No team has ever started a season so well, but Panthers players are warning the rest of the NRL that they’re far from the finished product and that they’ll only get better as some suggest they could go through the year undefeated.
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The theory seems unlikely given they’ll rest their stars at some point, but that might be the only way they lose a game given they’ve scored more points and conceded fewer than the other 16 clubs through five rounds.
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The way they’re playing is a joy to watch and a nightmare to play against, but centre Paul Alamoti says this version of Penrith isn’t the best it can be.
“I’ve always said that the sky’s the limit,” he said.
“We’re searching for perfection, but it’s an illusion because you’ll never get there.
“If we continue to try to get better each day, that’s all we can be in control of and focus on at this stage.
“Things are obviously heading in the right direction with the way that we’re playing and how things are looking on the field, but we know internally that there’s still a long way to go.
“There are still 20 rounds to go and there’s still stuff in our game that we need to work on. We’re heading in the right direction, but we’re not getting too ahead of ourselves. Every team is still trying to get better, and we’re in the same position.”
However, Storm rival Cameron Munster feels the Panthers can give an undefeated season a hell of a shake.
“I can’t see why not,” Munster said when asked if the Panthers could go undefeated.
“I know they talk about the Origin period and stuff, but at the same time they’ve got good personnel, they’re very hungry, their system is working at the moment and they’re humming.”
Moses given warning for treatment of ref | 04:05
The ball movement on their left edge has been exceptional, with young gun Casey McLean rocketing into Origin contention after his dazzling display against the Storm, while winger Tom Jenkins has a record 12 tries through five games.
Five-eighth Blaize Talagi has played a big part in all of that as he gains more confidence after his first year at the club saw them last on the ladder after 12 rounds.
“I feel like we’re seeing things and we’re not afraid to take them. I think our fundamentals are showing out there,” he said.
“Everyone is always alive and ready to take whatever comes on. We’re seeing things and we’re ready to take it and it’s coming off.
“I feel like I’m seeing it, but I’m also not afraid to take it. That’s been an evolution in my game.
“It’s still not perfect. I’m still growing as a player, but I feel like we’ve come a long way and that’s thanks to Ivan (coach Ivan Cleary) for trusting us.”
New attack coach Ben Harden has played a key role in the team scoring 190 points in five matches, while their defence is back to its brilliant best after conceding just eight points per game so far.
While the Panthers have given up 40 points over the first five rounds, there are nine clubs who have already conceded at least 40 in a single game this season, with some of those teams doing it twice.
Alamoti says they can still improve on both sides of the ball – a terrifying thought for rival teams, with Storm star Cameron Munster saying he can’t see why the Panthers won’t go undefeated.
“We’ve got a new attack coach so that’s a bit different and we’re trying to adapt to his style of game play and what we’re trying to achieve out of that,” Alamoti said.
“We’ve obviously scored a few points over the first couple of weeks, but there are still little pockets of our game that we think we’re going to get better in.
“Defensively, we leaked 20 points two weeks ago and another 10 points last week. Everyone wants to keep the other team to zero, so that’s the goal.”
– Martin Gabor
QLD remain firm in NRL expansion plans | 01:10
MOSES COPS CAPTAINCY CRITIQUE AFTER REF WARNING
Parramatta Eels skipper Mitchell Moses has been called out for touching referee Peter Gough three times after he was sent an official warning by the NRL over his constant badgering of referees.
Moses had a running battle with Gough in the Eels’ 22-20 golden point loss to the Tigers in Round 5, taking issue with a number of contentious calls, before trying to make amends by gently patting him on the back and arm on multiple occasions.
Under NRL rules no player is allowed to touch the referee for any reason, while the NRL has taken issue with Moses for continuously debating decisions, despite the fact he is captain.
Discussing the warning on NRL 360 host Braith Anasta said he had heard the NRL’s issue was with “the badgering… more so than the touching, but combined.”
Gorden Tallis was no stranger to referee altercations during his career, but thinks Moses’ indiscretions were on the lighter side.
“Look, I know you’re not supposed to do it and it wasn’t the other guy in the Balmain jersey, that patted him on the head, big Blocker (Steve Roach),” Tallis said.
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“I know it’s not a great look and it does filter down. But maybe a warning letter, say, listen, you can’t touch them, but I don’t think it’s that bad.”
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio commended the NRL’s decision to protect the referees against physical and emotional abuse and encourage people to continue pursuing the often thankless task.
“I think it’s necessary because match officials are so pivotal to the game,” Riccio said.
“And we bag them. We absolutely give them hell. We bag that crap out of them, but they’re absolutely pivotal to the game.”
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Munster admits attitude change is needed | 00:52
Fox League’s Paul Crawley warned Moses was paid to keep calm in the heat of battle and constantly battling with the referees won’t help his team.
“It was a highly emotional game and you get that he was getting frustrated and agitated and over-emotional,” Crawley said.
“But it’s his job to keep his cool. And the great captains, that’s what they do.
“I reckon, the more you can work with the referee, the more you’ll get back because yesterday he was teetering on becoming a little bit out of control.”
Anasta did like the fact that winning meant so much to Moses, but said he needs to channel that emotion into his performance.
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