Extra Time May 17

Brought to you by…

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.

Photo: Megan Dunn

N I W

our u o y Are owd r C e in th k?

Face ee this w

e d i s n I e e S

ROCK BOTTOM

IVAN CLEARY IN DESPER ATE SEARCH FOR ANSWERS PANTHERS V WARRIORS > P37 It’s do or die as Penrith return home to tackle Stephen Kearney’s Kiwis

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN > P39 Show your love for the Panthers with amazing new 3D figurines

MASKED PANTHER > P42 Getting to the bottom of the problems at Pantherland

Friday, May 17, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

Brought to you by

Magic Round was awesome for some, troublesome for others

ANDY RAYMOND W

hat a weekend it was in Brisbane. 16 clubs, eight games and 130,000 passionate rugby league fans at Suncorp Stadium.

It was a festival of football that brought rugby league fans from across the country, and in some cases around the world, together to celebrate our great game.

Fletch and Hindy loved the idea of the weekend so much they even volunteered to live in a see-through bubble tent for the duration of the round!

There was only one thing hotter than the temperature in the tent and that was the action on the field.

There was a touch of poetic justice when Paul Gallen scored the match-winning try for his Sharks in his last game at Suncorp Stadium, a ground where he’s always been welcomed with a chorus of boos.

There was a sigh of relief when the Broncos managed to outlast a gallant, but severely undermanned Manly side and there was tries a plenty for the Storm, Roosters and Rabbitohs as they again proved why they’re the best three teams in the competition.

BUT… if there was one side who wished

There was plenty of magic at Suncorp Stadium. Photo: Megan Dunn that they could have ‘disappeared’ during Magic Round, it would have had to have been the Panthers.

Penrith went into last Friday night’s game with their backs against the wall and with everything to play for.

Their fans packed the stands at Suncorp Stadium and waited with excited anticipation for their side to come out breathing fire.

There was a sense of hope and almost expectation that the Panthers’ bumbling

attack would click into gear and they’d deliver a much-needed win.

20 minutes later, hope had turned to helplessness and excited anticipation to anguish as the Tigers raced out to a 26-nil lead.

Ivan Cleary has responded to his side’s hapless performance, swinging the axe and chopping representative stars Josh Mansour and Reagan Campbell- Gillard from his first grade side for this weekend’s clash against the Warriors.

Couple that with the rumours that James Maloney has been given permission to look elsewhere and things are beginning to look a little dire at the foot of the Mountains.

The task for the Panthers this weekend isn’t an easy one with the unpredictable Warriors rolling into town off the back of a confidence boosting win against the Dragons.

If there’s one thing that will give Cleary and Panthers fans hope this weekend it’s that the Warriors are a team who give their opponents plenty of chances, but the question remains, will the Panthers be good enough to take them?

Every game of every round

LIVE with no ad-breaks during play

I want it all Every game No ad-breaks during play Dedicated channel Entertainment shows 4K Ultra HD*

36

*Selected matches only. 4K Ultra HD requires iQ4, compatible 4K TV and Sports + HD packs. Foxtel marks used under licence by Foxtel Management Pty Ltd.

WW36933

v

THE FINAL WORD

FRIDAY, MAY 17 • 6.00PM | PANTHERS STADIUM | REFEREES: HENRY PERENARA & JON STONE

PANTHERS 1

Dylan Edwards

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Brian To’o Dean Whare Waqa Blake Dallin Watene-Zelezniak James Maloney Nathan Cleary James Tamou (c) Sione Katoa Tim Grant Viliame Kikau James Fisher-Harris Liam Martin Jarome Luai Tyrell Fuimaono Moses Leota Kaide Ellis Reagan Campbell-Gillard

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 17, 2019

MATCH PREVIEW

Brought to you by…

WARRIORS

FOX LEAGUE

Nathan Cleary in action against the Wests Tigers last week. Photo: Megan Dunn

TROY

DODDS There are many words that could be used to describe Penrith’s performance against the Wests Tigers last Friday. Most of them are unprintable.

It was a rock- bottom effort from a side that had everything to play for. That opening 20 minutes was not befitting of the pride that should come with wearing the Penrith jersey and there is no question the players need to do some soul searching to find why they lacked the desire and enthusiasm that should come with representing the local community.

There are a number of members of the playing group who should be ashamed with the efforts they’re producing on the field this season. It needs to change, and it needs to change quickly.

