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Chris Smith is back in Penrith colours. Photo: Penrith Panthers. Sean O’Sullivan at Panthers training. Photo: Penrith Panthers.

Panthers back on fi eld

NATHAN TAYLOR

The hip hop music has been turned down, the champagne has stopped flowing, and the live Instagram videos have been switched off once and for all – the party is officially over at Panthers HQ with all eyes now firmly on the 2022 season ahead. 140 days since that wonderful October evening in Brisbane, defending NRL Premiers Penrith will finally hit the field this Sunday afternoon for their first preseason trial against the new-look Cronulla Sharks.

While most of Penrith’s Grand Finalwinning team won’t suit up for this weekend’s clash at CommBank Stadium, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary will be using the game to give his Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and fringe first grade players a muchneeded hit out.

After back-to-back seasons of disrupted footy due to COVID, several players will be desperate to prove their worth to coach Cleary in the hopes of securing a coveted NRL call-up during the year.

Two players who will no doubt be keen to be donning Panthers colours again are new recruits and familiar faces Sean O’Sullivan and Chris Smith.

The pair, who began their rugby league careers at Penrith before leaving for other opportunities elsewhere, both return to the foot of the Mountains this season on one-year deals – boosting the club’s depth after losing several key players in the offseason.

Keen-eyed Penrith supporters will enjoy seeing what 23-year-old O’Sullivan can produce in the halves this Sunday. With Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai certified Origin players and Matt Burton and Tyrone May departing the club, the talented Glenmore Park Brumbies junior is expected to play a key role for Penrith at various times this season.

Lead by new head coach Craig Fitzgibbon, Cronulla are also expected to field several of their lesser-known players this Sunday as they look to return to Finals footy after a year in the wilderness.

This Sunday’s match at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium will be part of a double-header, with Penrith’s showdown against the Sharks kicking off at 4pm before the Eels and St George-Illawarra do battle at 6pm.

Tickets for Sunday’s game are available through Ticketek, with Penrith’s trial also set to be broadcast live on Fox League and Kayo Sports.

Team list: penrithpanthers.com.au.

BIG GUNS NEED TO FIRE

Story continued from »p.72

Finemore, who previously coached Penrith’s U16 AW Green Shield side for five seasons, said the club have been consistently strong at this level due to their massive junior base.

“We are just a great breeding ground. We have a lot of juniors, a lot of kids playing cricket in the local area,” he said.

“The interest in the area has always been really strong and we’ve always had a big pool to draw from, which is great, but one thing that stands out to me is that the players are fairly close-knit and it’s something I preach to the young guys coming through.”

Playing away from home, Penrith will go into this Sunday’s blockbuster against Sutherland slight outsiders. However if their big guns – including skipper Henry Railz, Ryley Smith, Liam Doddrell and Jordan Watson – fire, another title will be there for the taking.

“Henry, who tweaked his hamstring in the semi-final, is a big game player and we really need him to fire on Sunday,” Finemore said.

Vikings on the rise

New club is making its mark on junior league landscape

NATHAN TAYLOR

Promoting their club as fun and inclusive for all, the Western Vikings have nearly doubled their list of teams after only 12 months.

The local junior rugby league club, which plays out of Whalan Reserve near North St Marys, joined the Penrith District in 2021 with just 10 teams to their name.

This year 17 teams will represent the mighty Vikings when the new Penrith Juniors season kicks off this April.

The man behind the burgeoning franchise, Vikings President Moses Finau, said his ‘little club that could’ continues to go from strength to strength.

“In terms of registrations, we’re breaking records here… it’s looking really good for the 2022 season,” he told the Weekender.

“We had 10 teams last year – nine junior sides and an A-Grade team. Now we have 16 junior sides and an A-Grade team, so that’s 17 teams in total for the ’22 season.

“We’re still getting lots of enquiries coming through, but I don’t want to expand too fast just yet, so we’re just taking it as it comes.”

The Vikings field male, female and mixed teams from the U5 division right through to U14s. They also run out an A-Grade team. Finau believes his club are retaining as well as recruiting new players because of the fun atmosphere the club promotes.

“I said to the staff, that as long as the coaches are providing that fun experience for the kids and the kids were coming back, that means everyone was doing their jobs correctly,” Finau said.

“Once a month we hold a Viking Night at the ground where there’s no training at all and everyone registered with

Th e Western Vikings are ready for a big 2022 footy season.

us receives a free feed and can win cool prizes.

“We just want everyone to have fun… nothing too serious, and we hope the kids want to continue playing with us.”

While the club is kicking huge goals in the recruitment and ‘fun’ stakes, they are also nailing it in the sponsorship department too, with several businesses partnering with the Vikings for season 2022.

The club is also getting behind a number of charities and mental health initiatives, like the NRL’s State of Mind program. Plus this season the Vikings will also unveil their very first Indigenous jersey, which will be available to purchase in the coming months.

“Our club will be hosting Indigenous Round this year and we will be selling our Indigenous jersey online to celebrate,” Finau said.

Penrith to host Champs

Some of the nation’s best teenage basketballers will converge on our city

NATHAN TAYLOR

Recent million dollar upgrades at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre (PVRSC) have finally paid off, with the Cambridge Park venue set to co-host a major basketball tournament later this year.

