CATCHING A FISH Panthers to make re-signing forward a top priority
PAGE 32
JOEL CAINE Former NRL star and SEN broadcaster joins the Extra Time team
PAGE 34
NATHAN CLEARY POSTER Start your 2021 collection with our star halfback pin-up
PAGES 36-37
LANG ON LEAGUE Peter Lang returns for another year of rugby league insights
PAGE 43
THE Hunted NOW THEY SEE US COMING: NEW CAMPAIGN BEGINS MATCH PREVIEW: PAGE 31
Friday, March 12, 2021 « the western weekender
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the final word
v
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 12, 2021
match preview
Isaah Yeo will co-captain the Panthers. Photo: Megan Dunn.
TROY DODDS
R
ugby league is rarely ‘normal’ but after one of the strangest seasons on record in 2020, this season offers consistency and routine as we return to a 25 round competition and an endurance race to October rather than a sprint. For Penrith and the Cowboys their respective campaigns begin this Saturday night at Panthers Stadium and both sides have very different motivations ahead of the new season. The Panthers have now established themselves as the hunted after a record-breaking season that saw them fall just short of the ultimate prize, and the heartbreak of the Grand Final defeat to Melbourne would surely be enough to motivate them for the long road again. As for the Cowboys, a return to the Finals would be front of mind but with a new coach in Todd Payten and only moderate
SATURDAY, MARCH 13 | 7.35PM | PANTHERS STADIUM | REFEREE: MATT CECCHIN involvement in the player market, this is shaping up as something of a rebuilding year in Townsville. Still, Payten will be keen to make his mark and getting a good start would be his key focus for this first part of the season. The Cowboys had a solid pre-season hitout against Brisbane a fortnight ago, producing a 34-18 win in Redcliffe, coming from 18-6 down at half-time. Payten would surely have been impressed with the way his side roared home, proving that the side’s attitude appears to be in the right place. Penrith meantime downed Parramatta 16-6 in what was a tough, in the trenches type of game – a challenge I’m sure coach Ivan Cleary welcomed as he tries to toughen his side up a little in the wake of what happened against Melbourne in last year’s decider. I’m expecting something of a high scor-
ing encounter on Saturday night, with the exciting backs across both teams to put on a show. You don’t put on a game with the likes of Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Kyle Feldt and Valentine Holmes as the star attractions without some points being scored. But to determine a winner you only have to look at the halves. While Michael Morgan and Jake Clifford will likely lead the Cowboys around admirably this season, Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary offer a halves pairing that is the envy of pretty much every team in the competition. Luai and Cleary will surely create more opportunities this weekend, and that should help Penrith kickstart this season in fine style. After a full NRL season together, there is no doubt the pair will be even better this year – and hungrier. Perhaps the best thing about the side
PANTHERS
KAYO FOX LEAGUE ABC 2GB
Ivan Cleary has in his hands this year is that a winning culture is already ingrained. It is a culture developed through the junior system, where Penrith teams have dominated for the past decade. When Cleary approached Stephen Crichton for a ‘grounding’ chat after 10 straight wins last year, he replied: “What are you talking about coach, I win 10 games in a row all the time”. It wasn’t said in arrogance, but it was a reminder that these players just know how to win, and we started to see that transition to the NRL last year when the side kept collecting wins without fear. This promises to be an exciting season opener – but Penrith look stronger on paper, and the side’s incredible record at Panthers Stadium over the past 18 months will also be a factor. Tip: Panthers by 12.
COWBOYS
1 Dylan Edwards
10 James Fisher-Harris
1 Scott Drinkwater
2 Charlie Staines
11 Viliame Kikau
2 Kyle Feldt
11 Mitchell Dunn
3 Paul Momirovski
12 Kurt Capewell
3 Esan Marsters
12 Coen Hess
4 Stephen Crichton
13 Isaah Yeo (c)
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
13 Jason Taumalolo
5 Brian To’o
14 Tyrone May
5 Valentine Holmes
14 Jake Granville
6 Jarome Luai
15 Spencer Leniu
6 Michael Morgan (c)
15 Josh McGuire
7 Nathan Cleary (c)
16 Matthew Eisenhuth
7 Jake Clifford
16 Corey Jensen
10 Jordan McLean
8 Moses Leota
17 Liam Martin
8 Francis Molo
19 Reuben Cotter
9 Api Koroisau
18 J’Maine Hopgood
9 Reece Robson
17 Lachlan Burr
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Friday, March 12, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time
panther rumblings
WITH THE MASKED PANTHER
FISH CLUB’S TOP PRIORITY ! With Jarome Luai and Stephen Crichton finalising their new deals with Penrith in recent weeks, the club will now look to ensure powerhouse forward James FisherHarris goes nowhere. The 25-year-old is not off-contract until the end of 2022 but the club is keen to lock him up long-term, before there’s any chance for him to hit the open market. Viliame Kikau, Api Koroisau and Dylan Edwards are also off-contract at the end of 2022, but I’m told Fish will be the top priority.
