Panthers' mistimed growl a symptom of painful new matchday experience

Tom Naghten

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Panthers' mistimed growl a symptom of painful new matchday experience image

Not only did Canberra's stunning golden-point victory over the Panthers give us an all-time great finish, it also gifted fans one of the most unintentionally hilarious moments of the season.

That is, unless you support Penrith.

Throughout the game at Mudgee's Glen Willow Oval, spectators and viewers at home would have noticed the extremely liberal use of the "Panther growl" sound effect.

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Every time something positive happened for the mountain men, there it was - "reow reow" - ringing out around the ground.

Unfortunately for whoever was in charge of it on Friday night, they got it very wrong in golden point.

Just as Nathan Cleary's field goal attempt thudded into the upright, a booming growl could be heard around the oval and throughout lounge rooms across Australia.

Listen closely:

Raiders winger Jed Stuart was quick to pounce on the live ball and put Ethan Strange into space, before the five-eighth found Kaeo Weekes for the match-winning try.

While humorous, it does bring up a worthy discussion around artificial noise at venues.

Clearly, the ship has sailed when it comes to music during the breaks at footy matches.

And, we have to say, we've been left standing on the shore. 

Is there really anyone out there, of any age, who is more inclined to go to a game because they get to hear the first 15 seconds of Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Can't Stop" while a scrum is packed?

Surely the half-time break is best spent gibbering with your fellow spectators rather than being drowned out by whatever's blasting out of the speakers?

This isn't a dig at Penrith either - it happens everywhere these days.

Perhaps I'm wrong and club feedback forms and inboxes are filled with fans praising the Big Bash-ification of the NRL.

Without wishing to stray too far into Abe Simpson "old man yells at cloud" territory, I'll leave it there.

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.