Extra Time June 13

FRI 13 JUN 2014 • Issue 015

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Printed on 100% recycled paper

BIG HITTERS Luke Priddis Erin Molan Masked Panther + PANTHERS FLASHBACK + LEWIS BROWN PIC SPECIAL + LOWER GRADE NEWS + CELEBRITY TIPSTERS

Come and get us!

Panthers surge to the top of the NRL at halfway point p.2

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PENRITH PANTHERS

PREVIEW

Matt Moylan Josh Mansour Dean Whare Issah Yeo Dallin Watene-Zelezniak Jamie Soward Peter Wallace (c) Sam McKendry James Segeyaro Brent Kite Tyrone Peachey Sika Manu Elijah Taylor Lewis Brown Jeremy Latimore Nigel Plum Bryce Cartwright

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Adam Quinlan Peter Mata’utia Charley Runciman Gerard Beale Jason Nightingale Gareth Widdop Benji Marshall Ben Creagh (c) Mitch Rein Mike Cooper Leeson Ah Mau Joel Thompson Tyson Frizell Jack de Belin Will Matthews Shane Pumipi Bronson Harrison

Jamie Soward faces his old team for the first time this weekend. Photo: Melinda Jane

Soward set to slay Dragons TROY DODDS

@troydodds

Penrith Panthers v St George-Illawarra Kick off: SAT 14/6 • 5.30PM Sportingbet Stadium Weather: Possible shower, west to northwesterly winds

Friday 13 June 2014 the western weekender

TV: Fox Sports Live 5.30pm Radio: 2GB 873 Live 5.30pm

P

enrith have worked hard to find their way to the top of the table at the mid-way point of the competition, but there’s still plenty of people who don’t believe they deserve to be there. They expect the Panthers to fall over at some point; they think the visit to the top of the ladder will be a brief one and that other teams like the Roosters, Canterbury and Manly will eventually climb to the summit, especially once the Origin period is over.

But perhaps they’re just so surprised to see Penrith sitting on top of the table, that they’re not seeing the bigger picture.

I can assure you that coach Ivan Cleary and the playing group don’t think they’re at the top of the table just to warm the place of a glamour club like the Roosters or Bulldogs. The mission now is to stay there, or at least stay in the top four, and it all starts with ensuring that games like this weekend’s clash with the Dragons don’t slip.

Given the Dragons are without Josh Dugan and Trent Merrin, and the respective positions of these sides on the ladder, you would really expect nothing less than a Penrith victory this weekend.

The Panthers are close to full fitness and some of their more exciting players, like James Segeyaro and Tyrone Peachey, are in better form than they have been at any other period of the season.

Five-eighth Jamie Soward would be particularly fired up for this game given it is against his former club, and as expected the build-up to this game has been very focused on Soward and his awkward departure from the Dragons half way through last season.

Since the day he arrived at the Panthers, Soward has only wanted to speak about Penrith – he’s tried to move on from the Dragons, and distance himself from what happened there, particularly in 2012 and 2013.

But no matter what might be said, you can be sure that Soward has had a circle around this game since the draw came out late last year. No matter what may be said publicly, you cannot think for a second that a win against his former club won’t feel that little bit more special than any other should it come on Saturday night.

The form of Soward has surprised just as many people as Penrith’s rise to the top of the table, including many Panthers fans who never quite warmed to the signing until they actually saw him on the park.

As it turns out, Soward has been one of Penrith’s better signings in recent years and securing his signature could well turn out to be a masterstroke from Phil Gould, who believed that Soward still had plenty to offer when others wanted to throw him on the rugby league scrapheap.

What’s most impressive about Penrith at the moment is their ability to score long-range tries. When Penrith was last

at the top end of the table, in 2010, it came off a season in which the side scored almost all of their tries off kicks. That was never sustainable and when the finals came around, the Panthers were quickly bundled out. The 2014 Panthers, who have now recovered from a slow start in the point scoring department, can score tries from anywhere and create opportunities from a long way out – something that hasn’t been seen at the foot of the Mountains for quite some time.

