Extra Time August 4

the final word v

The 2020 Grand Final was something of a line in the sand when it comes to Penrith versus Melbourne clashes. The Storm got the chocolates and the trophy that day, but in the midst of the Panthers’ spirited fightback it became clear that 20-odd years of dominance was drawing to its conclusion. Melbourne were once one of Penrith’s most feared opponents. There’s some pretty horrible losses in the record books, and losing streaks that extend 11 matches (2006-2012) and six straight games (2014 to 2017). But the ledger has been evened more recently, with Ivan Cleary’s side winning three of their last four matches against Craig Bellamy’s men. Most recently, the Panthers came from behind in one of their most gritty performances of the year to ultimately thrash the Storm 34-16 in Melbourne. It will sit fresh in the memory

banks of both clubs as both likely learned a lot that night.

Penrith learned that they still have the fight in them when things don’t go their way; that there’s an alternate path to just getting in front and dominating momentum and possession from there.

And what did Melbourne learn? We may find out on Friday night when the two sides clash again at BlueBet Stadium.

This is Penrith’s third straight home game during a quirky period of the draw, and perhaps the most anticipated of the three clashes. Any game against Melbourne tests your mettle and there’s no doubt the team will be savouring going up against one of the heavyweights of the competition.

The Storm have been inconsistent this season, securing a host of impressive wins but

also dropping games they should win – like against Newcastle a fortnight ago.

There’s no question Bellamy would be working overtime to ensure the Storm gets it right come Finals time and given his experience at the business of the season, you’d be a brave person to rule Melbourne out of Premiership contention.

But if the Storm are serious about adding another piece of silverware to their impressive collection, they’ve got to win games like this, or at least be in the fight until the dying stages.

Penrith have a little bit more luxury, but there’s still no way they’d want to drop a game like this. There’s no question Cleary would be eyeing off a top two finish to ensure a home Final – especially given finishing third or fourth, while ensuring a second bite at the cherry, would likely have you on the road in week one

either in New Zealand, Brisbane or Melbourne.

Given the Warriors’ reasonably soft draw and Brisbane and Melbourne’s strong form, dropping even a single game could put that mission in danger.

I’m expecting a similar game plan from Melbourne to the one they came out of the blocks with only a short while ago. They’ll go hard early, attempt to win the momentum and suffocate Penrith out of the early forward battle. The mission will then be to maintain it and not let all the good work fall apart like it did back in Round 18.

In front of a strong Friday night crowd, and with Nathan Cleary back steering the ship, I’m confident the Panthers will get the job done –but I’m predicting a low scoring affair with only a try or two in it when all is said and done.

Tip: Panthers by 6.

Isaah Yeo takes the ball up for Penrith. Photo: Megan Dunn.

nrl ladder & fixtures

ROUND 23

face in the crowd

here ’ s cheers

NAME: AVA AGE: 21 SUBURB: PENRITH the western weekender • extra time » 36 Friday, August 4, 2023 EXPERIENCE PENRITH’S LEADING GYM 7 DAY FREE PASS 47 600 700 WW50628

What do you love about being a Pantherette: I love getting to perform in such

an electric and

panther rumblings

CLUB SIGNING SPREE CONTINUES

! Friday night lights: As the Finals picture starts to become clearer, a home final at BlueBet Stadium has never looked more important for the Panthers. A road trip in the first week of the Finals is the likely scenario should the Panthers finish third or fourth, and it could even be a trip to New Zealand. Should the Panthers grab a top two finish, there’s no question the club will be pushing for the match to be scheduled to open the Finals on the Friday night. It’s an extremely lucrative timeslot for the Leagues Club pre and post game.

! Martin’s new deal: It was no surprise to anyone, but the Panthers last week confirmed that forward Liam Martin had signed an extended contract that will keep him at the foot of the Mountains until at least the end of the 2027 season. “Marto is a quality player. He’s come through this system and he loves the Panthers – you can see that by the way he plays,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said. “He’s getting better each and every year. I think his work in the representative arenas have been really strong. He’s a really important player for us and it’s great to see him re-sign with the club.”

! Peach sticks solid: Panthers centre Tyrone Peachey has smartly brushed off interest from South Sydney to re-sign with Penrith for the 2024 season. After re-joining the Panthers ahead of the 2023 campaign, Peachey extended his deal for a further season last Friday. “The Panthers is home for me and my family. I was really happy to re-join the club earlier this year, so to be staying here means a lot to me.” Meanwhile, Peachey will miss the next two games after entering an early plea for a high tackle. Peachey was charged with a Grade 3 Careless High Tackle for contact on Sharks player Jack Williams in the 57th minute of Saturday night’s win at BlueBet Stadium.