James Fisher-Harris. Photo: Melinda Jane.
! Kurt Capewell is off-contract at the end of the season and I’m told it’s unlikely he’ll re-sign with Penrith. There’s an expectation Capewell will return home to Queensland in 2022. ! Penrith’s major sponsorship deal with OAK was due to expire at the end of this season but it’s been extended by an extra year, and will now expire at the end of the 2022 season. OAK is fast becoming one of the longest serving major sponsors in the NRL and by all reports is thrilled with the exposure the brand received during Penrith’s dream run last season.
! The vast majority of Penrith’s playing group have watched last year’s Grand Final against Melbourne. Coach Ivan Cleary held a voluntary video session in the pre-season, and most players turned up to relive that 80 minutes from hell. One thing Cleary has focused on is how Penrith finished the game – he’s convinced that the points pileon towards the end of the match showed plenty of courage and feels it’ll play a big part in the players using the game to spur them on to go one better this year.
! The off-season is always used to fix up niggling injuries but this year it hasn’t just been the players. Coach Ivan Cleary had major hip surgery back in November, while Chairman Dave O’Neill is recovering strongly after having his troublesome knees fixed. ! Ivan Cleary has privately guarded a special presentation he built to lock down the club’s culture, but last month he revealed it publicly for the first time at a special function put on for Panthers sponsors at the Leagues Club. It was the first time Cleary showed anyone outside of the Panthers bubble the presentation – and I’m told it offered a tremendous insight into the very strong mantra that the players and coaching staff operate under. Sponsors were very impressed. !
I’m told some at Panthers are privately fuming at the push by some within the NRL
world for the club to release Matt Burton to the Bulldogs a year early. They simply can’t comprehend why there’s so much pressure given Burton would be critical to Penrith’s campaign if either Jarome Luai or Nathan Cleary suffered a bad injury. The club is more than happy for Burton to move on at the end of the year and start his permanent NRL career with Canterbury, but he’s got unfinished business here first.
! The Panthers have lost one of their best off-field assets with digital guru and photographer Jeff Lambert moving on. Lambert is off to focus on his own business, which has been growing significantly of late. Thankfully he’ll be sticking around Panthers on a part-time basis, so he hasn’t been lost to the club entirely. ! Many within the Panthers organisation are growing in frustration at the reporting of Phil Rothfield over at News
Corp. Last Sunday’s piece about the club’s finances raised some eyebrows, particularly given he couldn’t even get the first name of one of the Directors he was writing about correct. Some of the individuals mentioned have put nothing but blood, sweat and tears into the Penrith community and the Panthers club for a long time – to have Rothfield throwing mud is helping nobody, particularly given the columnist himself admitted there was no suggestion of anything untoward.
! I’m all for the NRL pushing inclusivity and embracing all corners of society, which is why it was so great to see the code involved in Mardi Gras last weekend – including through their social media channels. It didn’t go unnoticed, however, that while the NRL was happy to throw out a Happy Mardi Gras, it couldn’t find time for a Happy Australia Day post back on January 26.
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! The Panthers officially launched their season with a function at the EVAN Theatre last Wednesday night. Greg ‘Brandy’ Alexander was handed the hosting duties for the night, a day before his 56th birthday. Yet again Penrith’s superb digital team delivered with a spine-tingling season launch video, which is now available to view on the Panthers website. One key guest missing from the launch was forward Liam Martin, who was a late withdrawal due to illness.
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 12, 2021
feature
KOROISAU READY FOR ANOTHER TILT NATHAN TAYLOR
W
hile the pain of losing a Grand Final may never fully go away, Panthers players are doing their best to put last year’s heartbreak behind them as they come together for another tilt at the title. Penrith hooker Api Koroisau – 2020’s Buy of the Year – is one of those players determined to pick himself back up and chase glory again. “It was a tough one to swallow… we got to the Grand Final for a reason – we played really well throughout the year, but someone’s got to lose and unfortunately that was us,” he said. “We didn’t play our best that night and Melbourne were too good for us. It’s one of those games that will sit with you… you can either shy away from it or take the challenge head on again.” Like Melbourne’s brigade, Penrith just completed the shortest off-season in club history. And while the lack of preparation may affect some clubs, the Panthers believe the brief pre-season will serve them well.
