NRL 2021: Penrith Panthers win 24-6 against Newcastle Knights | Match Report
Branded Public Enemy No. 1, brash Penrith playmaker Jarome Luai reckons his critics have forgotten they are watching rugby league not soccer.
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Jarome Luai has laughed off suggestions he is arrogant, a mug lair, even tries to incite trouble on the NRL field, with the Penrith No. 6 adamant he is doing nothing more than “standing up for myself”.
Apart from playing his way into NSW Origin calculations following an outstanding start to the year, 24-year-old Luai also finds himself suddenly branded Public Enemy No. 1 — having been taken to task over his on-field behaviour by both Fox Sports analysts and the Canberra Raiders.
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After the two teams collided in Round 5, Canberra CEO Don Furner and coach Ricky Stuart both took aim at a handful of Panthers stars including Luai — who in a 2020 Player Poll was also voted among the code’s top three sledgers.
Yet after leading his side to a gusty win over Newcastle in Thursday Night Football, the Mt Druitt product rejected suggestions he was a disrespectful player, while also defending other Panthers under fire like centre Stephen Crichton.
Importantly, the Blues Origin hopeful stressed that young side, which went all the way to an NRL Grand Final last year, wasn’t dishing anything out that wasn’t already coming at them.
So as for the Panthers being disrespectful?
“Definitely not,” Luai said.
“That’s why when it was first brought up, we laughed. Didn’t even speak about it as a team.
“Obviously everyone can have an opinion.
“And that might be what they’re saying.
“But we’re just out there playing our brand of footy.
“And I think we’re actually showing how grateful we are to have this opportunity, by getting out there and living each day like it’s our last.
“We’ve had to put in a lot of hard work to get here and that’s why we’re going to have fun now and enjoy this because it really is our dream job.”
Pushed on the criticism, Luai continued: “We also cop it ourselves out there.
“So we’re just standing up for ourselves.
“And rugby league, it’s a tough game we play.
“One of the toughest sports in the world.
“So if (the critics) are expecting us to treat it like soccer, maybe they should go watch something else.”
But as for what he makes of the criticism?
“I won’t lie, it’s been weird,” he said. “Because this is the first time in my career I’ve really had negative stuff said about me.
“I guess though, because we’re winning, someone is always going to find something wrong with what you’re doing.”
Thoughts on being dubbed a ‘mug lair’ by Raiders CEO Don Furner?
“We’re from Mt Druitt,” he shrugged. “We’ve heard that stuff before.
“So good luck to them.
“I’m good at filtering out opinions that don’t matter.”
Doesn’t motivate you?
“Nah, definitely doesn’t motivate me,” he continued. “Because it’s side talk.”
Elsewhere, Luai also hit back at claims the Panthers were setting a bad example for junior rugby league players, saying: “I guess people don’t see is all the stuff we do away from footy.
“Out in Mountie, we’re always encouraging the kids. Continually telling them that if they’re willing to work hard, they can get to where we are now too.
“Because we had nothing special.
“We just had the mindset. And energy.
“Same as now we just want to turn up every week, respect our opposition and play our brand of footy.”
PANTHERS WIN OFF AND ON THE PADDOCK
The Panthers have double reason to celebrate after their victory over Newcastle with assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo confirming he will see out his contract despite an approach to join incoming Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon in the Shire.
The news came as the Panthers chalked up their 22nd straight regular season win to extend the hottest streak in rugby league.
Though the scoreline was somewhat flattering as they were pushed all the way by a determined Knights outfit.
Fitzgibbon was eager to add Ciraldo — close friend of the Panthers defensive coach and who have worked together at Country Origin level — to his staff when he arrives at Cronulla ahead of the 2022 season.
However, having helped develop through the lower grades and guide many of the current Panthers to their position of a premiership window, Ciraldo wants to see out the final 12-months of his contract.
Fitzgibbon will now have to wait to see if Ciraldo will link-up with Cronulla once his contract at the foot of the mountains expires at the end of 2022.