The Dragons come to Sportingbet Stadium on the back of a much-needed win over the Sharks last weekend, but still in the midst of a troubled period that has included the sacking of a coach and the recruitment of Benji Marshall in an attempt to revive their chances of playing finals football this year.

Marshall has had a slow start but did show signs last weekend that the old magic is still there – it just doesn’t come out as often. Marshall and Gareth Widdop are without a doubt the two players that could cause Penrith the most headaches this weekend, particularly if the Panthers’ discipline isn’t as good as it should be.

Tip: Panthers by 16

CHEERLEADER OF THE YEAR

The lucky girl crowned the Extra Time Cheerleader of the Year will be featured on the cover of our final edition of the year, and gets a $1,000 JB Hi-Fi voucher thanks to the Penrith Homemaker Centre. Plus, the winning cheerleader gets 10 Hoyts movie tickets and a professional photo shoot with the Weekender photographer SMS cost is a maximum of 55 cents. The winner of tickets to the next Penrith Panthers home game is selected at random from all entries. This competition is run under NSW Permit No LTPM/14/00047. Full terms and conditions are available from www.westernweekender. com.au or from Western Weekender reception.

Occupation: Student Favourite Panther: Adam Docker If you could go on ANY reality show, which one would it be? ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ If you could take 3 things to a deserted island, what would you take and why?

My phone because I couldn’t live without it, my boyfriend because I need someone to share the crazy adventure with, and a toothbrush because no one likes smelly breath Which celebrity would you like to take on a hot date? Channing Tatum What’s your favourite pig-out spot? Stir Crazy What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you whilst cheering/ dancing? Tripping over an extension cord on the field and face planting If you could morph into any animal, which would you chose and why?

A leopard because I own enough leopard print I might as well turn into one

Carly T, 18

VOTE FOR CARLY: SMS CARLY TO 19 19 18

Occupation: Dance Teacher Favourite Panther: Kevin Kingston If you could go on ANY reality show, which one would it be? ‘The Hills’ If you could take 3 things to a deserted island, what would you take and why?

My phone, make up and a book to fill in the time Which celebrity would you like to take on a hot date? Justin Timberlake What’s your favourite pig-out spot? Sushi What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you whilst cheering/ dancing? My costume fell off in the middle of a routine once If you could morph into any animal, which would you chose and why?

Any domestic animal, so I would be loved and part of a caring family

extra time

Each week, Extra Time profiles three cheerleaders from the Penrith Panthers cheer squad. Vote for your favourite for your chance to win two tickets to the next Panthers home game!

Voting concludes at 11.59pm on Friday, June 20. The cheerleader with the most votes will progress through to the semi-finals later in the year, and have the chance to take out the ultimate prize!

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VOTE FOR ALYSSA: SMS ALYSSA TO 19 19 18

Alyssa M, 19 Occupation: Teacher and Bartender Favourite Panther: Dean Whare If you could go on ANY reality show, which one would it be? ‘Big Brother’ If you could take 3 things to a deserted island, what would you take and why?

Bikini, phone and make-up Which celebrity would you like to take on a hot date? Louis Tomlinson (One Direction) What’s your favourite pig-out spot? Krispy Kreme What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you whilst cheering/ dancing? Going on with my top undone. Lucky I ran off just in time If you could morph into any animal, which would you chose and why? A dog because I love my puppies and would love to spend a day as one of them

VOTE FOR KAITLYN: SMS KAITLYN TO 19 19 18

Kaitlyn W, 21

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ERIN MOLAN @Erin_Molan

You can see Erin Molan on ‘The Footy Show’ every Thursday night at 8.30pm on Channel Nine

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MOMENT WITH MOLAN

We’re at the half way mark of the NRL season and to see the Penrith Panthers on top of the ladder is incredible, I don’t think many people would have predicted that at this point in the season.