“We might have fresher bodies, less miles in the legs. The start of the season could be anything, but we might be able to come home strong if our bodies hold up,” Koroisau said. “It’s the shortest break I’ve ever had – six weeks. It’s been pretty good though; I think we got a lot in and got what we needed to get done. “The good thing about footy is you evolve throughout the year anyway.” After winning 17 games straight last season and reaching their first Grand Final since 2003, the Panthers are favourites with the bookmakers to break their Premiership drought this year. Koroisau said his teammates are ready to go from the ‘hunters’ to the ‘hunted’. “The mindset of the boys has been awesome, they’ve all been ready to go as soon as we lost that Grand Final,” the 28-year-old said. “It’s pretty good to see the bounce back actually. You usually hang your head on those things, but just to see the hunger in the lads is awesome. “Going from the hunters to the hunted will be tougher than last year – players have to turn up – but I think we’ve got the right group of boys to handle that pressure.”
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Api Koroisau will be an important part of the line-up. Photo: Megan Dunn.
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Friday, March 12, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time
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The only team Panthers need to beat this year is themselves
joel caine T
he Panthers are often a side that I pay close attention to at the start of each NRL season. Perhaps it is the Penrith boy in me, childhood memories stay with me of growing up near Jamison Park on York Road and sliding down the old hill at Penrith Park throughout the mid-1980s. I also grew up across the canal from legendary premiership captain Greg Alexander, and many are expecting this year’s group to reach the same heights as his famous 1991 side. But quite starkly, if the young Panthers are to go one better this season, they’ll need to flip historical trends. Taking Melbourne out of calculations, eight of the last nine NRL runners-up have failed to make the top four after coming agonisingly close the season before. The only non-Storm side to feature near the top after a Grand Final defeat was the 2014 Manly Sea Eagles, and even Geoff Toovey’s side was bundled out in straight sets of the Finals that year. Despite fighting the ever-strong tide of history, the Panthers glaring talent and match-winning ability means the only team they will need to beat this year is themselves. In 2020, Ivan Cleary’s side conceded just 11.9 points per game, their best defensive effort since the 1991 premiership side let in an average of just 11.36 points against
Can Ivan Cleary take his young side to a second straight Grand Final? Photo: NRL Images.
under the legendary Phil Gould. If the 2021 side can better last season’s figure, all signs point toward a finish near the pointy end of the table. We all know what happens to young Hollywood stars who experience immedi-
ate success and a steep rise in fame. They often burn out and fade after reaching the pinnacle. Despite Penrith’s breakout 2020 mirroring such a rise, Panthers fans should expect a sustained period of dominance both on
and off-field with the Clearys at the helm. I’m not only expecting the Panthers to contend again, but I’m bullish on their chances to go one better in 2021, exactly three decades on from that famous first title.
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MOMIROVSKI FEELS RIGHT AT HOME NATHAN TAYLOR
W
hen you open Paul Momirovski’s wardrobe you’ll find a range of apparel from the various NRL clubs he’s played at over the last four seasons. From the Roosters to the Wests Tigers and Melbourne last year on loan, the 24-yearold is hoping his fourth stop at Penrith will be much more permanent and will put an end to his ever-growing closet of footy gear. “100 per cent, that is the aim to have some stability in my career, but all that stuff comes when you’re playing consistent football,” Momirovski told Extra Time. “I’m really just focusing on getting better week by week. I’ve signed here at Panthers for two years but hopefully it’s longer.” Momirovski will play his first official match in Penrith colours this Saturday night against North Queensland after he was named to play centre in Ivan Cleary’s opening round line-up. After only playing half a dozen games last season due to injury and the pandemic, the Alexandria Rovers junior said he can’t wait to get back to playing regular footy again. “Last year wasn’t ideal especially when you get paid to do a job and then when
the job gets taken away from you, you find yourself as a full-time trainer,” Momirovski said. “I managed to play some games last year, but an injury stopped me from playing a few more. “It is what it is… but while we had to take pay cuts, a lot of people out there lost their jobs due to COVID, so we were very lucky and very grateful that we got to keep our jobs in the end.” Penrith will field new-look backline for this weekend’s clash, with Momirovski teaming up with exciting winger Charlie Staines for the first time. While Momirovski expects his edge with Staines to be targeted by opposing teams in the first few rounds, he is confident that sides will be steering clear of the pair as the season rolls on. “They can do whatever they want… we’ve got to build a combination and if other teams decide that our edge is the edge they want to come at, then more work for us… it’s fine,” Momirovski said with a grin. “I can’t wait to play with Charlie, he’s a good kid. He’s got some skill and speed and hopefully we can unlock him a bit this year.” With Momirovski getting used to life at his fourth club in as many years, he is also getting accustomed to the local culinary hangouts. Despite his long commute
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 12, 2021
feature
Paul Momirovski is fitting in well at his fourth club. Photo: Melinda Jane.
