THE Penrith players who were on the field when their game against the Warriors took that incredible U-turn should fund the establishment of an off-season rest home for coaches and then shout Matthew Elliott a few weeks there as the first customer.

Elliott could no doubt do with a good lie down after this season. He has to accept his share of the responsibility for one of the most disappointing seasons in Penrith's history, but the players are the ones who have the most explaining to do.

What the hell happened to the Panthers at CUA Stadium from when they led 14-0, in the 35th minute, to half-time, by which point they were 18-14 behind? We all know the Warriors can turn it on and score a lot of points in a hurry, but this was ridiculous. It wasn't as if Penrith were already getting flogged and had simply given up. They were winning, for God's sake.

Elliott could have been excused for wearing a straitjacket as he addressed the players at half-time.

He had seen them drop their guard too many times before and come undone in frustrating circumstances - three weeks earlier they led North Queensland by 10 points with five minutes of normal time left, only to lose in extra time - but this took the cake.

That short period before the break encapsulated Penrith's season. Here they were, competing to avoid the wooden spoon and also trying to farewell their halfback and captain Craig Gower, who was playing his last game for the club.

They knew the dangers the Warriors posed, particularly late in the half, but they went to sleep.

The game wasn't lost on the scoreboard at half-time for the Panthers - despite what had happened, they only trailed by four points - but it was surely lost in their minds. Penrith stuck at it in the second half, but it can't be easy to forget going from 14 points up to four points behind in a few minutes.

The Warriors got out to a 24-14 lead before Penrith finally slowed the momentum of the visitors by scoring a try, but there was always the sense that after scoring 24 straight points, the Warriors would win, which they did, 24-20. They are too good not to take advantage when the opposition hand it to them on a platter.

Penrith deserve the wooden spoon, just the same as Newcastle deserved not to get it after their gutsy win over Wests Tigers on Friday. There is always next season, but it must seem a hell of a long way away for the Panthers right now.

South Sydney still have this season to worry about, but they won't have to worry about it for much longer if the form they showed against Sydney Roosters at Telstra Stadium is any indication.

The Rabbitohs were awful in losing 26-12. It was a reminder of how bad they can be when they are sent out favourites.

The Tigers' loss guaranteed Souths a finals berth for the first time since 1989, but that would not be any excuse for the Rabbitohs losing intensity. They were still playing to get as high a spot in the top eight as they could.

Cronulla look a bit out of place in the bottom half of the competition table today. Among the teams to miss the finals, they were the only ones to record a positive for-and-against points differential.

The Sharks finished the season in style, with a 22-12 win over Canberra at Canberra Stadium, but it was a year that could have been so much better for them.