Panthers star Stephen Crichton says the Eels are probably to make use of feedback made by a few of his teammates after final yr’s grand ultimate as motivation heading into Thursday’s battle of the west.
It’s been a reasonably quiet buildup to the grand ultimate rematch, however recollections of final yr’s barbs could possibly be the factor that sparks up the same old hatred out west.
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The Panthers earned final bragging rights with a brutal takedown of their western Sydney rivals, prompting Jarome Luai to say that Eels gamers ought to “call them daddy”.
Even the quietly spoken James Fisher-Harris obtained concerned, sparking a “Parra are our sons” chant because the gamers celebrated the title with their followers the day after the grand ultimate.
The Eels by no means want any additional motivation after they play Penrith, however final yr’s feedback will gasoline them as they give the impression of being to snap their winless begin to the season.
“Those comments and the start they’ve had this year, they’ll definitely want to make a stamp,” Crichton mentioned.
“What better way to give them confidence than to knock us off for their first win of the year. They’ll definitely be using that as fuel, but we’ll be doing our best and will be ready for it.”
The Eels have struggled to search out their mojo to start out 2023, however they did present final yr that they’ve the sport to knock off Penrith with offloads and powerful carries on the perimeters.
The blue and golds snapped Penrith’s unbelievable profitable streak at house after which thrashed them later within the yr when Nathan Cleary was despatched off for a spear deal with on Dylan Brown.
“No matter the start that they’ve had, every battle of the west they’ve always turned up with their best game,” Crichton mentioned.
“They’ve troubled us the past few years coming into this game, and that gives them extra motivation that they haven’t won a game to bring their best game as well. It will be a good battle.
“They just turn up with their best game and they have strike all over the field, which is good for them. I’m not sure what it is, but they always seem to turn up. We’ll definitely try to turn up as well.”
Ryan Matterson returns for the Eels within the again row following his notorious resolution to simply accept a suspension reasonably than pay a fantastic, and the Eels will want him towards a Panthers facet that’s feeling recent after the bye.
They spent the week in Kiama the place halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai dismissed their respective foot accidents, with the latter leaving the spherical 2 win over South Sydney in a moon boot.
“It was good that the boys got their rest. It was a good little refreshment week as well,” mentioned Crichton.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
