drought. I'm in NSW this week and I've seen more Parramatta jerseys in the streets in the last two days than I've seen in the previous two years. I expect most of the country will be willing them on, but this Panthers outfit appear to have too much class. I'd be happy if I'm wrong, but:
Verdict – Panthers by 13
Clive Churchill medalist – Dylan Edwards
Result – Panthers 28 defeated Eels 12
Clive Churchill medalist – Dylan Edwards
Wally Lewis - the Grand Final (in bold)
Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or Thursday morning
- PANTHERS vs Eels (4th)
Comments
Submitted by Christine on
Rocket I didn't put my tip in re read what I put in the comments section before you mouth off at me ...
Submitted by Rocket Ryan on
That's easy Christine just follows Tigers lead got his tip in He surrendered early last week Just like the team he supports he meekly accepted 2nd.
Disgraceful really.
Submitted by tigerholic on
Rocket
Thank you for your comment, I do recall the fleeting experience you had a few years back when you were a chance to take out the Thinker’s comp, if I remember correctly you did what the Eels did”you choked”.
Anyway, I put my tip in early for the GF, I wanted to draw out the Voyeur who did tip shortly after me and he went the same, I then waited on the Footy Chick to see if she had taken the Panthers as well, I was planning on a late switch to try and step up on to the top podium with the Champ “The Voyeur” but when footy chick opted for the Eels I decided that I would be happy to settle for second.
I’m sure there are lots of fans out there loving our banter, I know I do, you must have been a coach of some sort because it’s so funny that you can offer strategic advice from outside the top ten.
Enjoy you day Rocket, thanks for the banter.
Tiger
Submitted by tigerholic on
Morning All
I will post a message when I get back to Brisbane after Tuesday.
In the interim, bad luck to all of the Eels fans, the team didn’t play badly they were simply outplayed on the night.
The question now is, can the Panthers go 3/4 GF wins in a row.
Enjoy your week folks, drizzling rain this morning, I have one more night then home tomorrow afternoon.
Tiger
Submitted by Christine on
I missed a lot of the game rocket & i did say i didn't get my tips in but for those that wantto know i would have tipped penrith anyway, i never said pleaae put my tip in as penrith rocket so get off my back about it i am not on the tipping ladder so settle down anything i do doesn't affect you ...
Submitted by Mary S on
It's alright Christine, Rocket just likes stirring the pot. He was probably born with a big wooden spoon in his hand for just that purpose!!
Panthers really put on a show last night. I hoped the Eels would win, as their time in the desert has been a long one, but it was not to be.
Have a good day Christine.
Cheers,
Mary
Submitted by The Voyeur on
Hi Thinker
Thanks for the opportunity to play again this year and for all those who have contributed, with my work I find it hard to post lots but Iam always watching…….
In terms of my prize, can you donate it to Men of League Charity if that’s easy to do…….I would really like that if possible
Again thx everyone and enjoy the off season…….and come on the Kiwis for the World Cup !!!!!!!! Give em a taste
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Pi_2YQ4g4
Submitted by The Thinker on
@The Voyeur
That is a terrific gesture. Yes, it is possible. I will chip in an extra $50 myself to round it up to a nice even amount, and I will contact you via email.
Thank you for your generosity and participation this season. I hope you will be back next season to defend the title.
Greetings football fans,
I have updated the tipping comp after the grand final. Our top three are:
The Voyeur - 149 ($150 first place)
tigerholic - 148 ($75 second place)
Footy Chick and Tigers717 - 147 ($25 each for third place)
Congratulations to you all on what was a very close comp this year.
I will contact all winners via email over the next couple of days.
Thanks again for participating - all of those who took part this season are welcome back in 2023.
All the best and enjoy the World Cup and the off-season
The Thinker and his Little Helper
Submitted by Christine on
I didn't really want penrith to win there ego is going to be even worse now but parra didn't step it up for finals but they will learn from it ...
Submitted by Christine on
Hi Mary
I know rocket is a stirrer he can't help himself , just imaging how coach is right now thank God he hasn't stuck his head out I couldn't put up with both coach & rocket in one week coaches ego would be even bigger than Penriths is right now Mary...
Submitted by mark ashford on
Must admit I was a bit disappointed with the Eels effort last night but you can't take anything away from Penrith they were the dominate team and deserved the win.
Voyeur, you are a legend donating your winnings to the Men of League charity, I tips my hat to you.
Submitted by MGM on
Congrats to Voyeur, Tiger, Footy Chic & Tigers717.
Good on you Footy Chic for Backing the Eels and making the last week of the tipping a bit more interesting (for the first half hour of the GF at least!).
Many thanks to you Thinker (and your team) for providing yet another year of extra fun for us footy fans ... the footy comp is great but your tipping comp and the banter from all the wonderful contributers add a whole extra layer of entertainment that keeps it fun even when refs' howlers (and hatred of the Bunker) take the edge off our viewing pleasure !
