Extra Time March 15 2024 (Round 2 - Panthers v Eels)

the finalword

For many years, this whole Penrith v Parramatta rivalry was nothing more than a bit of manufactured hype.

After all, there had been no legitimate competition between the two sides for decades.

The Panthers were struggling in the early 1980s when the Eels won three straight Premierships, and by the time Penrith’s rise would come a few years later, the golden era of Parramatta was coming to an end.

When Penrith won the comp in 2003, the Eels finished ninth in the regular season. A year later, when Penrith made the Preliminary Final, Parramatta were nowhere near the eight.

When the Eels made their Grand Final run in 2009, the Panthers finished 11th.

You get the picture.

It is only now that this is a legitimate rivalry.

A nail-biting Semi Final a couple of years ago, the Grand Final in 2022. And some of the most pulsating regular season games you could imagine.

Now we find ourselves heading to BlueBet Stadium on Friday night for a battle of the west that has been building all week; and will almost certainly be played in front of a sellout crowd.

I would take little out of the Round 1 form of either club, except to say that Penrith’s stoic Premiership-winning defence held well against Melbourne and I have little concerns that the Panthers will get things right as the season progresses.

The Eels were too good for Canterbury but the Bulldogs aren’t expected to do much this year, so it’s hard to get a gauge on exactly how Brad Arthur’s men are travelling.

What cannot be denied is Parramatta’s excellent regular season record against Penrith in recent times. The Eels got the job done twice last year, and twice in 2022.

But we all know that when it has mattered most – in the 2021 Finals and the 2022 Grand Final – Penrith has got the job done.

There’s a lot of factors coming into this game, including the battle of the halfbacks in Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses. Moses, who has shrugged off a groin injury and will play on Friday, is keen to stamp his authority on the competition this year. To do so, he must beat the best – enter Cleary.

With the New South Wales Origin jumper also up for grabs this year under new coach Michael Maguire, both will be keen to impress in what will be a high class battle.

A significant factor in this game is the return of Mitch Kenny. The man in the number nine jumper has a big say in the speed of a set and the flow of the game, and things looked a little clumsy around the ruck without Kenny last weekend.

Penrith has also been bolstered by Scott Sorensen’s return in the second row.

There’s no question the Eels have plenty to offer this season and would be buoyed by their win last weekend, but the Panthers are a professional outfit who would be keen to respond to a last-start loss.

I’m expecting a close game, and an exciting chapter in what is now a legitimate local derby, but the Panthers should be able to do enough to pull away in the second half.

Tip: Panthers by 10.

McCrispy

McCrispy

TAGO’S NEW DEAL LOCKED IN

! Tago’s monster contract: This is the moment Penrith centre Izack Tago re-signed with the club until the end of 2028. He signed his new NRL contract with General Manager of Rugby League Shane Elford. The 21-year-old – who celebrates a birthday next month – was already signed until the end of next year, but has been considered a priority signing for the club. Media reports last weekend suggested that the new deal was worth around $750,000 a season.

! Cleary’s Tago confusion: Coaches often say they don’t read the papers, and in Ivan Cleary’s case he may just be telling the truth. Cleary was asked at a press conference on Monday about Tago’s new deal, and appeared surprised by the question. “How do you know that,” he asked the journalist. “Was there?” was his response when told the story was in the media the previous day. “Well if he has, that’s great,” Cleary bemused.

! New match day raffle: Panthers will introduce a 50/50 raffle this year on game days, with the winner to score 50 per cent of the cash raised by the initiative and the other 50 per cent going to Panthers community projects, such as Panthers on the Prowl. You may have seen the concept in action at other grounds. You’ll be able to grab an entry from this Friday night or online at www.5050charityraffle.com. au.

! Footy Doubles back: The addition of the new raffle doesn’t mean the end of Footy Doubles – which will still be available on game days. The great folks at Rotary will be selling them as you walk into the ground.