The man tasked with leading a resurgence is coach Ivan Cleary. This week, he started the process by making a number of changes to his team to take on the Warriors on Friday night.

Dylan Edwards is back at fullback and certainly deserves his shot at redemption after a poor start to the season where he simply couldn’t regain his confidence.

The axing of Josh Mansour and Reagan Campbell- Gillard, once thought unthinkable, shows just how seriously Cleary is taking the situation at present. Both have been desperately out of form.

The return of Waqa Blake from disciplinary action will be important against the Warriors. Replacing the usually reliable Blake with Tyrell Fuimaono last Friday proved disastrous and was a further disruption to a Penrith backline that has been unable to settle for most of the season.

TRIPLE M ABC 702 But a backline can only fire when the forwards are doing their job and that’s just not happening for Penrith at the moment.

Campbell- Gillard, who was being talked up as one of the most damaging forwards in the game last year, ran for just 70 metres last Friday night while not one player in the pack clocked up more than 100 metres.

Meantime, five Wests Tigers forwards ran more than 100 metres – proving just how dominant they were over a Penrith pack that is being consistently outplayed week after week.

The Warriors, despite their erratic form, proved their resilience when coming back to beat the Dragons at Magic Round last weekend. They are particularly dangerous on the edges, which is a concern for Penrith given how easily the Tigers exposed Penrith’s edge defence last weekend.

1

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c)

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

David Fusitu’a Peta Hiku Patrick Herbert Ken Maumalo Kodi Nikorima Blake Green Agnatius Paasi Nathaniel Roache Leeson Ah Mau Isaiah Papalii Tohu Harris Lachlan Burr Jazz Tevaga Bunty Afoa Ligi Sao Karl Lawton 18 Gerard Beale

Stephen Kearney’s side missed a whopping 38 tackles last weekend and broke almost half the tackles compared to what the Dragons offered, but they won the match with a superior completion rate (a very strong 91 per cent) and they’ll again be looking to limit the mistakes against Penrith, knowing that the points will come eventually as long as they are patient.

For Penrith, it’s simply a matter of finding some heart. Ivan Cleary needs to find whatever it is that will make this group of players tick and start playing with the desire that should have been there from the first moment of the pre-season.

I wanted to tip the Warriors all week, but I have a feeling that after falling to rock bottom last weekend, the Panthers will pick themselves up and scrap their way to a win. I doubt it’ll be pretty, but right now, we’ll take what we can get.

Tip: Panthers by 4.

37

Friday, May 17, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

FEATURE Waqa Blake.

Photo: Melinda Jane

LESSON LEARNED WAQA BL AKE PROMISES TO REPAY SUPPORTERS NATHAN

TAYLOR

38

After missing Magic Round due to disciplinary reasons, Panthers centre Waqa Blake admits he feels responsible for Penrith’s 30-4 drubbing at the hands of the Wests Tigers.

The 24- year- old Fijian was axed from Ivan Cleary’s side to play the Tigers at Suncorp Stadium last week after he misread the schedule and was late to training.

Fronting the media on Wednesday afternoon, Blake owned his blunder head- on and admitted Cleary made the right call in dropping him.

“I let my teammates, the staff and especially the fans down – it wasn’t good enough,” he said.

“I was at home chilling and read the schedule wrong and wasn’t here. We are

all professionals and you just have to be better.

“It wasn’t an overreaction from Ivan, we have standards that we’ve had in place since the start of the year. I was in the wrong and I’m just going to own it.”

With Blake missing and fringe first grader Tyrell Fuimaono thrust into the centres the Tigers took advantage, scoring several tries down Penrith’s right edge before Cleary switched Fuimaono with fellow centre Dean Whare.

Blake, who watched the debacle on television from his Penrith home, said it was “tough” to endure.

“I watched it all the way through, I always support my teammates and I’m always there for them,” he said.

“It was tough watching, but I put it back to myself. I disrupted the preparation a lot and I can’t put it on the boys. It just wasn’t our day and it hasn’t been for a couple of weeks.”

“I LET MY TEAMMATES, THE STAFF AND ESPECIALLY THE FANS DOWN. IT WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH”

Blake has been named in Penrith’s starting side for tonight’s clash against the New Zealand Warriors at Panthers Stadium.

The teams last met in week one of the

2018 NRL Finals, with Penrith big winners on that occasion.

After admitting he didn’t have the answers to Penrith’s poor form at the post- match press conference last Friday, coach Cleary has made several changes to his roster for tonight’s game with Josh Mansour and Reagan Campbell- Gillard the big casualties from the thrashing to Wests.

