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time for revenge Th e n r l f i na ls a r e h e r e at last
MASKED PANTHER > P28 | JAMES TAMOU > P31 | JAMIE SOWARD > P35
Friday, September 8, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time
PANTHER RUMBLINGS
with the Masked Panther
Joint champions » Don’t think for a second that the Matt
Moylan story is over. There’s plenty of twists and turns still to come, and there is every chance that the 26-year-old has played his last game for the Panthers despite what has been said in the last couple of days. Penrith officials have been frustrated with Moylan’s attitude for some time. One of the issues that brought the whole situation to a head was Moylan’s attitude towards treating his recent hamstring injury – the captain was seen out on the drink during the rehab phase which concerned club management significantly.
» If Moylan does stay at Penrith next
year, don’t expect him to be captain. There’s now a general consensus that appointing him skipper at such a young age wasn’t the best move. I’d tip Trent Merrin to take over next year.
» Members of Wallacia Panthers may be
breathing a sigh of relief with the club and golf course set to continue. I’ve been told that while plans to build a cemetery on the site will push forward, Panthers is poised to sign a new lease to continue running the club as well as a boutique nine or 12 hole golf course. Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust have purchased the 44 hectare Wallacia site but are keen to work with Panthers and the existing members of the golf club.
» Panthers NYC co-captain Wayde Egan
has signed a new two-year deal, which will see him remain at the club until the end of 2019. Egan has long been regarded as a future first grade hooker for Penrith, and no doubt this extension will only enhance those claims. “I’m very excited and grateful to have taken another step towards my dream of playing NRL for the Panthers,” the 20-year-old said. “It was an easy decision to re-sign with the club.”
» Speaking of Egan, he and fellow co-
captain Reed Izzard were named in the Holden Cup Team of the Year on Monday. The duo have played leading roles in
Penrith’s NYC team this year, helping the injury-ravaged side finish an impressive second after 26 rounds. Egan has scored 16 tries and provided 14 try assists in 18 games, while Izzard has run for more than 2600m and made over 700 tackles in his 23 appearances. Penrith’s Holden Cup side will do battle against the Dragons at Allianz Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
» After the Panthers reached the Finals
by the skin of their teeth last weekend, the club has released a special 2017 NRL Finals T-shirt to mark the occasion. Selling for $39.95, the new tee can be purchased online via the Panthers Store or at the Leagues Club. If you’re a massive collector of Panthers memorabilia, then this is an absolute must buy!
» Congratulations to Terry Hansen from
St Marys Professionals and Lee Banister from Tresami Computer Engineering (pictured) who were crowned joint winners of the Weekender’s Tipping Competition for 2017. Terry had been leading for a big chunk of the season but Lee grabbed a share of the lead literally on the final day of the competition. We thank all our tippers for taking part this season.
» Grammy Award-winning artist Mack-
lemore will headline the 2017 NRL Grand Final pre-game show. The American rapper will perform his chart-topping hit ‘Glorious’ at ANZ Stadium on October 1, along with several of his other hits. Apart from some dinosaurs in the media that claimed they’ve never heard of Macklemore, everyone was extremely positive of the move. The NRL even got a head start promoting Macklemore’s music with his songs heavily featured at the NRL Finals launch on Monday.
» Congratulations to NRL sideline official
and Penrith Referees Life Member Russell Turner who decided to put his flag away for the final time last weekend. Turner decided to retire from the game after 429 NRL games and countless State of Origin matches. I wish him all the best!