! Cooper’s Panther talk: Cooper Johns has revealed that he spoke with Penrith about joining the club for the 2023 season, in the role eventually taken by Jack Cogger. He’s told the light-hearted story of his interview process with Ivan Cleary on the latest episode of the ‘Backstage’ podcast, on which Nathan Cleary is a guest.

! Hadley returns to airwaves:

Radio legend Ray Hadley built his reputation on working seven days a week, presenting both his morning program and working on the Continuous Call Team. He has only made the odd appearance on the Continuous Call Team in recent years, but is now back calling games following the terrible news that David Morrow is battling brain cancer. Morrow had been 2GB’s chief caller for some time. His absence will mean

is also stepping up to call matches.

Hadley will be on deck at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night for the clash between Penrith and Parramatta.

! Rule change not needed: Panthers coach Ivan Cleary (pictured right) has questioned the NRL’s rule change that sees a tap rather then a penalty awarded when a short drop-out goes wrong. It essen tially encourages more short drop-outs. “I don’t know if we needed to do it to be honest. I thought there was enough of it already,” he said on Monday. “There needs to be a risk attached to it, it’s just my personal opinion... but I think we’ve got bigger problems than that.”

! New podcast: The Western Weekender has launched an all new podcast.

‘10 Minute Match Day’

is released every single Penrith Panthers game day, with Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor providing a last minute preview of that weekend’s game. As the name suggests, it only goes for 10 minutes – making it a quick but worthwhile Western Weekender wherever you listen to podcasts, or visit www.westernweekender.com.

Useless fact: Here’s a useless fact for you – the Panthers and Eels have never played on March 15 before. But they have played in Round 2 a total of three times – and Penrith has won all of them. ! Got some goss? Email me. I want to know what you know!

Hadley calling more NRL games, while Mark Levy

! Spotted: Nathan Cleary showing plenty of flexibility in the warm-up at AAMI Park last Friday. I’m pretty sure if I did this, I’d be in hospital for a week.

Izack Tago with Shane Elford.

MOSES REFLECTS ON 150 NRL GAMES

He may have played his 150th NRL game last weekend, but Moses Leota still remembers the toughest pre-season of his life.

He was just a young bloke coming through the grades, working a parttime job on the side while trying to make it in the NRL at the same time.

Leota would go from laying bricks to tackling players the size of brick walls during an awfully hot Penrith summer.

“It was hard hey,” he told Extra Time on Wednesday.

“Going from brickies labouring to come here, doing pre-season was the worst time of my life – working and then coming here doing that.”

The club could see Leota’s struggle and thankfully came to the rescue by finding him a new part-time job that was close to Panthers training and that wouldn’t give him calluses on his hands.

“The club have been a massive part of my journey. I went from brickies labourer to washing cars. They helped me get the car washing job at Volvo to make it easier for me,” Leota said.

It’s because of this that Leota is

grateful for the Panthers for his incredible career to date, which includes 150 NRL games, six Tests for New Zealand, four Grand Finals and

three premierships. The 28-year-old father of three did a lot of reflecting leading into his 150th first grade match against the Storm last week.

“It was always a dream to play one game, I never thought I’d play 150,” Leota said.

“I did reflect last week, and it was

cool because I don’t often reflect. Because I knew my 150th was coming up, I thought back to when I first started through to Under 20s and SG Ball. It was good to look back and it was pretty emotional also.”

While the milestone game didn’t end in a victory for Leota and his teammates, it was still special nonetheless – memories that will last a lifetime he reckons.

“It was cool having my family down in Melbourne with me, it was special for my kids too,” he said.

“When I debuted, I didn’t have any kids, now I have three. They absolutely loved walking out on the field with dad, they were happy.”

With Penrith unable to kick off the new year with a win, they’ll be hoping to secure their first of the season this Friday night against arch-rivals Parramatta.

The battles between the Eels and the Panthers are always top class, and this week’s will be no different.

“I’ve been here since I was young, and we’ve always had that rivalry between us and Parra. It’s a game that we love to play and I’m sure they do too,” Leota said.