I’ve said this already this year but when league is doing well in western Sydney then league is doing well, so it’s good to see the Panthers are flying high.

While most teams are still finding their feet in the earlier rounds of the season, right now at this point is a very good indication of how your side is going to go for the rest of the year.

My Canberra Raiders are quite depressing at the moment but Panthers fans should be proud of what their team has achieved so far.

While the Panthers have no State of Origin representation so far this series, I honestly believe that’s not the sole reason your team is at the top of the ladder.

We’ve seen teams already this year struggle when Origin players are out. Some teams rely so heavily on one player that when that player is missing, the entire team crumbles.

While it is somewhat disappointing for Penrith fans not to see your favourite players on Origin night, there’s also a lot of positives out of it as well.

Speaking of State of Origin and I think the Blues have named a very strong side to take on Queensland this Wednesday night at ANZ Stadium.

Josh Dugan, who comes into the centres for the injured Josh Morris, was very impressive against the Sharks last weekend scoring a hat trick, but it was against the embattled Sharks after all.

I think the decision to leave Jarryd Hayne at fullback was a very good one but I’m not convinced of the selection of fellow Eels teammate Will Hopoate on the wing.

I hope Hopoate proves me wrong, I just don’t think he is ready. However, in saying that, Laurie Daley knows more about his squad than I do!

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FEATURE STORY

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NATHAN TAYLOR

@natetaylor87

Hard work and a good attitude has ensured Jeremy Latimore’s position in Penrith’s first grade team, and landed him a new contract with the club

eremy Latimore knows he’s not one of the game’s superstar players but perhaps that’s the very reason why the 27-year-old prop is playing with so much confidence week in, week out – because he has to.

“There’s a lot of pressure on myself to perform each week because I know there’s blokes ready to take my spot like Tim Grant, playing in reserve grade, who will be willing to take anyone’s position,” Latimore admitted.

“A week’s a long time in rugby league, if you lose a game or two then no one remembers what you’ve done.”

Last week the former Warriors and Dragons forward was rewarded for his sensational form this season with a new one-year deal, which will see him at the club until the end of 2015.

Latimore is currently the only Panthers forward to play every game this season and admits he’s relieved his future is finally settled.

“People are lying when they say they don’t think about it because it’s your future and well-being,” he said.

“At the start of the year I tried not to think about it but over the past month it was weighing on my mind and I’m glad to have it done.

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Hard work, good results J

Jeremy Latimore. Photo: Melinda Jane “I was hoping for a longer deal, you don’t want to sign one year deals, but at the moment that’s what the club wanted me to do. It just makes me want to perform more and more and prove to them I have a future here at the club.”

Latimore’s honesty off the field is also how he plays on the field with his oldfashioned, nothing fancy running and

tackling technique. He said Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has certainly got the best out of him.

“Ivan keeps my focus narrowed which is helping my game and I now know what job I need to do for the team,” Latimore said.

“In the past I’ve over thought a few things and at the moment I’m not and it’s working.”

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PANTHERS IN PICTURES Lewis Brown takes the ball up against the Jets in a pre-season trial match

Ready to show his best

Lewis Brown has become a fan favourite

Coming to Penrith from the Warriors last year, utility player Lewis Brown has been one of the club’s most consistent and versatile performers, and is now back from injury and ready to fire for the Panthers’ run to the finals @wwpenrith

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1. Brown in action against the Bulldogs earlier this year 2. Brown takes the ball up against the Eels 3.Brown runs onto Sportingbet Stadium 4. Brown showing his determination in attack Photos: Melinda Jane

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The Panthers are sitting top of the ladder with the cheers so loud I could hear them all the way from Europe where I am currently sitting below the Eiffel Tower writing this week’s column nearing my departure to Rome where I will be visiting sport’s greatest arena, the Colosseum.