Blake said feels for Cleary and believes it’s on the players – not just the coach – to turn things around.

“We all feel for him (Cleary), he works hard and so does the whole coaching staff.

I think it’s on us as players to step up and play some good footy,” he said.

“It’s been a tough few weeks, but I’m sure the boys [who got dropped] won’t take it too heavily. They’ll go back to wherever they need to and work hard to get back in, I’m sure we’ll see them again soon.”

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 17, 2019

FEATURE

WIN: PANTHERS GO 3D NATHAN

TAYLOR

Josh Mansour’s figurine looks lifelike

Realistic as they come: Viliame Kikau

“We make everything to order and all figurines are made to scale, so if people want to order multiple players they’ll notice the height difference between them all, to make it more realistic.”

Despite Penrith not doing so well on the field in 2019, it hasn’t affected sales of their Mini League figurines with Nathan Cleary, Josh Mansour and Reagan CampbellGillard up there with the biggest sellers.

“Nathan Cleary is our most popular Panthers player while Damien Cook and

Cameron Smith are our top sellers overall,” Naylor said.

To see the range and to purchase your own 3D Mini League figurine, visit www. minileague.com.

The Weekender has five 3D figurines to give away. For your chance to win one, email competitions@westernweekender. com.au with 3D in the subject line and tell us which player you’d like. Entries close Friday, May 24. Authorised under NSW Permit No LTPM/19/04131.

Nathan Cleary getting 3D scanned

WW36989

Whether it’s a signed retro jersey, Scanlens footy card or vintage team poster, rugby league memorabilia has come in all forms over the years. But one new piece of memorabilia that’s getting everyone talking of late is lifelike figurines of your favourite NRL players.

Introducing 3D Mini League figurines – the latest craze that’s gripping the world of rugby league collectors.

100 per cent unique and Australianmade, these figurines are among the first 3D printed sports collectibles created.

Utilising state-of-the-art photogrammetry technology, the figurine is presented in full colour gypsum and is hand finished to perfect every detail of the player.

Popular in the AFL since 2017, manufacturer The Mini League has recently teamed up with the NRL to produce player figurines from all 16 clubs.

The Mini League Executive Director, Tim Naylor, explained the process of creating each lifelike figurine.

“We take scanning equipment around to every single club and scan each player individually,” he told Extra Time.

Alena Higgins

Nathan Taylor

Troy Dodds

Nicola Barton

Emily Feszczuk

Penrith’s most comprehensive coverage of local news – in print and online at westernweekender.com.au

NORMAN’S SCRAP METALS Free Call 1800 225 235 NEW & USED STEEL BOUGHT & SOLD

OPEN 7 DAYS MOST PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

WW37184

$$$$ buyers of all Ferrous SYDNEY - 9748 0611 PENRITH - 4732 1683 34 PEACHTREE ROAD, PENRITH FAX - 4721 7658 and Non-Ferrous Metals (Off Castlereagh Road) 6 BLIGH STREET, AUBURN PICK-UP SERVICE AVAILABLE

39

096

092

092

090

090

FUTURE FINANCIAL SERVICES 4704 8585

STARR PARTNERS PENRITH 0421 384 810

SUPREMACY FUNERALS 4721 2020

FOWLER AND CO 4722 3066

ROBERT HENRY STATEWIDE REALTY 0418 650 579

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Cowboys Rabbitohs Knights Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Cowboys Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Warriors Roosters Bulldogs

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sea Eagles

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Cowboys Raiders Knights Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Eels Rabbitohs Knights Sea Eagles

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sea Eagles

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Cowboys Rabbitohs Knights Sharks