“Parra just love getting up for games against us and they always want to have their best performance against us. We have to be on our game this week.”

Moses Leota with his family at AAMI Park last Friday night.

NATHAN TAYLOR

Izack Tago has won two premierships, played for his country and, as of Wednes day, signed the biggest deal of his career so far, but as he runs out for game 50 on Friday night, the 21-year-old says he still has plenty more to achieve.

The Panthers centre was all smiles this week after inking a three-year contract extension with his junior club. Tago was already contracted with Penrith for the 2025 season, but he will now remain at the five-time Premiers until at least the end of 2028.

While some of his teammates have decided to jump ship for various reasons, Tago said there was nowhere else he wanted to be.

“To be honest, I already knew this is where I wanted to be. I think anything they (the club) offered me I would’ve been keen to stay,” Tago told Extra Time

News of his impending re-signing came out of the blue last weekend. With Penrith bosses still in negotiations with Taylan May, Sunia Turuva and Mitch Kenny, it came as a surprise to fans that Tago – who isn’t off contract until next year – was being prioritised.

Tago said the club showing faith in him longterm was huge for him.

“I think that’s probably another reason why the club is so special to me,” he said.

“It’s always been home for me and to invest in me like that, I want to repay them.”

Panthers supporters will get their first chance to celebrate Tago’s new deal on Friday night when Penrith tackle the Eels in the first Battle of the West of the season.

It’ll be a special occasion for the St Marys junior, who will also play his 50th NRL game on the night. Tago said he’s proud at how far he has come since debuting against the Tigers in 2021.

important thing to me, I think it is for all the boys at the club. That’s why we’ve had such good success because everyone is focused on that, and success comes off the back of that.”

The Panthers will be looking for a touch of that success on Friday night as they look to secure their first victory since the 2023 Grand

After losing the World Club Challenge to Wigan in February and the season opener to the Storm last week, there will be no better comeback story than beating Parramatta Stadium.

Eels come to

play whenever it’s a local derby, and Penrith will be looking to do the same.

“Parra always pick it up against us and that’s something we enjoy too,” he said.

“Being the Battle of the West, we want that crown and they’re going to come try and take it.”

Playing junior footy in the Penrith District growing up, Tago knows the rivalry with the Eels all to well.

“We weren’t trained to hate Parra growing up but, if we won our comp in the juniors, we’d always verse the winner in the Parra comp –like a mini Battle of the West,” Tago said.

“It’s funny because they are probably the most similar team to us in terms of how they are raised culturally, but that’s probably why it’s a bit more of a war.”

Izack Tago has re-signed with Penrith. Photo: Melinda Jane.

Izack Tago in action last weekend.

Izack Tago speaks to the media on Wednesday.

NATHAN TAYLOR

ELGNUJHTIRNEPEHTFOGNIK !

panthers poster

analysis

MISSION TO KEEP MAY AT PENRITH

lang on league

Panthers Chief Executive Officer Matt Cameron is confident a deal can be done to keep the in-form Taylan May at the Panthers for many years to come.

Cameron told Lang on League that: “Conversations are progress ing well with Taylan’s management representatives. He is a valued member of our playing group and the club is confident we can get something sorted out sooner rather than later.”

Music to the ears of Panthers supporters who have seen more than their fair share of players leave the club due to salary cap constraints over the last three years.

Taylan May’s agent from Black Money Enterprises also told me that he was positive about how talks were progressing.

“Negotiations with the Panthers are ongoing but positive,” he said.

“Given Taylan’s strong showing in the World Club Challenge and against the Storm last week, obviously there’s heavy interest from numerous clubs.

“Taylan’s a very intelligent young man with great guidance from his family, so I’m sure he will make the right decision in due time.”

Despite the Panthers’ tough start to the season, May’s form has been a major positive which has cast a

nice light over the shadow of two close defeats.

May has had a dream start to his career as Penrith’s newest centre and been the best player on the field after a serious ACL injury saw him miss the entire 2023 NRL season.

