ARE YOU OUR FACE IN THE CROWD?
THE PANTHERS HEAD TO THEIR NEW HOME IN PARRAMATTA TO TAKE ON THE ROOSTERS MATCH PREVIEW: PAGE 35
Liam Martin. Photo: NRL Photos.
thefinalword
Penrith break ground at their new temporary home ground this Friday night when they host a Roosters side that appears to be in for a long season if last week’s performance against Brisbane is anything to go by.
Trent Robinson would have to be worried about what he saw last Friday against a rejuvenated Broncos – and while he has plenty of injury concerns, depth issues and no serious recruitment to blame, there’s no doubt his side appeared off the pace at times throughout the contest.
Starved of possession, they simply couldn’t capitalise on a good start and looked no match for Michael Maguire’s side once they got in their rhythm.
Despite this, beware the wounded Rooster. Trent Robinson is not used to his side copping 50-point hidings and it rarely happens two
weeks in a row. They would see this Friday’s match against the defending Premiers as the perfect opportunity to right the wrongs of last week and prove they’ve still got something to offer this competition.
For Penrith, the question hovering over them is simple: how severe is the Vegas hangover?
No matter what Ivan Cleary may have put in place to ensure coming down from such an event was smooth, nothing can take away from the reality that you’re going from the bright lights of Vegas and such an amazing rugby league spectacle to what is likely to be a half-full CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.
But while many may expect the Panthers to struggle through this initial period as they get used to the week-to-week competition again, we are reminded about just how often Penrith tosses aside what is supposed to happen. From winning Premierships in the COVID
bubble, to going back-to-back and then adding two more titles, from losing key players to now losing their home ground; the Panthers simply face every new challenge with strength and most of the time, overcome it.
What other side could have lost the best player in the game consistently each season for huge chunks and still kept winning, before going on to lift the trophy?
This is a rare side, a legendary side, and anyone who still doubts it must have fool written across their forehead.
There will of course be bumps in the road, and even not winning the Premiership this year does not dampen its legendary status, but after seeing the full suite of round one matches, it is hard now to imagine this Penrith side is not there when the whips are cracking yet again.
Penrith will only be stronger this weekend compared to the side that beat the Sharks in
Vegas, with Brian To’o back and Liam Henry also a chance of returning to the side. The Roosters meanwhile are without Victor Radley who suffered a nasty knock at Allianz Stadium last Thursday night.
The key for Penrith in this one will be not getting too far ahead of themselves and sticking to the game plan.
If the Panthers play their usual game, and be patient, they should be too good for a Roosters side that is lacking any serious creativity in the halves and has lost too much grunt up front.
The Roosters will win games this year on reputation alone – there are still star names on the team sheet – but they simply don’t have the cattle to be playing Finals football.
They should be easy cannon fodder for the Panthers if that Vegas hangover doesn’t suddenly rear its head.
Tip: Panthers by 16.
Graphic: Zoe Merrick.
TROY DODDS
COMMBANK STADIUM | REFEREE: TODD SMITH | BUNKER: GRANT ATKINS
panther rumblings
ANNESLEY BRIEFINGS AXED
! Annesley truth session dumped: The NRL has dumped Graham Annesley’s weekly media briefings. The Monday afternoon truth sessions have run for about seven years and were terrific in breaking down barriers and opening up transparency between officiating and fans, and also dispelling some of the myths that would emerge from the media or supporters. The NRL says it will still address controversial officiating decisions, but this seems like a backward step from a game making ground in so many other places.
! Former Panther’s good deed: Rugby league player antics off the field sometimes make headlines for all the wrong reasons, but one former Penrith player’s good deed at the Lennox Centre at Emu Plains deserves to be recognised. The ‘90s era player showed a lot of concern for an elderly gentleman on a walker in the car park of the shopping centre recently. The man’s disabled daughter had slipped and become stuck between the front and back seats of his SUV as he attempted to help her into her wheelchair. He explained that his daughter was aged 58 and had communication problems. The former player tried his best, but couldn’t help the situation. He then called his two boys Riley and Dempsey – both strapping young sportsmen – and together they managed to free the woman and solve the problem. It was a great show of community spirit, all from a man who bled for the Panthers. The player in question? None other than Scott Ellem, who played 12 games for Penrith in the Premiership-winning 1991 season.