Let’s hope the continued success of the Panthers sways the powers that be for a decision on upgrading our stadium to compete with other great stadiums for the enjoyment of sport in the wider western Sydney region.

This week’s game, against a resurgent Dragons outfit is one that I would expect the Panthers should be highlighting as two points they should be able to lock away keeping them on top of the ladder before next week’s bye.

This then leads into a tough block of four games firstly heading across the Tasman, then Leichhardt Oval before home against the Broncos and then away against last year’s premiers. Once that block of games is behind them I think we should know how the boys are placed as the draw heading into the end of the season does no favours and they will not want to be sitting in the scrum of teams vying for positions five to eight with their run home.

The Maroons have picked a 22 man squad for Origin II but due to injuries it does not look anywhere near the strength of the sides from the past years.

What history has shown us though is that this is when Queensland can tend to do the unexpected when they are written off so NSW is far from over the line for this series win. Given NSW are facing injuries of their own, I believe Origin II is going to be every bit as exciting as the first Origin was.

While I am enjoying my travels I am certainly not too unhappy about having to return as I will be coming home to an Origin atmosphere that Sydney has not seen for many years. Being one up heading into game two with the home ground advantage I am looking forward to being part of a huge crowd that will hopefully cheer on a win.

Penrith, Penrith Leagues, Minchinbury, Glenmore Park, Penrith Westfield & St Mary’s Shopping Centre

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Jamal Idris back at training

with the Masked Panther

Send your Panthers gossip at news@westernweekender.com.au

The Panthers have re-signed forward Jeremy Latimore for another season. The 27-year-old has been at Penrith since 2013 and has cemented himself as a regular in our first grade side. “I’m really looking forward to playing another year with the Panthers. I’m excited about the future and the direction the club is headed,” Latimore said.

The Broncos and the Panthers have been named the official winners of the 2014 NRL Membership race. Since the start of the race on February 24, the Broncos have signed 8,890 members, while the Panthers have grown their membership by an extraordinary 131 per cent since 2013, a stunning result for the club. “This result is testimony to the extraordinary work by our extraordinary

Expect there to be 10 home games at Penrith Stadium next year with both Bathurst and Christchurch on the menu for Panthers-hosted games in 2015. But one has to wonder how long it will be before the Panthers seriously look at ANZ Stadium as an option for bigger games. On the back of what is shaping as a successful 2014 season and with membership growing at an incredible rate, it would not be a surprise to see the Panthers hosting teams like the Eels and Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium in the not-toodistant future.

people here at Panthers,” Panthers General Manager Phil Gould said. “An exhaustive overhaul of our systems, processes and clever member options ensured this wonderful outcome. We’re thrilled to have won this competition and we’re already well underway towards evaluating our membership offerings for 2015.”

@natetaylor87

For the second straight week, Penrith’s Holden Cup and NSW Cup sides have ended the weekend winners, further cementing their positions in their respective top eights.

First to the Holden Cup where the Panthers made it back to back wins defeating the Gold Coast Titans in fine fashion

The curtain will come down on the career of Kevin Kingston at the end of the season. It’s been confirmed that the hooker will retire and most likely take up an off-field position with the club.

How long can a grudge last? Gary Belcher was the fullback in Canberra’s 1991 Grand Final loss to the Panthers and is now a commentator on Fox Sports. I’ve noticed that Belcher seems to always side against the Panthers when it comes to 50/50 calls or even when obviously correct decisions favour the Panthers.

Surely he’s over the 1991 loss by now?

Jamal Idris is on the road to recovery

NATHAN TAYLOR

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The mission for Panthers coach Ivan Cleary heading into this weekend is ensuring the players don’t get carried away with where they’re sitting on the competition table. After leading his side to the top of the table with a victory over the Titans on Saturday, Cleary said: “Obviously it’s good, but nobody hands out bouquets for half way. We understand we’ve still got a long way to go and we’re just on the journey of getting better.”