The Panthers never wanted Ciraldo to leave, but would be reluctant to stand in his way if he still wanted to join Fitzgibbon at the Sharks in 2023.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary informed his playing group immediately after the club’s victory over the Knights that Ciraldo would be remaining on his staff.
Penrith co-captain Nathan Cleary was full of praise for Ciraldo after his show of loyalty to the Panthers.
“I think you’d be crazy to not go after him as a coach because he’s obviously a great coach. For him to show loyalty and stay here just shows what’s going on, and I’m very pleased to be a part of it,” Cleary said.
“It’s a pretty cool thing to see someone like him who has a lot of opportunities to show his loyalty and want to stay at the club.”
Cleary, Jarome Luai, Dylan Edwards and James Fisher-Harris are just some of the players who came through as the club reached back-to-back Holden Cup grand finals under Ciraldo in 2015 and 2016 and have gone on to forge glittering careers in the NRL.
In 2018, the former back-rower proved he was ready to lead an NRL side when he replaced Anthony Griffin as Penrith’s interim coach for six games, leading them to the second-week of the finals where they were fittingly beaten by Cronulla.
That success was no surprise to Penrith’s young guns, with Cleary backing Ciraldo to do well wherever he ends up beyond 2022.
“A lot of us have come through the grades with him – he coached a lot of us in the under-20s – and he’s obviously our defensive coach now, so we’ve grown fond of him. He’s a massive asset to this club and all of us boys,” the halfback said.
“He definitely has what it takes (to be a head coach).
“The role he’s in now, he adds so much to the coaching staff. I think he’s still young and I think his aspirations are to be a head coach eventually, but he’s not rushing that and he’s definitely not undervalued at our club.”
‘Arrogant’ Panthers loving life as Public Enemy No. 1
— Nick Walshaw
Jarome Luai is certainly adjusting nicely to life as Public Enemy No.1.
Or Captain Arrogance.
Call him whatever you like Sydney.
Just know you could soon have little choice but to cheer the bloke.
Or maybe you’ll support Queensland come Origin time.
Certainly it’s your choice.
But undoubtedly, this polarising Panthers No. 6 is going to be right in the thick of things come Blues time.
Indeed, despite being called all sorts of names in recent times – many of which, we reckon, the Mt Druitt product has never even heard before – Luai was again all the best adjectives in this one.
Outstanding in an outstanding game, the 24-year-old orchestrated two tries, almost sorted two more and continually looked more dangerous than even a quick surf off the South African coast.
All of which, usually, makes for a wonderful footy story.
But with Luai? Um, apparently it’s his touch of arrogance, confidence, competitiveness, whatever you want to call it, that has upset more than a couple a rival coaches, players, officials, trainers, fans, mascots, even cheerleaders.
But the Luai response?
It really seems to be a case of ‘OK, Boomer’. Or whatever it is those kids all TNs and dodgy mullets are fond of saving.
Regardless, it was impossible to fault the five-eighth’s performance against Newcastle.
Arrogant? Not in this one.
Which isn’t to say rugby league’s new bad guy didn’t have opportunity.
Like when, say, he helped jolt the ball loose from backrower Tyson Frizell in the first half. Or soon after, grabbed the jersey of Knights No. 6 Kurt Mann and sent swinging backwards to the turf.
Still, he stayed cool.
Just as there were no overzealous celebrations when, with 19 minutes gone, he put Matt Burton across the tryline with a beautiful dummy, shimmy, then pass right onto the centre’s hip.
If ever there was a moment to showboat, this was it. Certainly we would’ve. But no.
Elsewhere, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is being proven increasingly right — if there was doubt — to keep Burton instead of releasing him early to Canterbury.
In the opening seven rounds, his Mt Fix-It has already played five times. On most occasions, starred too.
Which, again, makes for some story.
More than simply taking down the Knights, the Panthers took their unbeaten run in regular season games to 22.
On the flanks, Brian To’o again starred.