! Salmon headed for exit: Penrith utility Jaeman Salmon is headed to Canterbury next year after signing with the club on a two-year deal. The 24-year-old will get more game time at the Bulldogs and joins the long list of Panthers now at Belmore. Interestingly, Salmon dropped out of Penrith’s top 17 recently but has emerged again this week.

! Cogger a Knight: Back-up Panthers playmaker Jack Cogger will return home to Newcastle next season. The 25-year-old has done an excellent job filling in for Nathan Cleary this year, but it comes as no surprise that he’s looking to extend his career elsewhere – much like Sean O’Sullivan, now at the Dolphins, did last year. I’m hearing Penrith attempted to extend him but the desire to return to Newcastle on the three-year deal was far too great to pass up. He’ll finish the season in Penrith before moving back up north at the end of the year.

! Spotted: Penrith coach Ivan Cleary in the car park of the Panthers Academy with a surprise addition – a surfboard!

! Spotted: Penrith Citizen of the Year Royce

Simmons mingling with footy fans at Panthers Leagues Club following Penrith’s huge win over the Sharks last Saturday night.

! Spotted: Panthers 2003 Premiership-winning captain Craig Gower enjoying the company of friends at Squires Terrace Bar at Panthers late on Saturday evening.

! Stadium briefing: I’m told members of Penrith’s Board have now met with State Government officials to get a clearer picture of what the situation is when it comes to the upcoming stadium upgrade and the funding associated with it. As it stands the club is still working towards the probability of a major upgrade in 2025, which would force the Panthers to play out of CommBank Stadium in Parramatta for the year.

! Geyer eyes first grade debut: Now that he’s been upgraded to Penrith’s top 30, rising star Mavrik Geyer has set his sights on an NRL debut. There’s a slim chance it could happen this year if coach Ivan Cleary has the luxury of resting his big-name players at the back end of the season. But a 2024 debut is more likely

– and given his

! Huge funds raised: The 2023 edition of Sportbet’s Try July was the biggest on record with players from the NRL and NRLW getting right behind the initiative and raising $400,000. The beneficiaries of money raised this year are former NRL player Nathan Stapleton and former NRL coach Daniel Anderson.

pedigree, it’ll be one hell of a moment when it happens.

Liam Martin.

“I’M NOT GETTING SLAMMED ANYMORE”

When you lose a player the calibre of Api Koroisau from your team, it’s always going to take some time for people to adjust.

Whether it’s players getting used to new combinations out on the field or fans getting accustomed to someone else wearing the famous Panthers number nine jersey, teething problems are inevitable.

For Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny, he was aware of the criticism he copped earlier this year as he was finding his feet in the starting dummy half role.

“I heard a little bit of it, but I’m pretty good at staying away from social media and stuff like that – I know what fans, punters and commentary is like,” he told Extra Time

“For what I didn’t see, I already knew it was out there, but I always had that confidence that things would turn once we had that game time together.

“I don’t really check social media too

much or anything but I imagine I’m not getting slammed too much anymore, but who knows?”

While Kenny’s time with the ball is still a work in progress, his time off the ball in defence has been a joy to watch. The 25-yearold is currently tackling at a 90 per cent success rate, and he doesn’t mind getting stuck in where other players won’t.

After playing the majority of his career off the bench, Kenny said he’s feeling more and more comfortable with each and every game he plays.

“I think there was always going to be a little bit of teething for the side and myself early on, but I was always confident that once we

could get some game time, we could take care of those things,” he said.

“Combinations start to gel and you find your own path, which has happened. I’m really comfortable in my role within the team now and I’m just happy I’m doing my bit.”

And with the Panthers just over a month away from playing in their first Finals match of 2023, Kenny’s confidence in his own game is music to the ears of everybody that bleeds black.

Despite winning a Premiership with the Panthers last year, Kenny said he’s learned so much this season and is ready to take that into the NRL Finals.

“Just learning combinations and understanding who likes the ball and how to give it to them and where to take a little bit more control on the field,” Kenny said.

“We’ve had guys come in and out but I think just being consistently on the paddock for myself, I’ve just grown a bit more of an understanding of how the team plays and what I need

to do in different moments.

“My job is pretty simple… I’ve got guys who make it really easy in this side. I just try to do what’s expected of me and try and be a good teammate each weekend.”

All eyes will be on Kenny this Friday night when he goes up against one of the premier hookers in the game, Harry Grant.

Despite the Panthers beating the Storm just over a month ago down in Melbourne, they know Round 2 against Craig Bellamy’s men is going to be even tougher.

“You always know what you’re going to get with the Melbourne Storm. They’ve been really consistent for over a decade,” Kenny said. “It was nice to go down there and get the win… but this is a new challenge now. They don’t get beaten by the same side twice very often, so we’re expecting another difficult challenge.

“They are a star-studded team, and they are so disciplined and relentless. It’s going to be a grind for 80 minutes, but that suits us.”

Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny has improved in the second half of this season. Photo: NRL Images.

Mitch Kenny is all smiles. Photo: NRL Images.

NATHAN TAYLOR

CRITTA FULLY FOCUSED ON THREE-PEAT

ahead, Crichton quickly realised that his time at Penrith would soon be coming to an end.

fully focused on delivering the Panthers their third successive Premiership.

When Stephen Crichton came up against his future club, Canterbury, the other week at BlueBet Stadium, scores of Bulldogs fans stayed back after the game to greet him. While the 2021 Grand Final hero was touched by their kindness and excitement for what lies

The 22-year-old centre says he has no regrets or second thoughts about leaving the backto-back Premiers for one of the competition’s worst teams, and that his mind is

“I’m just trying to lap it up every training session, every time I get together with these boys – make the most of it,” Crichton told Extra Time

“When next year comes, I’ll worry about it when it comes. From now until the end of the year, I’m a Panther and we’ve got something special going on.”

While Kurt Capewell, Matt Burton, Api Koroi-

sau and Viliame Kikau all got the fairytale finish when they left the Panthers the previous two seasons, Crichton knows that premierships are earned the hard way, and nothing is guaranteed no matter how far ahead of the pack you are.

It’s for this reason that the NSW Blues star will be working harder than ever in the lead up to the first Sunday in October.

“Another premiership is a possibility but, right now, it’s a dream and dreams don’t come true without hard work,” Crichton said.

“It comes down to our training sessions and how we can better each other as a team and how we can go into a game confident with our game plan.

“I don’t want to think too far ahead about Grand Finals and fairytale finishes and all of that. I just want to focus on the week in, week out and we’ll worry about it when it comes.”

Crichton is currently enjoying one of his finest seasons of his 92-game career. Not only has he been a standout for the Panthers this year – scoring nine tries in 16 appearances – but he was one of the best players for NSW as they went down to Queensland 2-1.

With commentators and the game’s experts showering him with praise of late, the Samoan international was grateful for the recognition but said it was important to remain grounded.

“I do hear it… it’s heaps humbling and grateful, but I try not to let it go to my head that I’m too good for anyone,” Crichton said.

“I guess, once I start to think like that, it can start crashing down. I will always try and look at the negative side of where I can get better and that’s where you can just keep improving.”

Stephen Crichton meets with fans. Photo: NRL Images.

NATHAN TAYLOR

With the Finals only five weeks away, it’s time to look at the teams which I think could trouble the Panthers during the Finals and even stop them from achieving a three-peat in 2023.

By the way I know I’m being presumptuous with my premise, so forgive me but the column doesn’t work if I’m not.

The first team which has the game to stop Penrith dead in their tracks is the New Zealand Warriors. They’re the flavour of the month with halfback Shaun Johnson back in career-best form. The team is playing a style similar to the Panthers, they’re the real deal and a genuine threat.

The fact that their coach is Penrith’s former attacking coach Andrew Webster, well you can see why every team is looking over their shoulder at the Warriors in the run home.

Brisbane are also a team which can cause the Panthers plenty of problems and already have in 2023. They stunned everyone when they beat Penrith 13-12 in Round 1 and proved a handful again when the Panthers reversed the result in Round 12.

The Broncos are dangerous because of the sheer strike power they have in their team both in the forwards (Payne Haas, Patrick

analysis WW50494

Carrigan) and in the backs (Adam South Sydney Rabbitohs. a rabbit-out-of-a-hat at any time and steal victory from you in the blink of an eye.

The fact that every team always raises their intensity level when they play the back-to-back Premiers means that Penrith can’t take any team lightly and any side can beat them on their day.

But as dangerous as the teams I’ve just talked about are, the Panthers are no pushovers either. To be the best, you have to beat the best and the Panthers always turn up ready to play.

Penrith, barring any major injuries to key players, should see their attack click into gear soon because at times it still looks a little frantic and clunky however their defence has always been strong, while the side’s for-and-against, is the best in the competition by far.

I’m going to give the last word on the matter, to current Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett. This is what he had to say after the Panthers beat his team in Round 20.

“There’s a few teams out there that are good and they’re (Penrith) one of them,” Bennett said.

“They have the confidence and the belief… there’s no reason why they can’t win three-in-a-row.

“But it’s not going to be easy and they know that.”

They certainly do Benny, because nothing worthwhile ever is.

Brisbane Broncos superstar Reece Walsh.

Photo: NRL Images.

with Peter Lang

THE IMPRESSIVE RISE OF NRLW

Hot on the heels of Women In League Round it’s timely that we ponder if any NRL club is truly complete without an NRLW team?

More than half the clubs have one and there is an opening in the current broadcast deal (2027) for two more to join.