from his home in the Sydney CBD to Penrith each day, Momirovski still makes time in his week to stop off at a local institution. “I’ve been going down to Murray’s a fair bit, they are a good little sandwich shop,”
he said. “The Chicken Caesar sandwich is my favourite, that’s the local cuisine I’ve been introduced to out here. I’ve been there a few times already.”
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Friday, March 12, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time
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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 12, 2021
37
Friday, March 12, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time
New rules will make for an entertaining (and fast) season
Brought to you by
matt russell W
elcome to maybe the fastest year of rugby league we have seen. Don’t worry, the Grand Final isn’t going to creep up next week but the pace of the 201 Premiership games this season should be akin to a Ryan Papenhuyzen intercept! Last year’s rule changes after the COVID shutdown already increased the speed and now the game’s governing body has doubled down. Head of Football Graham Annesley proudly told NRL.com, the changes are “about minimising stoppages, increasing the amount of time the ball is in play, increasing the fatigue factor, trying to open up some spaces on the field and making the game more exciting and entertaining to watch”. Let’s reserve a little bit of judgement until the coaches have ‘worked the system’. We also don’t want glorified touch football or to destroy the fabric of the game, but I’m prepared to back the athletes and their high-performance staff to step up. It’s exciting! Already players look leaner. Already team selections are reflecting a new game. Now we standby for the television ratings and crowd figures (for the record there is no crowd cap in Queensland or Canberra, New Souths Wales is 75 per cent, Melbourne 50 per cent). Let’s look at some of the new rules, which
The 16 NRL captains at last week’s NRL Season Launch. Photo: NRL Images.
come on top of the “Six Again” call for ruck infringements last season. That call has been extended to defending teams caught off-side. Six Again. Attacking
team re-loads and goes through the gears. If the ball is kicked or carried into touch, there is no dawdling to the scrum for a breather. The other team simply plays the
ball, re-loads and goes through the gears. If there’s an incorrect play-the-ball, hand it over and let the opposition re-load and go through the gears. When you score, there won’t be a long ‘Bunker review’ breather. That will be done while the scoring team lines up the conversion attempt and goes again. Re-load and up through the gears. There will be less ‘professional cramps’ and other ‘complaints’ as a player must leave the field if a trainer stops play. The team with the ball stays in control and goes through the gears. So, the first three priorities for each team should be possession, possession and more possession. Souths’ Charity Shield discipline suggested that has been a pre-season focus. Maybe each team should have a ‘blitzkrieg’ plan to blow the game open, when momentum favours them and the opposition is wearing concrete boots. Conversely, they will need tactics to stop opposition momentum or risk being swamped. Whatever way, it should be great viewing. And another thing... The two-point field goal for successful kicks beyond the 40m line might be a bit like the 20/40. We won’t see many. For the record, I’m tipping Adam Reynolds to kick the first, at some stage this season, in the final few seconds before half-time. Enjoy the season!
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CLUB
PD
W
D
L
B
F
A
+/-
PTS
1
Panthers
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
2
Bulldogs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
3
Cowboys
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
4
Dragons
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
5
W. Tigers
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
6
Knights
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
7
Broncos
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
8
Rabbitohs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
9
Raiders
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
10 Roosters
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
12 Sharks
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
13 Storm
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
00
Sea Eagles
0
14 Titans 15 Warriors 16 Eels
0
0
0
0
0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
00 00 00
00
ROUND 1 V
Thursday, March 11 8.05pm AAMI Park
V
Friday, March 12 6.00pm McDonald Jones Stadium
V
Friday, March 12 8.05pm Suncorp Stadium
V
Saturday, March 13 3.00pm Central Coast Stadium
V
Saturday, March 13 5.30pm SCG
V
Saturday, March 13 7.35pm Panthers Stadium
V
Sunday, March 14 4.05pm GIO Stadium
Face In Th e Crowd
IS THIS YOU? ? Is this you at a recent Penrith Panthers game? If it is, you’ve won a Hoyts Family Movie Pass to use at any Hoyts Cinema in Australia! To collect your prize, visit the Weekender office at 2/42-44 Abel Street, Jamisontown and ask for Nathan Taylor.