! Flags coming: Penrith City Council is currently working with Panthers on the installation of flags along Mulgoa Road showing support for the Panthers. The flags, featuring players from the NRL side, have become something of an institution on the busy thoroughfare but haven’t been spotted this year. We’re assured they’re on their way soon.
! Timing’s everything: The Panthers held a media session on Wednesday and expected plenty of journos to attend ahead of the club’s first home game at CommBank Stadium. But Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown ended up holding a press conference at the same time to discuss his mega deal with Newcastle, meaning writers adjusted their Google Maps and made a shorter journey out west. The Panthers v Roosters game has somewhat flown under the radar this week.
! Luke on the lookout: Soni Luke is off-contract at the end of the season and it’s highly unlikely he’ll re-sign with Penrith. After
playing
! Fox record: The opening round fixture between
and
was the highest rating regular season Panthers game in Fox Sports history. It’s a huge win for Fox especially given the game also aired free-to-air on Channel Nine.
! Seven serious about Footy? Is Channel Seven actually considering a crack at the NRL rights, or is it all about putting pressure on Nine? There’s talk Seven will launch a midyear NRL show and high level executives were invited to travel to Las Vegas to share corporate suites with the likes of ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys earlier this month. But people I’ve spoken to say it’s unlikely Seven will be a serious bidder for week-to-week NRL rights. However, should the NRL treat State of Origin separately in the rights discussions – and there’s a big chance they will – Seven may raise its hand, and present its cheque book.
! May to play again: There’s an uncomfortable feeling across the game in relation to Taylan May and his domestic violence charges being dropped this week, but it won’t stop another club signing him. The Wests Tigers in
particular are likely to brush aside any moral concerns and sign him – they’re the clear favourites to hand him an NRL lifeline. On TV earlier this week, Panthers co-captain Nathan Cleary welcomed May’s likely NRL return.
the local river system. Despite his rough exterior, Kenny is very passionate about the environment.
! Got some goss? I don’t keep secrets, but I do protect my sources. Email maskedpanther@ westernweekender.com.au.
20 games with Penrith in 2023, he made just one appearance in 2024 and doesn’t appear to be in Ivan Cleary’s future plans.
! Spotted: Panthers winger Brian To’o at Campbelltown Stadium last Friday night supporting his good mate Jarome Luai on his Wests Tigers debut.
Penrith
Cronulla
! Enviro Kenny: Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny has been spending time with the Hawkesbury-Nepean Platypus crew, who are researchers looking into the health of platypus in
No more Graham Annesley?
KENNY TAKES WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Mitch Kenny loves getting out and about, but there’s probably nobody in the world that’s enjoyed a contrasting past few weeks than the rugged Panthers hooker.
A fortnight ago, Kenny was enjoying the spoils of the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas, as well as the incredible Grand Canyon via scenic helicopter, while earlier this week, he was out on the Nepean River at night working with a local conservation group researching platypus population numbers.
This may not be the typical life of a rugby league player, but it’s Kenny’s right now and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Speaking with Extra Time on Wednesday, the 27-year-old said he absolutely loved his 10 days in Sin City but nothing beats coming home to family.
“We had a great time. I’m super grateful we got to share that together as a group,” he said.
“I think we had a really good balance of having fun and soaking up the experience, but we were there to do a job and we did that. Great memories and we’ll certainly be better for it.”
Before they knocked off Cronulla in Round 1 at Allegiant Stadium, the Panthers were given plenty of time to get acquainted with Vegas without making too much of a scene, of course.
“10 days is a long time to be in a place like that. Vegas is what it is, it’s purpose built for a few things that probably don’t line up with playing
professional sports that well,” Kenny admitted.
“But I think we did a really good job managing the distractions. We had to acknowledge what it is and not shy away from that, but I feel like we did a good job throughout the week of embracing parts of Vegas and shielding ourselves from the distractions that it can present.”