Co-hosted by Penrith Basketball Association and Hills Basketball Association and coinciding with the upcoming FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the 2022 Australian U14 Club Championships will run from September 25-30. 48 teams from across the country will travel to Sydney to compete in the prestigious U14 Club Championships, making it one of the most elite youth competitions in the country.

Basketball Australia CEO, Matt Scriven, said he’s excited for the next generation of players to compete in Sydney.

“Holding the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on home soil is a once in a generation experience and we want to ensure that players coming through our pathways have every opportunity to experience the game at the highest level,” he said.

“You can’t be what you can’t see and it’s important that we give our young players every opportunity to watch the likes of Cayla George, Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith in action.”

The U14’s schedule will work around the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup games, to give the participants every opportunity to be a part of this amazing event.

“It’s fantastic to see Australian basketball working together to ensure that as many of our next generation as possible can experience the Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney,” Global FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Ambassador, Lauren Jackson said.

“One of the most exciting parts of hosting the World Cup on home soil is showcasing the world’s best teams and players, as well as the elite pathways available to the next wave of talent.”

In a bid to secure larger sporting events, PVRSC underwent a $1.2 million upgrade in 2020, primarily thanks to Federal Government funding.

PVRSC General Manager Luke Hepburn said it’s a “dream come true” to have this event in Penrith.

“I’m ecstatic and proud of the work by everyone involved over the past five years, which has significantly contributed to this decision by Basketball Australia,” Hepburn said.

“I’ve always believed that our venue had the potential to once again host a national basketball event in Penrith, but the hard work had to be done to lift the standards required.

“Our dreams and goals are coming true because of our perseverance and high expectations for the centre, which has helped produced a number of national basketball players and coaches.”

The Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Around The Grounds

CRICKET: Penrith have dropped their third straight game, this time at the hands of Mosman in Round 13 of the Belvidere Cup. Playing in a rare Two-Day match at Allan Border Oval, Penrith won the toss and elected to bat first. In the first innings, Penrith were dismissed for 185, while Mosman in reply scored 212. Penrith improved slightly in their second innings but were dismissed for 192. When Mosman hit the crease on Sunday, they reached Penrith’s target with relative ease, losing just four wickets along the way. Nick Adams was the standout for Penrith with the bat, scoring a team-high 120 across both innings. Penrith will be looking to bounce back from their shocking recent run when they take on Manly-Warringah at Howell Oval this Saturday morning.

CRICKET: Round 13 of the Nepean District Cricket Association (NDCA) is in the books, with Panthers Cricket Club enjoying a good weekend of results. In first grade, Panthers drew with Springwood. In fifth grade, Panthers 9/84 defeated Cranebrook 10/69. In seventh grade, Panthers drew with Cranebrook.

BASEBALL: Like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, Greater Western Baseball Association have finally grabbed their first win of the season in the latest round of the NSW State Baseball League first grade competition. In their February 9 clash, Greater Western went down to Cronulla 7-3, however in their February 13 clash Greater Western ended their 14-game losing streak by beating Cronulla 2-1. Greater Western will take on the Canterbury Vikings in the next round.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Round 2 of the NSWRL Junior Representative season took place last weekend with mixed results for Penrith’s SG Ball and Harold Matthews teams. In the SG Ball competition, Penrith were far too good for Cronulla 36-16. In the Harold Matthews competition, the Panthers were no match for the Sharks 20-6. Both teams will take on the Canberra Raiders this Saturday at Belconnen Oval. Meanwhile in Round 2 of the Tarsha Gale Cup, Penrith struggled against the North Sydney Bears 28-16.

AFLW: The GWS Giants have flown home from Melbourne feeling rather embarrassed, belted by the Melbourne Demons in Round 6 of the AFLW. The Demons dominated from the outset, keeping the Giants scoreless until the final minutes to cruise to a 44-7 win. GWS will return to Henson Park this Saturday to battle the Adelaide Crows.

A-LEAGUE: Mark Rudan’s tenure as coach has continued its rocky start with the Wanderers going down to Melbourne City 3-1 last Friday. Western Sydney’s only goal came via a Dimitri Petratos penalty at the 80th minute. Meanwhile in the A-League Women’s competition, the Wanderers were completely blown off the park by Melbourne Victory 5-0.

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High fi ve: Chasing history

NATHAN TAYLOR

Penrith Cricket Club will be chasing their fifth NSW U21’s title in history this Sunday when they battle Sutherland in the Final of the Poidevin-Gray Shield.

In what can be regarded as a fairly down year for the club as a whole, Penrith’s hugely talented Poidevin-Gray Shield team has been one of the shining lights this season as they hunt another piece of prestigious silverware for the club’s growing trophy cabinet.

While some COVID cases and injuries have disrupted Final week, Penrith Poidevin-Gray Shield coach Shannon Finemore said he and his troops are excited for this weekend’s showdown at Glenn McGrath Oval in Caringbah.

“It’s been tough getting blokes together this week due to injury and COVID, but they are all buzzing and raring to go for Sunday,” he told the Weekender.

“It’s been a really fun and enjoyable season, but nerve-racking as well. The last two games make me feel like I’ve aged about 20 years, but it’s been great fun nonetheless.”

If Penrith manage to come home with the coveted Shield this Sunday afternoon, it’ll be their fifth Poidevin-Gray title since 1984.

Story continues on » p. 70 On the cusp of history: Players from Penrith’s Poidevin-Gray Shield side this week.

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