Extra Time Issue Number 2021-001
00 00
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 12, 2021
nrl ladder & fixtures
V
Sunday, March 14 6.15pm Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Taylor / Peter Lang / Joel Caine / Fox League SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi / 4722 2998 chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au
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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 12, 2021
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Friday, March 12, 2021 « the western weekender
lang on league I
firmly believe the Panthers will win the 2021 Premiership. I’m the first to admit I’m biased but there are several reasons why I think this way. For a start, Penrith have all the major positions covered. In Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, the Panthers have arguably the best halves pairing in the competition. Hooker Api Koroisau is a crafty and dangerous dummy half runner while up front, James Fisher-Harris has gone to another level and is now one of the premier props in the competition. In the second-row, Viliame Kikau is a damaging runner of the football especially out wide, the man knows how to tackle too. In the backs, Stephen Crichton is already a player who can makes things happen and he’s still growing. While Brian To’o is a pocket rocket who makes plenty of metres in kick returns and is difficult to bring down. I know the side has lost some experience in the forwards but the club is still looking for another specialist prop, or two, to fill those final two positions in the club’s Top 30 full-time roster. Now there are a lot of Naysayers out there who seem to think last year was just one big fluke and are paying the team little or no respect. However, it won’t be that sort of talk which will inspire the Panthers this season. To them it’s just outside noise. It will be the desire to go one better and the belief that they can do so, that will drive
with Peter Lang
them to claim the ultimate prize in October. What game am I looking forward to... The Warriors v Titans on Saturday afternoon. Both sides will be in and around that eighth spot and it will be interesting to see which team can gain the upper hand in what should be an entertaining tussle. My Top 8 prediction... 1. Penrith 2. Melbourne 3. Canberra 4. South Sydney 5. Parramatta 6. Sydney Roosters 7. Gold Coast 8. Wests Tigers 9. New Zealand 10. Newcastle 11. North Queensland 12. Canterbury-Bankstown 13. Cronulla-Sutherland 14. Brisbane 15. St George Illawarra.
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 12, 2021
Why season 2021 will be the Year of the Panther
And the wooden spoon goes to... Manly Sea-Eagles – Unfortunately the boys from the Northern Beaches will collect their first wooden spoon in the club’s history. The final word... Last Sunday a friend of mine emailed me a link to a rugby league article he wanted me to read. I opened it and it was something called ‘What’s the Buzz’. So I started reading it and then stopped halfway through, “Oh wow,” I thought to myself, “What fresh hell is this?” Needless to say I won’t be reading that rubbish anymore!
Peter Lang believes Penrith will go one better this season. Photo: NRL Images.
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Dragons half Corey Norman will miss Round 1. Photo: NRL Images.
! Corey Norman will have a delayed start to his season at St George-Illawarra after the NRL confirmed a one match suspension for his involvement in a fight during the off-season. He was also fined $10,000 and must complete education and training. “There’s no doubt the initial incident involved a degree of provocation, but ultimately I do not accept that Corey had no other option than to have participated in a street fight,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said. ! The NRL has also handed suspensions down to Canberra’s Corey Horsburgh and Corey Harawira-Naera after they were both busted drink driving over the off-season. Horsburgh is out for one game with a suspended $5,000 fine while Harawira-Naera will miss two games and cop a $10,000 fine. !
The Warriors will remain based
in Australia until at least June 21 as the pandemic continues to cause dramas with international travel. The club has earmarked Friday, July 2 as their first match at Mount Smart Stadium since the pandemic took hold. “It was our hope initially that we would be able to return home for our April 9 match against Manly Warringah but the resurgence in COVID-19 transmissions in New Zealand leaves us with no option but to extend our stay,” Warriors CEO Cameron George said.
! Planning is moving forward for the Rugby League World Cup at the end of the year, though a huge question mark remains hanging over the tournament due to COVID-19. Matches are due to be played across England from October 23 with a Final on November 27. Officials will be keenly watching how events like the Olympics unfold before making a final decision on whether the event can go ahead.
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Friday, March 12, 2021 « the western weekender