Why father of all expectation could sink Storm
Ivan and Nathan Cleary are trying to emulate the feats of the 2003 Panthers.
The last Penrith coach to win a premiership believes Melbourne will carry all the pressure and expectation into the grand final.
And it’s the Storm’s big-game experience that John Lang believes might prove to be a burden.
“The pressure is back on Melbourne,” said Lang, who is now 69 and retired on the Gold Coast.
“Sometimes it’s the older blokes who get more desperate than the younger blokes.”
Lang’s son and former Penrith prop Martin chimed in by saying that victory on Sunday would make this Panthers side the greatest in the club’s 53-year history.
Martin and John combined to help the Panthers win their last premiership in 2003, and it will be much the same 17 years later when halfback Nathan Cleary and his father/coach Ivan try to achieve the same feat.
“Penrith winning 17 in a row is unbelievable,” said John Lang, who also coached Cronulla, Souths and the Australian Super League side.
“I reckon the pressure is off them now that they have made the grand final. They have had such a great year and were red-hot favourites against Souths in the grand final qualifier. If you have a year like that and don’t make the grand final, that’s a tough one.
“Because they didn’t get a second bite, that was a pressure game for Penrith and they won. The pressure is now back on Melbourne, who are going to be favourites.
“Penrith are now in the grand final. They don’t have to win 17 games, only one. Penrith will get out there, relax, and play their footy.
“Our boys are so young and enthusiastic. When you’re 19 years old in a grand final, you think you’re going to win one every year.
“They didn’t play all that well against Souths — they had their patches — but I think they can play a lot better and I think they will.”
The now 45-year-old Martin Lang said: “Everyone predicted they would have a good year, but I don’t think anyone predicted 17 wins in a row. It’s just an outstanding effort.
“They will well and truly go down as the greatest Penrith side we have seen if they win on Sunday. To win so many consecutive games is almost unheard of in the modern era.”
John Lang said Nathan Cleary would be Australia’s halfback for a decade.
“He’s got it all,’’ he said. “He has that composure, the skill, he’s a good defender. There’s not a weakness in his game.”
Martin went a step further.
“Nathan is the world’s best player, he has the ball on a string,’’ he said. “His kicking, his game management, running, defence, he’s the complete player. There would be a lot of people thinking he’s the best player in the world.
“I don’t think anyone is having more of an influence on a game than Nathan Cleary. That’s how I judge a footballer, anyway. (Viliame) Kikau is a great player and he didn’t play in the preliminary final.
“If Nathan didn’t play in the preliminary final, Penrith would not have won. I do think Nathan will get them home and that’s even with the great Cameron Smith somewhere near the top of his game.
“I don’t think Penrith give consideration to the thought of losing. They are playing with a winning mentality and enjoying their football. I think they will continue that on.
“But any side with Smith and coached by Craig Bellamy, you can’t write them off. They have some wonderful players, and what they did to Canberra in the first 20 minutes last Friday night was unbelievable.”
The Daily Telegraph
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