Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has addressed the decision to drop Paul Alamoti ahead of Sunday’s Western Sydney derby against Parramatta.
Alamoti has been one of Penrith’s more consistent performers this season, with his yardage carries particularly valuable when Brian To’o was out injured while he has also been a reliable finisher on the wing.
However, in a big call, Cleary decided to dump Alamoti to the reserves and retain youngster Casey McLean, who has shown flashes in attack but has been guilty of holding onto the ball too often instead of passing to open wingers.
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While it would make sense to keep McLean in the team if Penrith was looking towards the future, the fact Cleary has named all his Origin players to back up suggests he is instead simply looking to name the best possible 17.
That is consistent with what Cleary said on Wednesday when asked about Alamoti’s omission.
“I make the best decision for the team each week,” a blunt Cleary replied.
Meanwhile, the buzz of being back in the Origin arena could have a “flow-on effect” for a slew of Penrith stars involved and boost their chances of a last-placed Panthers revival.
Cleary said, barring injury, the likelihood of players including his superstar captain and son Nathan turning out on Sunday was increased given the Panthers had a bye before the players went into Origin camp.
Things don’t get easy for the Panthers, with games against the third-placed Warriors and ladder leaders the Bulldogs to come over the Origin period.
But four-time premiership coach Cleary is adamant ladder positions mean little in a tightly contested season, and fuelled by their Origin experience, there’s a chance for his team to surge.
“(This season is) about as even as I can remember and that’s what the game wants,” Cleary said on Wednesday.
“In that sense it also gives you a lot of hope that you can get a few and get yourself going.
“Put some weeks together, consistency, then you’re right back in the mix.”
“I really think that’s a real opportunity for us.
“I can only imagine there’d be nothing like it (Origin), just the energy and the build up, it would be pretty cool.
“I definitely hope there’s a flow-on effect for us after that.”
Cleary also knows with just three wins and a draw from 11 games, there’s not the same opportunities as in previous seasons for him to rest his Origin stars over the next month.
“There’s different circumstances, we had a bye before Origin so all those boys had a rest which we haven’t had before,” Cleary said.
“Each year brings new challenges depending on how you’re going, where the games are played, what day they’re on, all that kind of stuff.”
The Panthers this week return to their new “home” at CommBank Stadium, where they are yet to record a victory, in stark contrast to their fortress at Penrith that is being redeveloped.
Cleary conceded the move had been a factor in their performances this season.
“It seems like it by results, but it is what it is,” Cleary said.
“That’s (CommBank Stadium) our home ground and we play anywhere, anytime that’s in front of us.”
Read on for Late Mail as it comes ahead of Round 13!
FRIDAY
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Newcastle Knights, 8pm AEST at Jubilee Stadium
Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jack de Belin 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Toby Couchman 16. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 17. Blake Lawrie 18. Emre Guler 19. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Nathan Lawson 22. Hame Sele
Late Mail: To come.
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Kyle McCarthy 5. Fletcher Hunt 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Tyson Gamble 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Mathew Croker 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Thomas Cant 18. Jack Cogger 19. Jermaine McEwen 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Connor Votano 22. Elijah Leaumoana
Late Mail: To come.
Should the RLPA investigate Gould? | 04:33
SATURDAY
Gold Coast Titans vs Melbourne Storm, 3pm AEST at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans team: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Kieran Foran 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Klese Haas 17. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 18. Arama Hau 19. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 20. Josh Patston 21. Tom Weaver 22. Sean Mullany 23. Allan Fitzgibbon
Late Mail: To come.
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sualauvi Faalogo 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Bronson Garlick 18. Joe Chan 19. Jack Howarth 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Kane Bradley 22. Lazarus Vaalepu 23. Marion Seve 24. Ativalu Lisati
Late Mail: To come.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Wests Tigers, 5.30pm AEST at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Kai O’Donnell 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Jake Clifford 19. Thomas Duffy 20. Karl Lawton 21. Thomas Mikaele 22. Braidon Burns 23. Kaiden Lahrs 24. Jamal Shibasaki
Late Mail: To come.
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Charlie Staines 6. Heath Mason 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Royce Hunt 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Brent Naden 15. Jack Bird 16. Sione Fainu 17. Tony Sukkar 18. Tristan Hope 19. Luke Laulilii 20. Charlie Murray 21. Kit Laulilii 22. Tallyn Da Silva
Late Mail: To come.
Manly Sea Eagles vs Brisbane Broncos, 7.35pm AEST at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles team: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Ethan Bullemor 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Lachlan Croker 15. Corey Waddell 16. Nathan Brown 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Michael Chee Kam 21. Toafofoa Sipley 22. Caleb Navale
Late Mail: To come.
Broncos team:1. Jesse Arthars 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Benjamin Te Kura 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Josiah Karapani 20. Blake Mozer 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Fletcher Baker 23. Va’a Semu
Late Mail: To come.
“Mind your words son!” | 00:33
SUNDAY
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs New Zealand Warriors, 2pm AEST at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Siliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jye Gray 15. Sean Keppie 16. Davvy Moale 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Shaquai Mitchell 21. Lewis Dodd 22. Jacob Host
Late Mail: To come.
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Rocco Berry 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Leka Halasima 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jackson Ford 18. Jacob Laban 20. Samuel Healey 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Tanner Stowers-Smith 23. Taine Tuaupiki
Late Mail: To come.
Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels, 4.05pm AEST at CommBank Stadium
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Luke Sommerton 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Luron Patea 17. Harrison Hassett 18. Brad Schneider 19. Riley Wake 20. Preston Riki 21. Daine Laurie 22. Jack Cole 23. Paul Alamoti 24. Austin Dias
Late Mail: Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has addressed the decision to drop Paul Alamoti ahead of Sunday’s Western Sydney derby against Parramatta. Alamoti has been one of Penrith’s more consistent performers this season, with his yardage carries particularly valuable when Brian To’o was out injured while he has also been a reliable finisher on the wing. However, in a big call, Cleary decided to dump Alamoti to the reserves and retain youngster Casey McLean, who has shown flashes in attack but been guilty of holding onto the ball too often instead of passing to open wingers. While it would make sense to keep McLean in the team if Penrith was looking towards the future, the fact Cleary has named all his Origin players to back up suggests he is instead simply looking to name the best possible 17. That is consistent with what Cleary said on Wednesday when asked about Alamoti’s omission. “I make the best decision for the team each week,” a blunt Cleary replied.
Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Sean Russell 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Joash Papali’i 18. Matt Doorey 19. Joey Lussick 20. Toni Mataele 21. Dean Hawkins 22. Samuel Loizou
Late Mail: To come.
Sydney Roosters vs Canberra Raiders, 6.15pm AEST at Allianz Stadium
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Spencer Leniu 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Egan Butcher 18. Dominic Young 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Benaiah Ioelu 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Xavier Va’a 23. Ethan King 24. Chad Townsend
Late Mail: To come.
Raiders team:1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Owen Pattie 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Danny Levi 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Noah Martin 19. Trey Mooney 20. Jed Stuart 21. Pasami Saulo 22. Ethan Sanders
Late Mail: To come.