Tipping champions: Terry Hansen and Lee Banister
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MATCH PREVIEW
win or go home PANTHERS V SEA EAGLES | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 • 7.40PM | ALLIANZ STADIUM | REFEREES: GERARD SUTTON & ADAM GEE
PANTHERS 1
Dean Whare
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 18 20
Josh Mansour Tyrone Peachey Waqa Blake Dallin Watene-Zelezniak Tyrone May Nathan Cleary James Tamou Peter Wallace Reagan Campbell-Gillard Corey Harawira-Naera Isaah Yeo Trent Merrin Sione Katoa 15 B Cartwright Tim Browne 17 J Fisher-Harris Moses Leota 19 V Kikau Dylan Edwards 21 J Luai
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, September 8, 2017
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TEAM
Manly were far too good for Penrith last week. Photo: Megan Dunn
TROY DODDS @troydodds
A
fter back to back losses in the final rounds of the regular competition and the Matt Moylan drama dominating the news cycle this week, it’s easy to forget just how remarkable it is that the Panthers are playing Finals football this year. No Penrith side in history has had such a horror start to the year and turned things around to make the playoffs – it deserves credit and shows the spirit that exists in this footy team. There is no doubt that this weekend’s clash with Manly is serious business, with the equation being simple for both teams
– lose and you’re out. Things work out strangely in the world of rugby league and it turns out the Panthers and Sea Eagles will do battle with each other in week one of the Finals just seven days after meeting at Lottoland in the regular season’s final round. And as much as Manly would be confident they can just repeat last week’s performance, Penrith would be equally confident that via last week’s dress rehearsal they now know what to fix and which way to approach the match. The Panthers were never in the contest against the Sea Eagles last Saturday, who really exposed Penrith’s right-side defence. Manly would be silly not to target Waqa Blake again on Saturday night. Yet again Penrith missed almost 50 tackles – it’s just not good enough for September football and coach Anthony Griffin would surely have focused on
defence through most of his preparation this week. I’d also expect Griffin would have spent plenty of time in the video room this week. A lot of Penrith’s problems are fixable, but they won’t necessarily be repaired on the training park – most of the work will come from learning and understanding where they’re going wrong in defence. Importantly that video will largely be of last weekend’s match – it’s a significant advantage to be able to watch a game with the opposition that is so recent – identify the issues, develop a game plan and make good for last week’s performance. The Panthers really missed Dylan Edwards last week but Tyrone May and Nathan Cleary can certainly break open the game and I’m not all that concerned about Penrith’s ability to score points. When the crunch time comes, in such a big game, May or Cleary will find a way to
1
Tom Trbojevic
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Matthew Wright Dylan Walker Brian Kelly Akuila Uate Blake Green Daly Cherry-Evans Darcy Lussick Apisai Koroisau Martin Taupau Frank Winterstein Curtis Sironen Jake Trbojevic Lewis Brown Lloyd Perrett Brenton Lawrence Addin Fonua-Blake
get the scoreboard ticking over. The big concern is whether or not the game will be lost by the time the opportunities to score arise. Manly proved that they have the ability to come out of the blocks fast and put the opposition away – Penrith were out of the game before they even realised it had begun, with Manly starving them of possession in a similar way to the Dragons the previous week. If the Panthers are still in the game at half-time, I’m confident they can come out and win, especially with Fortress Brookvale no longer a factor. For that to happen Penrith’s experienced players like James Tamou, Peter Wallace and Trent Merrin really need to step up. They know what Finals football is about and if they can influence the younger members of the squad, then the inexperience shouldn’t be a factor. Tip: Panthers by 2
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Friday, September 8, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time
FEATURE
staying focused NATHAN TAYLOR @natetaylor87
A
s his side prepares for back to back Finals for the first time in 13 years, stand in Panthers captain Peter Wallace believes the dramas this week surrounding star half Matt Moylan won’t affect his side come Saturday evening. While the 31-year-old hooker agreed the timing of the Moylan controversy wasn’t ideal, Wallace was confident that his troops will have enough focus to put in a strong performance tomorrow night against the Sea Eagles. “[The Moylan situation] is not a distraction for us,” Wallace told Extra Time. “I know the whole team is excited about playing this week and we are not going to let anyone distract us. It’s got nothing to do with us.”
Penrith were embarrassed last weekend against the Sea Eagles. Down 28-0 after 53 minutes, many fans were wondering if the Panthers even deserved to make the postseason after such a woeful effort. Wallace said while his side were well and truly outgunned last Saturday at Brookvale, they were chomping at the bit to get a second crack at the 2011 Premiers straight up. “It is unique… it’s never happened to me before playing a side two weeks in a row – I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “What happened last week wasn’t ideal and we have the challenge of turning that around this week.” Wallace, who has had a strong year despite numerous injuries, said Penrith will rewind the tape back and do plenty of homework on their northern beaches opponents this week. “When it’s fresh in your mind you can learn from it a little better,” he said. “We’re going to have to do our homework
Hooker Peter Wallace speaks to journalist Nathan Taylor at the NRL Finals launch this week and work out where things went wrong and make sure it doesn’t happen again. “Manly really bashed us up during that first 30 minutes last weekend. We expect more of the same this week, but it will be up to us how we counter that.” After a 2-7 record to start the year, the Panthers know just reaching the Finals is an achievement in itself. But Penrith refuse to be labelled “cannon fodder” and will almost certainly give it everything
they’ve got this weekend. “Making back to back Finals is a big achievement from our squad and the club itself,” Wallace said. “Things were looking pretty grim there at the start of the year, so we’ve done a really good job to get ourselves in this position. “We are going to have to be better all over the park on Saturday. Manly showed us how they are going to play and we know what’s coming this week.”