Upon Kenny’s return home last week, he and
his Panthers teammates were treated to four days of rest and recovery before training begun for this Friday night’s battle with the Sydney Roosters at CommBank Stadium.
In between training and preparing for game day at his new home stadium in Parramatta, Kenny visited the Nepean River on Monday night to check on platypus numbers with a local
Hawkesbury-Nepean conservation group.
Kenny revealed he loves the great outdoors, and that wildlife and conservation was a “developing interest” of his.
“I’m proud to be from this area. I’m proud to live on Dharug land. It feels like home and so I want to look after it,” Kenny said.
“Any small part I can play in any sort of environmental or conservation work is something I’m looking at getting more involved in.”
And while Kenny and his crew were unable to spot any platypus this time around, he’s eager to go out again soon.
“I’ll be going out with them a few times this year and hopefully we can get a bit more of an idea of the population that’s out here, how healthy they are, and what we can do to keep supporting the local plattys,” he said.
Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny.
Photo: Melinda Jane.
Vegas: Scott Sorensen and Mitch Kenny.
CLEARY: COME SEE OUR NEW PLACE
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has urged supporters to make the hour trek to CommBank Stadium in Parramatta this season as the club kicks off its stint at their new home away from home this Friday night.
With the $309 million knockdown-rebuild happening at Penrith – albeit slowly – it’s forced the four-in-a-row Premiers to play on the road this season, with the swish Parramatta venue set to host eight official Panthers home games this season.
Instead of families travelling five to 10 minutes from their home to Penrith Park, they’ll now be hitting the busy freeways and unpredictable Sydney public transport system to get to matches.
Speaking on Wednesday, Cleary cheekily said Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium wasn’t necessarily Eels territory but a place where everyone in western Sydney is welcome.
“It’s western Sydney,” he affirmed.
“We love the fans turning up. We play for the fans. We play for our community. It’s going to be different but it’s a fantastic stadium too and we should celebrate that – it’s a really cool stadium!
“I’ve actually been there a couple of times when I’m not working, and you understand how good it is. We’d love our fans to come and celebrate and watch the boys and be part of what should be a great atmosphere.”
Speaking with Extra Time, Cleary said his players are also looking forward to making themselves at home at the venue, which will have upgraded facilities that they weren’t privileged to at the former Penrith Stadium.
“I think so… it is what is is… we can’t live in the past,” he said.
“We’re just excited to play footy. Most of our
team didn’t play a trial game, so we’ve only had the one game and then we’ve been off another week. They’re all just itching to get back out there.”
Unlike in previous years under coach Cleary, Penrith will no longer have a Captain’s Run training session at their home ground, with CommBank Stadium only to be used on game days by teams. Instead, the Panthers will conduct Captain’s Run at their Academy in Penrith.
All eyes will be on the Panthers this Friday night as they look to capitalise on their season opening victory in Las Vegas against the Cronulla Sharks.
As per the CBA, the Panthers were permitted four days off after landing back in Sydney last Tuesday before resuming training last weekend.
Cleary said due to the favourable time difference between Sydney and Vegas, he doesn’t expect his players to feel any type of post trip hangover.
“It feels better than last year when we came back from Manchester, but time will tell,” he said.
“The Manchester time difference is kind of opposite to ours whereas Vegas is only five hours. I feel like that’s made a difference.”
Cleary said he learned a lot from last year’s trip to the UK and is confident his players will be ready.
“We were a bit flat last year when we came back, hopefully that’s not the case this year,” he said.
“We had extra time off to try and work it all out and we had a plan and have gone through with it. I’m pretty happy with how it’s going but we’ll find out a little bit more on Friday.”
Boosting Penrith’s chances of victory is the inclusion of the Energizer Bunny Brian To’o, who missed the clash against the Sharks due to a hamstring injury.
Cleary confirmed the father of one will return against the Roosters on Friday as will Casey
McLean (head knock), while Liam Henry (shoulder) is considered a 50-50 chance.
“It’s great to have Bizza back. He’s an incredible player for us for many years now and a huge piece in our puzzle,” he said.