David Simmons will be out for an extended period with a knee injury.

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PANTHER RUMBLINGS

Jamal Idris has fronted his team mates for the first time since his training no-show last month. Idris was at the final Panthers training session before last weekend’s game against the Titans and spoke to the playing group, who he had previously only liaised with via text messages. He’s not back actually training at the moment but I’m told that he is doing well in working through the issues he’s confronting off the field. Phil Gould and Phil Moss have been a big part of the process – proving that experienced heads in administration can make a big difference to the outcome.

Lower GRADES

Dallin Watene Zelezniak 34-18 at CBus Super Stadium. The Panthers began the game rather slowly, down 10-0 after 20 minutes. However, some Sam Scarlett brilliance later in the first half saw the visitors lead 12-10 at the break.

The second half began with another Titans try but from that point on it was all the Panthers who were led by the craftiness of Scarlett and the sheer professionalism of rising star Waqa Blake who crossed for a double to seal the win.

This Saturday afternoon the Panthers will aim for three in a row when they return to Sportingbet Stadium to take on the St George Illawarra Dragons from 1.10pm.

Meanwhile, Penrith’s NSW Cup side have made it six wins on the trot with a hard fought 32-24 victory over the Wyong Roos.

Panthers coach Garth Brennan wouldn’t have been very pleased with his side’s attitude in this one, almost losing the match, after leading by 22 points, in the dying stages. Thankfully, Penrith managed to hang on to secure the competition lead with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Eto Nabuli both scoring doubles.

Friday 13 June 2014 the western weekender

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NRL LADDER Club

F

A

+/- Pts

11

W

D

L

B

1 Panthers

12

8

0

4

1

261 190 +71 18

ROUND 14

2 Bulldogs

12

8

0

4

1

247 188 +59 18

Rabbitohs v Tigers

3 Sea Eagles

12

8

0

4

1

264 212 +52 18

Friday 7.45pm ANZ Stadium

4 Roosters

13

8

0

5

0

302 205 +97 16

5 Rabbitohs

13

8

0

5

0

295 199 +96 16

6 Broncos

13

8

0

5

0

296 208 +88 16

7 W. Tigers

12

7

0

5

1

251 262 -11

16

Roosters v Knights

8 Eels

12

7

0

5

1

269 281 -12

16

9 Storm

12

6

0

6

1

228 278 -50 14

Saturday 7.30pm Allianz Stadium

10 Titans

12

6

0

6

1

197 254 -57

11 Cowboys

13

6

0

7

0

282 213 +69 12

12 Warriors

13

6

0

7

0

288 285 +3

13 Dragons

12

5

0

7

1

219 285 -66 12

14 Raiders

13

4

0

9

0

240 350 -110

8

Monday 7.00pm Cbus Super Stadium

15 Knights

12

2

0

10

1

186 280 -94

6

NSW v QLD

16 Sharks

12

2

0

10

1

155 290 -135

6

Wednesday 8.00pm ANZ Stadium

14

12

Panthers v Dragons Saturday 5.30pm Sportingbet Stadium

Bulldogs v Eels Sunday 3.00pm ANZ Stadium

Titans v Storm

Extra Time Issue Number 015 PRINTED BY Spotpress Pty Ltd / PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 / troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Taylor / Luke Priddis / Yvonne Purtell / Erin Molan

Keep up to date with the Panthers on Facebook

SALES MANAGER Simon Gould / 4722 2998 simon.gould@westernweekender.com.au

Log on to: www.facebook.com/unofficialpenrithpanthers

Nigel Plum Born in 1983 in Wagga Wagga, Nigel made his first grade debut in 2005

Best moment in the NRL: My debut Worst moment in the NRL: Any time I’ve been off with injuries. I get so bored!

