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MG RANDOM WESTIE PSEUDO ECHO & 1927 GET TO KNOW HOOK SPORTSM AN’S LUNCH S TA N D U P FOR SOLDIERS LUNCH
PA N T H E R S . C O M . A U
“IT REDEFINES RETIREMENT LIVING.” Royce Simmons
Living at The Royce, with the Panthers World of Entertainment at your doorstep, is certainly an exciting new plan for your retired life. Think of all the fun you’ll have. Get in early to select your apartment. Exclusive to 55+. And it’s probably best that you’re a Panthers fan.
Book an appointment on 02 4720 5633 or visit theroyce.com.au Whilst every effort has been made to ensure information, images and artist’s impressions are accurate they are for illustrative purposes only.
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MG: Random Westie
We chat with one of our favourite Panthers.
Sportman's Lunch
Dine with Matt Moylan, Trent Merrin & Issah Yeo.
What's On Weekly
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Members Offers
Panthers V Raiders
Exclusive offers Just for you.
Player Profile
Todd Barrow.
Get your tickets now.
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Get to Know Hook
Pseudo Echo & 1927
Stand Up For Soldiers
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Bistro @ Panthers
You could WIN up to $20,000
Meet our Mighty Panthers
Anthony Griffin our Penrith Panthers Coach.
Weekly Specials.
Details correct at time of print.
See them live!
Every Thursday.
Your weekly guide to fun.
Charity Comedy Show.
Catch up with the players.
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MG: Random Westie Penrith great Mark Geyer chats to us about the reality of life after footy, how working out helps his mental and physical health, his childhood dream of becoming a Policeman and his proudest moments.
Your first grade debut was in a derby against the Eels. What do you remember about it? It was 1986 and I was 18. We were playing against Parramatta, the guns of the competition and my dad’s favourite side. It was a TV game. I played under 23’s that day, then reserve grade and then first grade, with only 10 minutes to go. Ray Warren called me Mark Gayer. That was my run on debut and my first grade debut was a year later against the Bulldogs. They were a really hard pack to play against. You never forget the first time you put on the jersey and run out for your initial game because you never think it’s going to happen and when it does its surreal. What did being selected on the 1990 Kangaroo tour mean to you? I was told before the 1990 Grand Final that it was out of me and another bloke from the Canberra side and whoever played best would go on the tour. Because we were beaten I thought that my chances were pretty slim. We went back to the club and the names of the Penrith players who made the tour were read out, they were: Greg Alexander, Brad Fittler and John Cartwright and then there was a long pause, then they said ‘and Mark Geyer’. I thought ‘oh wow, that was unexpected’. 4
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To go on a three month tour with blokes you’ve been watching from a far was big. Sometimes reputations would precede people. You’d hear about Brad Clyde from Canberra and Laurie Daley and these blokes up in Brisbane. Then when you spend time with them you realise they also miss their family and get homesick, just like you do. I think this experience helped the four of us the following year. The tour broke down the walls of invincibility; we had these guys up on a pedestal. I think that helped us win the comp. What are your proudest moments off the field? Being a dad and a husband. When you have other people to worry about it lifts your game. My family make me want to be a better person, they mean everything to me. What was life like in the first few years after you retired from football? When I retired in 2000 I was 32, I had three kids, a wife and no Plan B. I thought I was going to continue playing, but quickly realised I couldn’t. I worked for a sponsor of the club and went from $400,000 a year as a footballer, down to $750 a week. It was a big reality check and I had anxiety over it. I decided that I wanted to be in the media so I said yes to everything that
came my way. I started on C91.3FM in Campbelltown, then 2SM, I wrote a column for Rugby League Week and I did Dead Set Legends. In 2009 I auditioned for The Grill Team on Triple M and thankfully got the job. It’s something I never thought I’d be doing but I can’t imagine not doing it now. What one piece of advice would you give young footballers who are thinking about life after football? Always have a Plan B. Have one eye on your football career and the other on life post football. While you’re in the moment football consumes every part of your being, but there’s another 50 years of life to live after that. A lot of people don’t think about that, hence why they get down on themselves and get into a rut. While rugby league should be your number one priority when you’re playing, it’s healthy to have other interests.
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You’re still in great shape even though you’re not training for football anymore. What do you do to keep yourself fit? I’m probably training harder now than I did when I was a footballer because no-one’s telling me too. I used to hate turning up to training and seeing witches hats and tackle bags out. I would dread it, but it was more mental than anything. Now, it’s a focus, I want to do it, so much so that a mate and I started an online fitness business called Wild Panther Fitness. I train every day for about half an hour when I get home from work. Then I walk the dogs for another half hour. So I dedicate an hour a day. I have one day off a week which is usually a Saturday or Sunday. But when I don’t train I feel sick. Working out is a release now, that’s what gets my endorphins going. With training I believe that it’s healthy body, healthy mind.