There is no doubt that following the reported re-signing of centre partner Izack Tago until the end of

2027, that the man they call ‘Tiny’ must be the next priority signing for the club.

Yes, even ahead of hooker Mitch Kenny and 2023 Dally M Rookie of the Year winner Sunia Turuva.

Of course, both Kenny and Turuva must also be retained however in my opinion, they need to wait in line behind May who has shown he will be in hot demand if

he keeps his current purplepatch of form up.

Against the Storm in Round 1, May ran for 157 metres, made seven tackle breaks and ran for 25 post contact metres, which simply put, means he was one hard son-of-a-gun to bring down.

The step, the swerve, the turn of speed were all there against a team which was not giving an inch of ground without a fight.

His performance against Wigan a few weeks earlier was equally as impressive.

Remember this is a man who had not played a competitive game of football since his season-ending injury against St Helens on February 18 last year.

The last word goes to Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, who had this to say in a press conference on Monday about May’s great start to the season and his game against the Storm.

“I’m very pleased (for Taylan),” said Cleary.

“It was only his second game back after a big injury and he showed some very promising signs and he certainly deserves some luck. “I’m looking forward to him having a big season.”

We all are Ivan.

player of the year

Taylan May is in solid form. Photo: NRL Photos.

with Peter Lang

The Western Weekender Penrith Panthers Player of the Year competition runs throughout the season, with our four experts delivering a 3, 2, 1 rating for the best Panthers players from each Penrith game. The player with the most votes at the end of the season is crowned our Player of the Year.

panther memories

These days there’s t-shirts made available for the Finals, Grand Finals, Premierships enough to fill an entire wardrobe with Panthers gear, especially with the team doing so well in recent seasons.

And it wasn’t so different back in the early 1990s either.

Pictured are the shirts produced prior to the 1990 and 1991 Grand Finals.

In 1990, a simple ‘Panthers To Win 1990’ slogan with no reference of the Raiders appeared on the shirt, along with a leaping Panther.

And in 1991, a more typical Grand Final hype shirt with a ferocious looking Panther ready to pounce.

With no Raiders reference on the 1991 shirt either, we can only presume turnaround times were a little slower back then and the shirts were actually produced before the teams were confirmed.

Do you happen to still have these shirts in your wardrobe?

BRONCOS BULLDOGS PANTHERS TIGERS COWBOYS WARRIORS ROOSTERS DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DOLPHINS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM SEA EAGLES DRAGONS

RABBITOHS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS WARRIORS ROOSTERS DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS TIGERS COWBOYS STORM SEA EAGLES DOLPHINS

BRONCOS BULLDOGS EELS RAIDERS KNIGHTS STORM SEA EAGLES DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DOLPHINS

RABBITOHS BULLDOGS PANTHERS TIGERS KNIGHTS WARRIORS ROOSTERS DRAGONS

RABBITOHS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM SEA EAGLES DOLPHINS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM SEA EAGLES DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM SEA EAGLES DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DRAGONS

RABBITOHS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS KNIGHTS WARRIORS SEA EAGLES DRAGONS

COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DRAGONS

BRONCOS BULLDOGS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM SEA EAGLES DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DOLPHINS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DRAGONS

BRONCOS

EAGLES DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM SEA EAGLES DRAGONS

BRONCOS

EAGLES DRAGONS

RABBITOHS BULLDOGS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM SEA EAGLES DOLPHINS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM MANLY DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM

SEA EAGLES DOLPHINS

BRONCOS

RABBITOHS BULLDOGS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM

SEA EAGLES DRAGONS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS DOLPHINS

BRONCOS SHARKS EELS RAIDERS COWBOYS WARRIORS ROOSTERS DOLPHINS

BRONCOS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS STORM

BRONCOS

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SEA EAGLES DRAGONS

RABBITOHS BULLDOGS PANTHERS TIGERS KNIGHTS WARRIORS ROOSTERS DRAGONS