“Liam Henry is close. He has to tick a few boxes, and we have to decide whether he’s ready or not but he’s very close. As you can imagine, he’s itching, he’s banging down the door.”
CommBank Stadium in Parramatta. Photo: NRL Images.
Ivan Cleary. Photo: Melinda Jane.
Ivan Cleary chats to Nathan Taylor. NATHAN TAYLOR
footy club
Missed last week’s results? Here’s a rundown of what happened in key Penrith Panthers games...
Tries: D Laurie 2, I Yeo, I Tago, P Alamoti Goals: N Cleary 4/5
Tries: N Puru 2, B Fearnley, K Dixon, B Burns Goals: N Puru 3/6
Tries: J Ramien, B Nikora, K Iro, A Fonua-Blake Goals: B Trindall 3/4
Tries: H Armstrong 2, J Edgar, J Liddiard, P Hotere-Papalii
Goals: Z Clarke 5/5
Tries: T Jenkins 2 Goals: B Schneider 2/2 Tries: Goals:
panther memories
They were tough years, but they were also tough players.
John Cross was among the toughest during his time with Penrith between 1998 and 2002.
Cross, a mobile forward and the son of St George’s Greg Cross, started his career with Illawarra in 1991.
He switched to the Panthers in 1998, playing 18 games in his first season with the club.
Over the next few seasons he would play 109 games with Penrith, providing toughness and experience in a difficult era.
He left the Panthers at the end of 2002 – just a year before the 2003 Premiership – and played one final season with St George-Illawarra.
Cross is now in his mid-50s.
(Photo thanks to NRL Photos)
DUO’S ROAD TO REDEMPTION
with Peter Lang
In rugby league everyone loves a good comeback story and in this year’s Panthers squad there are two players, Thomas Jenkins and Isaiah Papali’i, who are seeking redemption and are hoping to make their mark at the four-peat Premiers. They couldn’t have picked a tougher club to resurrect their careers at either. I mean Penrith’s culture and training standards are elite and quickly separates the men from the boys.
But if you’re going to climb a mountain and reach the top, it may as well be Mount Everest.
A quick textbook definition of ‘redemption stories’ and its meaning is; Redemption stories showcase characters who have failed in the past and are address ing their prior mistake or failure. Through hard work they try again and succeed.”
In no way can either Thomas Jenkins or Isaiah Papali’i be classi fied as failures, but both men have made mistakes over the last couple of years which have stalled their careers.
Let’s start with 23-year-old
Thomas Jenkins. The 190cm, 95kg giant was just starting to make a name for himself at Penrith in 2023 when he decided to chase a regu-
lar opportunity to play first grade on the wing for the Newcastle Knights.
The spot was there for him too, especially after Dom Young
Knowing there wasn’t a Top 30 spot available at the time, Jenkins took up an opportunity to play with St Marys in the Ron Massey Cup. However it wasn’t
Panthers.
Now while Jenkins’ redemption is still not complete, he is well on his way.
Jenkins has already put in several eye-catching performances in the club’s pre-season trial match versus Manly and their Round 1 game against the Newtown Jets where he scored two tries last weekend. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Jenkins in the top grade sooner rather than later.
Second-rower Isaiah Papali’i may have less of a road to travel to redemption than Jenkins, given he is already in the club’s top 17, but the former 2022 Dally M Secondrower of the Year knows his form and career went into decline for the two years he spent at the Wests Tigers (2023-24).
So much so that the Tigers released him from the third year of this contract so he could take up a three-year deal with Penrith. Papali’i has made a good start to the season but he still has a way to go before he reaches the summit.
He’s currently starting off the bench and trying to make an impact every time he runs onto the field.
He’s just past ‘base camp’, but the toughest part of the climb is yet to come.
Good luck, fellas!
Thomas Jenkins has made his way back to the Panthers. Photo: NRL Images.
DOLPHINS
DOLPHINS
KNIGHTS SEA
DOLPHINS
DOLPHINS
DOLPHINS
DOLPHINS
DOLPHINS