Favourite team growing up: Sydney Roosters Closest teammate: Dave Simmons Sporting idol: Brad Fittler Favourite TV show of all time: ‘Shaun the Sheep’

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PD

THE DEALS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND

Friday 13 June 2014 the western weekender

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Carter is a part of Success and Penrith folklore failure YVONNE PURTELL

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PANTHERS FLASHBACK

JUNIORS @penrith_juniors

Well done Panthers! What a great win over the Titans to take you to the top of the comp!

On another positive note, the NSWRL U18 squad was announced this week and congratulations to Soni Hala for his inclusion in this squad which is a well-deserved reward following his season in SG Ball.

Last weekend saw a well-earned bye in the junior league with this week being Round 7. This round is also being targeted by the NRL to develop closer links between employees and the junior game. Rugby league employees from outside the Game Development team have been asked to volunteer at a venue close to their home for a few hours this weekend. This initiative could see a member of the NRL staff working at a local junior league club in the canteen or up early setting up a field. Keep your eye out this weekend to see if anyone from the NRL is at your ground.

Junior sport is all about teamwork both on and off the field.

Teamwork combines the many different skills of many different people which allow achievements to be made which could not be made alone. No sports team can be successful without working together to reach a common goal.

I mention this as I believe a lot of people in sport lose sight of the importance of being part of a team, the importance of working with a group of young people all with different strengths and attributes which make up a team. Sport teaches us valuable lessons for life, it involves teamwork and teaches us how to get along with others, how to work together to achieve a common goal and about trust and responsibility.

Sport also teaches us about success and failure.

FROM THE VAULT

Friday 13 June 2014 the western weekender

From the vault this week comes this awesome collectable car from 1996.

Collectable cars like this one have been released for many years, but often without much fanfare. You’ll even find a collectable car as recent as 2013. But there’s something special about these oldstyle ones, and particularly this one, which is the last released under the ARL banner, before Super League and then the NRL came along. Would you drive a van like this?

TROY DODDS

@troydodds

T

here used to be a video played at Penrith Stadium as part of the pre-game build-up that featured Steve Carter saying the words “never give up, never give up”.

The video was used during a tough time at the Panthers and epitomised not only where Penrith was placed during that period in the late 1990’s but Steve Carter himself as a player.

He was a dedicated, passionate player who wore his heart on his sleeve and was Penrith to the core.

To this day, nobody has played more first grade games for Penrith than Steve Carter. He clocked up 244 appearances for the Panthers, a record that won’t be broken for many seasons to come given nobody in the current squad has even played half that amount of games for the men in black.

He made his debut for the Panthers in 1988, and was part of a wonderful era for the club that included the 1991 premiership. The image of Carter pointing under the posts as Brad Izzard flew towards the tryline is one of the endearing memories from the 1991 decider.

Carter stuck solid with the Panthers even during the tough times, eventually retiring in 2001. He probably should have retired a year earlier, but with the club record for matches played on the line, he opted to stick around for the 2001 season despite injuries plaguing his later years.

Carter’s long career at Penrith came during perhaps the most up and down time in the club’s long history. He was there for that first premiership, but he was also there when his teammate Ben Alexander was tragically killed in a car crash a year later.

He was also there during the Super League years and witnessed first hand the club’s fight for survival, and he was there when a new era began in 2000 – the Panthers were back in black and on the cusp of an exciting new period.

During his 14 years with the Panthers, Carter scored 65 tries and even managed to kick three goals – two in 1998 and another in his final year at the club.

Carter was never a glamour player of the game, and he only made one appearance for New South Wales – in 1992 – but he will forever be remembered as part of Penrith folklore. In an era where Greg Alexander,

Steve Carter in 1999

He was a dedicated, passionate player who wore his heart on his sleeve

Brad Fittler and Mark Geyer were the a-list stars at the Panthers, Carter let his work on the field do the talking.

Carter’s name lives on in rugby league through his son Paul, who currently playing in the NRL for the Gold Coast Titans.

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Friday 13 June 2014 the western weekender

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Friday 13 June 2014 the western weekender

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