Go the Panthers
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do or die NATHAN TAYLOR @natetaylor87
P
anthers players were so devastated after last weekend’s thrashing to Manly that the away sheds at Brookvale Oval more resembled a funeral service than a locker room. Following one of their worst defeats of the season, Penrith will have the unique opportunity of meeting the same side – that did so much damage – once again this weekend. While both Penrith and Manly won’t forget what happened in the final round of the regular season, the Panthers are hopeful Finals footy will bring out the best in them again. Speaking with Extra Time the following morning, Panthers prop James Tamou praised Manly’s performance last Saturday night and believes the Sea Eagles should be contenders for this year’s
Grand Final. “If there’s a team outside of the top four that could win the competition, it’s Manly,” he said. “They were really hungry yesterday, played unreal and really turned it on. Manly showed last night why they were going so well earlier in the year and we just weren’t up to the task.” While the 28-12 scoreline looked somewhat respectable in the end, the Panthers know they were completely outclassed by Manly’s crafty halves, energetic outside backs and powerful forwards. Tamou said there was plenty of feeling in the match, which will know doubt be on display again when the teams do battle tomorrow night at Allianz Stadium. “There was some feeling and it was good to see that we weren’t just going to lay over and cop it from them,” he said. “We only had ourselves to blame after the match but Manly did their homework and also had their season riding on the line, and it showed.” 24 hours before the Panthers hit the
Brookvale Oval turf, news broke that injured Penrith captain Matt Moylan was on the outer at the club and was possibly looking to move on. The 28-year-old denied that players were distracted by the headlines going into the match. “That was all on us… we could have done something different but Manly really wanted that win and we let them take it,” he said. The former Cowboys and NSW Origin star said the entire team were behind their captain and would stand by him through his personal issues. “He’s got the respect of the boys,” Tamou said. “Some of Moyza’s best mates are at this club and he’s really got the respect and love from all of the boys.”
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, September 8, 2017
FEATURE
Panthers prop James Tamou . Photo: Megan Dunn
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Friday, September 8, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time
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Friday, September 8, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time
Why the Panthers can bounce back and win this weekend
JAMIE SOWARD
I
n 2009, when I was playing for the Dragons, we dominated the competition that year and ended up battling Parramatta in the final round of the regular season. I remember they had a couple of top line players missing in that game and we ended up defeating them quite comfortably 37-0. One week later we had to back up and play the Eels again in the first week of the Finals as it was 1 vs 8 format back then. We honestly thought we could just turn up at home and get the job done again but that didn’t happen – we got beat quite handsomely that day and, a week later, we were eliminated from the Finals. With the Panthers playing the Sea Eagles again this Saturday night, Penrith will need to forget about last week’s debacle and remember a whole new competition begins as of now. I strongly believe Manly were heavily invested in putting together a must-win performance in front of their home crowd, and it was very impressive. Penrith didn’t look like their usual selves last weekend and quite possibly the last few weeks of needing to be up for every
single match, may have taken its toll. If the Panthers are to bounce back this weekend and advance to the second week of the Finals, coach Anthony Griffin needs to move Dean Whare from fullback to the centres where he is a lot better defensively. I’d like to see Waqa Blake shift to the wing with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak wearing the number one jumper. Another thing that could play a factor in the outcome of this game is the Matt Moylan situation and the possible distraction that could bring. I honestly don’t think this week’s events should affect the players come Saturday night. All the players can do is worry about their own performance and not what is going on behind the scenes. If they are thinking about it then they shouldn’t be in first grade. It will be a big let down if the Panthers don’t win this Saturday night especially after being branded competition favourites in the pre-season. While you can’t hold too much stock in that, that Panthers roster should be looking to make week two of the Finals at minimum. While Moylan is a massive loss, I’d really like to see Tyrone May get more involved
at five-eighth because I thought Nathan Cleary ran the ball a little bit too much last weekend and the side lost direction at certain stages. The boys will really need to bunker down and come in with a clear game plan
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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, September 8, 2017
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this week and concentrate on their own performances rather than what happened last week or what’s been going on with Matt Moylan. I’m tipping the Panthers to bounce back but it’ll be mighty close!