If you hadn’t been a footballer, what do you think your career would have been? I wanted to be a Policeman. In Year 10 we had to do two weeks of work experience so I went to Redfern, back when the Police Academy was there. I did that when I was 16 and a year later I was playing for Penrith, so I didn’t get a chance to exercise that option. But I’ve got a lot of respect for the Police and what they do and what they put up with.
We hear about depression a lot in the media today, especially in sportspeople. What is your advice to those who may be suffering? The first thing I’d say is that you’re not alone. Often it’s about the perception of not living up to expectations that contributes to feeling down. For footballers, I’d say that it’s only a sport, it’s only a 10 year period of your life (if you’re lucky), that you need to knuckle down and do your best.
GAME TIME: We gave MG 6 words or names and he had to say what they meant to him in one or two words. Penrith Panthers My Team Wally Lewis Formidable Royce Simmons Legend Life Exuberant Trump Controversial Mark Geyer Random Westie
The second thing I’d say is talk to somebody. With my fitness training, I train with three or four other blokes and the best part is that for half an hour we walk and talk, without alcohol so we don’t talk crap. We talk candidly about our issues and when we get back from the walk we feel good. I think that’s what makes us keep doing it every day.
20TH MAY 2017
GET YOUR TICKETS FROM VICS MOBILE DJ: 0403 714 514 & BATHURST PANTHERS
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PANTHERS
Sportsman’s Lunch Friday, 9th June 2017
Bathurst Panthers | arrival 12pm; event 12.30PM-3pm
GUEST Speakers:Phil Gould AM & Anthony Griffin
PLUS PENRITH PANTHERS: Matt Moylan, Trent Merrin & Isaah Yeo COMEDIANS: Martin Henchion,
Rob Andrews & Lee Reid
$70 per TICKET | Table of 10: $700
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what’s on? Your weekly fun guide
Monday 11.30am Buy one Schnitzel, get the second for $5 5.30pm Buy one Schnitzel, get the second for $5
Tuesday 11am
Bingo, Macquarie Room (books on sale from 10am in Sports Bar)
Wednesday
5.30pm $14 pizza dinner comes with FREE garlic bread
11.30am $12 Rump Steak lunch, Bistro at Panthers 5.30pm $12 Rump Steak dinner, Bistro at Panthers
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
11am
Bingo, Macquarie Room (books on sale from 10am in Sports Bar)
11.30pm
Chef’s Selection Dinner, Bistro at Panthers
From 1pm
Cash Housie
4pm
Courtesy Bus (until 11pm)
4pm
Courtesy Bus (until 11pm)
5.30pm
Chef’s Selection Dinner, Bistro at Panthers
5.30pm
Chef’s Selection Dinner, Bistro at Panthers
8pm
Live music
7.30pm
Texas Hold ‘Em Poker
5.30pm Members’ Draw Blackboard Specials Dinner, Bistro at Panthers 6.30pm Members’ Cash Draw 7pm Market Night Raffles, (tickets on sale from 5.30pm, Raffle Station) 7.45pm Night Bingo, (books on sale from 6pm, Sports Bar) 8.30pm Members Cash draw, win up to $20,000 plus $1000 worth of 2nd chance draws
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Sunday 11.30am $12 Roast, Bistro
at Panthers
4.30pm Market Night Raffles (tickets on sale from 3.30pm, Raffle Station)
5.30pm
$12 Roast, Bistro at Panthers
$1,000 worth of cash draws
MEMBERS OFFERS MAY 2017
$3 OFF ANY GLASS OF WINE
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE
Relax with a glass of wine from the Main Bar
Weekday Lunch Special in the restaurant
SAVE $3
SAVE $15
JUNE 2017
$5 FREE RAFFLE TICKETS
FREE GARLIC BREAD
Buy $5 of raffle tickets & receive $5 worth free
One free garlic bread with any main meal purchased
SAVE $5
SAVE $4.50
Terms and Conditions: All offers available until the end of the month only. Offers are not to be redeemed in conjunction with any other offer. Must present current Panthers Bathurst Membership card to redeem. Offers limited to one per person. Images are illustrative only. Offers are subject to availability.
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Player Profile: Todd Barrow Todd is an accomplished player who played all his junior rugby league with Orange Hawks where he represented both Group 10 and Western Division on numerous occasions.
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Todd took up an offer to play in Sydney where he played Jersey Flegg with the West Tigers before going on to play with Manly in reserve grade. He returned to Orange and we were lucky enough to recruit him as a Captain Coach for the 2015 season. In 2016 Todd took us to the finals and we were unlucky to miss out on a grand final appearance. Also in 2016 Todd captained us to our first Bathurst Knockout win since 2009 and backed it up with back to back wins this year.
Getting to know HOOK We sat down with Penrith Panthers Head Coach Anthony Griffin to learn all about the man behind our side. You’ve been in Penrith for over a year now, how are you enjoying being here?