For the uninitiated, NRLW started tentatively in 2018 with only four teams contesting a four-week competition – Brisbane, St George Illawarra, Sydney Roosters and the Warriors COVID stopped the competition for more than 12 months and wiped out the New Zealand team before Gold Coast, Newcastle and Parramatta joined an expanded six-team premiership on its return.

Now we’re two weeks into a 10-team competition which has welcomed Canberra, Cronulla, Wests Tigers and North Queensland.

Much like the Dolphins in the NRL, the newcomers have delivered straight away. All of them have won over the first couple of rounds. In fact, Wests Tigers lead the competition; Canberra have produced a huge upset to beat the Roosters; and Cronulla and North Queensland have had enough highlights to hold genuine Finals ambitions.

Then come the numbers – like

skill statistics spiking dramatically since 2018. So too tries and points per game. There is huge growth in live action or ball-in-play. Obviously, the playing ranks are ballooning. About the only thing dropping is the average age of debutants… and the ball carriers on the end of the big hits. So, we have more players and younger players achieving better stats in a greater spectacle.

So many of the athletes have turned their backs on other sporting interests and achievements to play NRLW. It makes you wonder what the next six years hold, let alone the next 60. And to be blunt, NRLW is the highest rating women’s sport on Foxtel bar NONE!

In private corners at Fox Sports you’ll find retired greats of the men’s game enjoying NRLW, aware

of the players’ names, investing time and energy in the competition, with only the most genuine interest and involvement.

It’s much like NRL Premiership winners Brett Kimmorley, Jamie Soward and Scott Prince dedicating their waking hours to be NRLW coaches.

In Canberra last Saturday there were almost 3000 fans in GIO Stadium at kick-off to the NRLW game. It was 5000 by half-time and nearly 10k as they celebrated a historic first win on home soil. For months I’ve seen NRLW captain Simaima Taufa standing sideline to support the Canberra men. It was great to see the male Raiders doing likewise for Simaima.

Having an women’s team means greater costs, more work and no doubt a heap more headaches. Yet ask the clubs if they’d change a thing!

If the last six years are an indication, why shouldn’t we strive for 12 teams as soon as possible?

Asked to nominate his preferred expansion locations, Tigers great Steve Roach didn’t hesitate.

“The Warriors and Panthers. The Warriors give us another country. Penrith provides a huge catchment and a growth area,” he said. With the Panthers’ ongoing NRL success, it’s only a matter of time.

hidden panther WHO AM I ?

1. I have a twin brother who played for Canberra.

2. I played nine games for Panthers.

3. I scored six tries in my short stint.

4. I played internationally with Lebanon.

5. I’m related to Anthony Mundine.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWER: Joseph Paulo.

CAN YOU SEEK OUT THE HIDDEN PANTHER IN THIS WEEK’S QUIZ?

Chante Temara celebrating Canberra’s first win.

Photo: NRL Photos.

PANTHERS CELEBRATE CUP WIN

The Penrith Panthers have remained inside the top five of the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup with a 30-6 victory over the Newtown Jets at BlueBet Stadium.

The result sees the Panthers sit ahead of Blacktown and Souths on for-and-against, while also being just one point behind the Warriors, Canterbury and Newtown.

The Panthers opened the scoring after 10 minutes, with a simple shift to the left seeing Daeon Amituanai touching down in the corner. Jack Cole converted from the sideline to take a 6-0 lead.

lower grades report

They doubled the margin in the 20th minute when Luke Garner cut past the defence to score.

Impressive defence late in the half allowed the Panthers to keep their line intact for the first 40, leading 12-0 at the break.

They pushed the lead out to 16-0 shortly after the resumption when Luke Sommerton caught the goalline defence napping and went over himself.

Former Panther Niwahi Puru set up Sam Healey for a try under the posts to get Newtown on the board, before Cole extended the margin out to two converted tries with a 73rd minute penalty goal.

Late tries to Jack Cogger and Jesse McLean put the cherry on top of a big Panthers win.

A thrilling comeback has guaranteed the Panthers a berth in the Jersey Flegg finals, beating Cronulla 22-20 earlier in the afternoon.

Three tries in the opening 20 minutes had the Sharks leading 16-0, before Liam Ison reduced the deficit to 16-6 with a try late in the first half.

Ison scored his second two minutes after the resumption, with Luron Patea crashing over shortly after to lock the scores at 16-all. The Sharks took back the lead in the 52nd minute when Noah Lester scored, however Kristian Dixon crucially hit the upright with a rela tively simple conversion attempt.

With three minutes remaining, Patea scored his second when he eased past Cronulla’s defence, leaving Joseph Nohra a simple conversion to snatch victory.

Jersey Flegg will enjoy a bye in Round 23, while NSW Cup tackles

Penrith celebrate winning the Wilson-Blacklock Cup over Newtown. Photo: NRL Images.

ROOSTERS WARRIORS PANTHERS BRONCOS KNIGHTS RABBITOHS

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