Thanks Thinker.
Submitted by Mary S on
Congrats to Voyeur, Tiger, Footy Chic & Tigers717 - really well done, in what proved to be a tight comp this season.
All the best to everyone who contribute (or visit) the. site and help make it a fun place to visit.
To The Thinker and your hard working crew, many, many thanks for all the work you put in for our interest and enjoyment.
Cheers,
Mary
Submitted by The Thinker on
@MGM
And thank you for your contributions this season. It's terrific to have you on the team.
@Mary S
You deserve a special mention here. Thanks again for all your administrative assistance behind the scenes. It's made things a lot easier for me to keep everything on track, and I cannot thank you enough. Thank you also for all the kind and balanced contributions and comments on the site. You are a wonderful soul.
Enjoy the off season.
Kindest regards
The Thinker
Submitted by Gummy Sharks on
Thank you Thinker, Mrs Thinker, The Little Helper and 'a'. Will be back next year if you'll have me. Congrats to all winners.
Submitted by a on
Yeah congratulations to the winners and congratulations nik form getting all 16 Teams in my comp
Submitted by The Thinker on
@Gummy Sharks
Thanks for that. It will be great to have you back next year.
All the best
The Thinker
Submitted by The Last Samurai on
Hey Thinker,
Firstly congratulations to all the place getters this year well done in a closely fought competition.
Again Thinker thank you so much for such a professionally run competition. Alot of fun.It was so enjoyable to be part of it.
Please include me for the 2023 competition. Many thanks.
Take care
The Last Samurai
Submitted by Christine on
Not including baggy gee in this comment i know a few parra tragics they are saying the game was rigged , i don't know ehat game they were watching but parra ley themselves down they didn't play well they werw never going to beat penrith in tje first place they never even stepped up., sorry for your teams loss baggy but they really didn't do themselves any favours & for thoss people that think the game was rigged wake up too yourself you are just being a parra tragic , in saying that the chant done by penrith we hate parra was in very poor taste they need to grow up.that is not sportsmanship at all ...
Submitted by Christine on
That said parra let themselves down ...
Submitted by Christine on
Parra were not even in that game but you have to loose one to win one they will lean from it ...
Submitted by Mary S on
Hi BigPete,
I hope the weather for your 2022 Bathurst 1000 is not as bad as they are predicting in the following
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-05/bathurst-1000-weather-forecast-ac...
Hope it's a good week for all.
Cheers,
Mary
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
Hello Mary S and thanks for asking.
Weather not the best here at present. Raining most of morning and when Transporter Parade was on through the CBD. It'll be on National News tonight - like most years. The true die-hards have turned out and wont be leaving - yet. Most make 5 to 7 days of it. For some - its their holiday week. Forecast to receive 100mm throughout the area today and anything can happen come race day.
As Thinker messaged also - thank you for your friendship through 2022 NRL season AND also for keeping your keen eye out on any major tipping errors or mistakes by tipsters. Hope the off-season flies, but I'll have A-League and Big Bash Cricket to watch along with footballs World Cup from Qatar in November - along with UK EPL to follow and hope that my Red Devils can catch The Gunners who a few here on Thinker site support/follow.
Cheers and you and family Keep well.
Big Pete
Submitted by BigPeteBx on
To all Tipsters here at Thinker site.
Great seeing you here and for those who add a couple of words - every now and then. NRL is a Winter sport and we know the Soup-makers as they have the spoon.
Over all, it's a fantastic site to be part of here.
In particular to the hard fought Tipping Comp we had and to Voyeur taking it out this year along with Tigerholic, Footy Chick & Tigers 717 as place getters.
Never fear Footy Chick for as long as I've been here - u r the benchmark by which footy tipping is measured. I look forward to being here again next season.
Again to Thinker et al and 'a' for running the comps we had and to be part of. The 'a' Comp is something very different and keeps the grey matter predicting/flowing.
Couldn't go past Panthers this year but Eels were there, knowing they are the only team to have beaten Panthers x twice, so had to be in with a show. However, Ivan Cleary would have coached that and had it embedded in each players head. That's sports psychology which is repeatedly motivated.
As for the teams we supported as our Club - better luck next year and hope those bugs, that created uncertainty in ways - are blotted out.
In signing off - my punch line to all.
Cheers and Keep well.
Big Pete in Bx Country (a very wet West of The Sandstone Curtain at present).
Submitted by EsraStar on
Thank you,Mr Thinker. See you next year.
Rats.
Submitted by Lochnesslaine on
Thank you Thinker and all your helpers!
This was my first year being part of the footy comp and thoroughly enjoyed.
I look forward to being part of the footy comp in 2023.
Keep safe and have a Merry Christmas everyone. 🎄🎁🤶🎅🏻
Lochnesslaine
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