I’ve really enjoyed it. From the first time I got here it just felt very right both from a football and community point of view. I’m a Queensland country boy so a town like this the size of Penrith is an environment that I am used to. I’m from Rockhampton originally. There’s a similar feel to it, the people are grassroots people, love their football. I spent a lot of time at Redcliffe as well which has a lot of similarities as well because it is a one team town and everything revolves around the team and the leagues club. I really like the feel of the place.
What do you enjoy doing away from football?
I have three children so my wife and I spend a lot of time on the weekends following them around with their sport and different things. We’re a nice tight knit family and whatever spare time I get I try and devote to them. My kids
are 13, 16 and 18 now but the two younger ones play a lot of school sport so I try and get to that as much as possible in football season. Also whatever time I can get socially to be around the house is nice. That’s the main thing, I don’t have much time for anything else. Once the season starts if I get a day off here or there I'm normally trying to do something with your family.
Do your kids play rugby league? My son plays rugby union. He doesn’t get an opportunity to play rugby league at the school that he goes to and cricket. My daughters are into water polo and netball. It does give me a break from rugby league.
We know that being an NRL coach is a very difficult job, can you run us through one of your normal days?
I try and be as hands on as possible. It’s a type of role these days that you can easily find yourself getting dragged away from day to day coaching because of the size of staff and other commitments you can fall into the trap of designating. Basically in the off-season we train every morning so I am in here at about 5.30am. I like to do a bit of training
myself before the day starts. We will train at 7am. We video every session so after training we check it and if there is anything we want to show the players either individually or as a group we do so. Then the players will go through a series of weights groups. I like to, where possible, be at those sessions as well. In the afternoon we are planning the next day or next week. We like to stay well-planned of where we are. We liaise with all the staff, and talk to the physios about injured players. Normally it is a pretty full day. I also like to, where I can, watch the NSW Cup train and even the younger grades.
Any advice you would give to young players aspiring to make the NRL? Number one is get yourself a goal and believe in yourself. You also need to have a target or a goal that you are wanting to chase. Also they have to enjoy what you are doing and not get too far ahead of yourself. In the end it is a lot of hard work and the harder you work the luckier you will get. Depending on your age if you are younger you have to have something to aspire to.
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O V E R
18’s
O N L Y
PSEUDO
ECHO / 1927 FRI 17 JUN
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TIC K E T S $44 | S H OW 8.30PM
SEASON REVIEW Bathurst Panthers have had a good start to the season with our girls having two wins from two in trial games and our Under 18s taking out the Group 10 knockout in Blayney. Our First Division side played in February in the Mudgee 9’s and made it to the Semi Finals while our Premier League was unlucky being knockout of the West Wyalong knockout being defeated in the first game on a count back to first try scorer after the game finished in a draw.
Victory: The Bathurst Panthers took out the under 18s rugby league carnival at Blayney.
First Division was defeated in the Bathurst Knockout in the final when the game was forced into extra time with the golden point rule coming into play and the Premier League side took the final against a strong and well supported Oberon side All is shaping up for another great season at Panthers with round 1 of the competition on 9th April at Carrington Park and the annual Bathurst ANZAC Challenge taking place at Carrington on Friday 21st April.
A big thank you to all our supporters. 2017 is shaping up to be another great year, come on down to Carrington and show your support for your local football club and cheer the boys home.
Photo: Margaret Pond Too Good: Bathurst Panthers fullback Jeremy Gordon heads for the tryline, in the second half, against Oberon Tigers, in the Bathurst Panthers Knockout final.
Photo: Chris Seabrook
Standup Comedy Show
Seven great comics
for one great cause
TI CKE TS AVAIL ABL E AT RECE PT ION OR W WW.STAN D UP4SO LD IERS.CO M
THUR 6 JUL
S H OW ON LY $24* D I N N E R A N D S H OW $35* D OOR S 7PM | S H OW 7.30PM PANTHERS.COM.AU
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bistro @ Panthers
MONDAY SCHNITZEL
Buy one, get the second for only $5 save $12.50
WEDNESDAY
All p izzas
$14
and receive a FREE garlic bread
AVAILABLE DINNER ONLY
MEMBERS DRAW BLACKBOARD SPECIALS
Open every day for Lunch and Dinner 14
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TO ENTER
Members must swipe their card in the foyer kiosk & make at least one purchase to be eligible. Must be present to win.
DRAWS Thursday at 6.30pm & 8.30pm
Second Chance Draws
$1,000 cash every week
Earn 1 extra ticket into the second chance draw for every $20 spent on food, $15 on raffles, $10 on beverages.
PLUS CLUB RAFFLES 24 prizes – meat trays and gift cards – over $1300 worth of prizes
Terms & conditions apply. Permit number LTPS 16/08267
MEET THE PANTHERS WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE
BATHURST PANTHERS | TIME: 6:30PM