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Friday, September 8, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time
NRL LADDER AND FIXTURES CLUB
W
D
L
B
F
A
+/-
PTS
Storm
24 20
0
4
2
633
336
297
44
2 Roosters
24 17
0
7
2
500
428
72
38
3 Broncos
24 16
0
8
2
597
433
164
36
4 Eels
24 16
0
8
2
496
457
39
36
5 Sharks
24 15
0
9
2
476
407
69
34
6 Sea Eagles
24 14
0
10
2
552
512
40
32
7 Panthers
24 13
0
11
2
504
459
45
30
8 Cowboys
24 13
0
11
2
467
443
24
30
9 Dragons
24 12
0
12
2
533
450
83
28
10 Raiders
24
11
0
13
2
558
497
61
26
11 Bulldogs
24 10
0
14
2
360
455
-95
24
12 Rabbitohs
24
9
0
15
2
464
564 -100 22
13 Warriors
24
7
0
17
2
444
575
-131
14 W. Tigers
24
7
0
17
2
413
571
-158 18
15 Titans
24
7
0
17
2
448
638 -190 18
16 Knights
24
5
0
19
2
428
648 -220 14
1
PD
18
Semi-Finals
/ / / /
FACE IN THE CROWD
Friday, September 8 7.55pm Allianz Stadium
S Saturday, September 9 4.10pm AAMI Park
Sa Saturday, September 9 7.40pm Allianz Stadium
Sunday, September 10 4.10pm Allianz Stadium
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SCOREBOARD
legend departs
NRL SEA EAGLES 28 PANTHERS 12
Petero Civoniceva in action for Penrith TROY DODDS @troydodds
P
etero Civoniceva summed it up by simply saying that he “needed to go home”. One of rugby league’s true nice guys, Civoniceva didn’t hint at the other dramas behind the scenes that were part of his decision to return to the Brisbane Broncos for his final year in the top grade. A new coach, a re-building phase and continuing drama had ensured that Civoniceva, a prized signing for the 2008 season, would leave the club at the end of 2011. As the Weekender reported on its front page on July 29, 2011: “The turbulent year at the Penrith Panthers took another bizarre twist on Tuesday when
captain, Petero Civoniceva, sensationally quit the club just weeks after being told he had a ‘job for life’. The Panthers stunned the rugby league community with the announcement just after 9am on Tuesday. At a press conference later that day, Civoniceva confirmed he’d been granted a release and had signed a one-year deal with Brisbane for the 2012 NRL season. “I’ve had four great seasons here and some great memories obviously and some great friends both on and off the football field,” Civoniceva said. “It’s been a real honour to play for the Panthers.” Civoniceva joined the Panthers in 2008 after a decade with the Broncos. At the press conference where he announced his departure, the former Queensland and Australian forward denied that a rumoured rift with new General Manager Phil Gould played a part in the decision to move on.
“He’s been very supportive and we’ve talked all the way through this whole process,” he said. “It’s a decision purely based on wanting to take my family home.” But it was widely known that Civoniceva was unhappy with the way the coaching situation was handled at the Panthers, firstly with the sacking of Matthew Elliott and then the snubbing of Assistant Coach, Steve Georgallis, for the job. “I guess for us as a playing group we were hopeful that he [Georgallis] would get an opportunity,” Civoniceva said. Civoniceva admitted he did not discuss his departure with incoming coach Ivan Cleary. Gould said Civoniceva would always be remembered for his stint at Penrith. “His influence at Penrith will be evident long after he’s gone,” he said. Civoniceva only played 74 games for Penrith, but will remain a club legend.
HOLDEN CUP PANTHERS 29 SEA EAGLES 10
ISP NSW
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, September 8, 2017
BLAST FROM THE PAST
PANTHERS 36 WARRIORS 20
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