As did fullback Dylan Edwards. Ditto halfback Nathan Cleary.
While upfront James Fisher-Harris ran for over 160m.
All of which, on this night. came without drama.
Or lairising.
Or whatever else you want to call it.
In other news, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin were, as usual, straighter than a school ruler.
In fact, the only real disappointment for the team belonged to drinkers at Charlie Staine’s hometown pub, the Post Office Hotel in Forbes.
Before kick off, the publican announced he would be pouring $2 schooners if the flyer scored once, $1 schooners for a double and shouting the bar for a hat-trick.
Sadly, the kid never crossed.
But given the same advertisement was also talking up $2.50 pub deals, you reckon it was still a decent night regardless.
Match report: Panthers extend hot streak
—Martin Gabor
Death and taxes aren’t the only certainties in life after the Panthers chalked up their 22nd straight regular season win to extend the hottest streak in rugby league, although they were pushed all the way by a plucky Knights side that wouldn’t go away.
To put it into context, the Undertaker only managed 21 wins in a row at WrestleMania before his streak was eventually ended by Brock Lesnar.
The scary thing? This team is only getting better as they look to avenge last year’s heartbreak.
“I was really happy with tonight,” Ivan Cleary said, adding he thought the ruck speed was far too slow.
“I thought we were on top for most of the game.”
Fullback Dylan Edwards made a stunning return from the hand injury that saw him miss four games, launching countless counter-attacks every time the Knights kicked his way, before he sealed the win with a try straight from the Sharks 2016 Grand Final playbook.
“He looked pretty similar to how he left the game against Melbourne,” Ivan Cleary said.
“In the first half of that game, he was the best player on the field. I thought he was really strong. He’s gone to another level this year and is a very important member of our team.”
In further good news, hooker Api Koroisau should be back for the first time since Round 1 when Penrith travel to Bathurst next week, with a stomach bug the only thing stopping him from making his return against the Knights.
Life of Brian
Brian To’o has just about booked his spot in the Origin team after another barnstorming performance on the left wing.
The nuggety Panther ran for a career-high 290m from 28 carries as his side became the first team since Melbourne in 2013 to start a season 7-0.
To’o plays like the Energiser Bunny but runs with the strength of an actual panther. He is the perfect player for the Origin arena, but Brad Fittler might want to remove his batteries every now and then to stop his singing from keeping his teammates up.
Knight and day
They were called out for their lacklustre effort against the Titans two weeks ago, but Newcastle fans will be proud of their team for pushing the premiership favourites all the way.
After snatching a dramatic win at the death last week, the Knights backed it up with an equally gritty performance on the road against a team that has rarely been challenged this year.
Kalyn Ponga was as classy as ever, but five-eighth Kurt Mann was the star and the main reason why the Knights were within four points with 20 minutes to go.
It was his run from deep within his own half that set up Newcastle’s only try which featured a brutal Starford To’a fend on Edwards, while he somehow popped up in the second half to bat down a pass that would have seen Matt Burton stroll over.
Adam O’Brien said he was envious of Penrith’s attacking prowess and their ability to build and then execute plays, but he agreed that Mann was a standout.
“I think he epitomises the spirit and the fight that we’re after at the Knights,” he said.
Crystal ball
Is it too early to lock Matt Burton in as the 2022 buy of the year?
Bulldogs fans have had nothing to cheer about this season but they must be salivating over what’s to come when the Penrith young gun eventually dons the blue and white jersey.
Burton will walk into Belmore as the club’s best playmaker, and you could mount a case for him being Canterbury’s best centre after he showed off all the skills on Thursday night.
The Dubbo local scored his fourth try in as many games at left centre when he hit a hole that Steve Menzies would have been proud of, he then belted Tyson Frizell to jolt the ball free, while his left boot kept the Knights guessing all night.
He’s a rare talent who can save the Bulldogs, but for now, he’s Penrith’s prized property who will get the job done wherever his coach wants him to play.
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