BILL MCDEED

TEENA EDWARDS

NATHAN TAYLOR

KIM RILEY

Cowboys Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

PETER ANDERSON

096

WORKIN’ GEAR 4731 4707

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

VICTOR GLANVILLE

098

AUSSIE ST MARYS 9673 3333

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

DOUGLAS ELY

100

IRRESISTIBLE POOLS & SPAS 4776 1118

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

CHARBEL GEAGEA

100

ST MARYS PROFESSIONALS 02 9673 4422

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

NICK RIGAS

SHANAKA DE SILVA TERRY HANSEN

106

SYNERGY FINANCIAL SERVICES 4732 6555

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

TREVOR LE BRETON

40

ROBERT HENRY

ROSS FOWLER

DONNA HILDON

STEPHEN GRINGHUIS

ALEX MCKENZIE

STEVE SUTTON

KIM HORAN

KEITH WILSON

Friday, May 17, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

CELEBRITY TIPSTERS

090

090

088

088 018 018

088

088

086

086

086

086

CATHOLIC CEMETARIES 9826 2273

THE WESTERN WEEKENDER 4722 2998

HERTZ 4731 6344

GOTZINGER SMALL GOODS 0418 594 791

HARVEY NORMAN BEDDING 0401 505 140

VIC’S MAXI TRANSPORT 4732 2195

YORK JEWELLERS 4721 0780

KELLY PARTNERS 4721 7433

THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE 0401 560 116

HOTONDO HOMES 0403 723 486

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Cowboys Raiders Dragons Sharks

Storm Warriors Roosters Titans

Eels Raiders Knights Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Cowboys Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Cowboys Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Warriors Roosters Titans

Cowboys Raiders Knights Sharks

Tigers Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Eels Rabbitohs Knights Sea Eagles

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Eels Raiders Knights Sharks

Tigers Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Eels Rabbitohs Knights Sea Eagles

Storm Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Cowboys Rabbitohs Knights Sharks

082

082

080

078

SMITH STREET AUTO 4731 4019

TRESAMI COMPUTER ENGINEERING 1300 318 444

CC TYRES 4731 4822

THE WESTERN WEEKENDER 4722 2998

Cowboys Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Cowboys Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Eels Raiders Dragons Sharks

CHRIS AYLING

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

BARNEY ALLAM

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sea Eagles

DERRY O’DONOVAN

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

HANS BOR

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

AARON TYERS

Storm Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

KANE TOWNS

082

LENDCORP FOR FINANCE MADE EASY! 4722 2800

Eels Raiders Dragons Sharks

JOHN TODD

082

LEISURE POOLS 1300 SPLASH

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

ANTHEA STRATHDEE

084

BRICKS & MORTAR REAL ESTATE 0406 277 417

Eels Raiders Dragons Sharks

CHRIS GROSS

084

GARTON GROUP MCDONALD’S 4721 2992

Storm Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

HELENA CRUMPTON

LUKE BELOTTI KATE RADCLIFFE IAN GARTON SALLY MUIRHEAD PAUL NEWTON ANTON HEARN MATT BOND LEE BANISTER MICHAEL ASHTON TROY DODDS

084

RAINE & HORNE COMMERCIAL PENRITH 0417 228 587

Cowboys Raiders Dragons Sharks

078

078

078

076

074

074

070

070

060

056

MACQUARIE ACCOUNTANTS 4731 5628

ALLAM PROPERTY GROUP 4732 2422

EZRVEND 0414 254 074

VISION PAINTING & DECORATING 0404 459 600

AT PRINT 4731 5055

TOWNS CRANES 0487 272 819

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS CENTRE 4721 5011

LOWER MOUNTAINS AIR CONDITIONING 4735 6411

VISION PERSONAL TRAINING 4742 5079

PROPERTY CENTRAL 0415 119 019

Storm Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Eels Raiders Dragons Sea Eagles

Storm Warriors Roosters Titans

Eels Raiders Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Cowboys Raiders Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Eels Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Broncos Titans

Cowboys Raiders Dragons Sharks

Tigers Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Eels Rabbitohs Knights Sea Eagles

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Cowboys Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

Cowboys Rabbitohs Dragons Sharks

Tigers Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Eels Rabbitohs Knights Sea Eagles

Tigers Panthers Roosters Bulldogs

Eels Rabbitohs Knights Sea Eagles

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 17, 2019

084

MACQUARIE COMMERCIAL 0402 896 906

Storm Panthers Roosters Titans

41

Friday, May 17, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

PANTHER RUMBLINGS

with the Masked Panther

TOUGH TIMES  Penrith coach Ivan Cleary will front the

club’s Board on May 29 in an attempt to explain the team’s awful start to the season. But it’s unlikely to be a major grilling, with the meeting set to focus on discussions about the plan moving forward – including potential tweaks to the squad as the June 30 deadline approaches. The Board is obviously unhappy with the way the Panthers have played this season but remains staunchly behind Cleary.

 Nobody can deny that Pantherland is

not a happy place at the moment. Ivan Cleary and his staff are desperately trying to get the bottom of it but I’m told the sex tape scandal in the pre-season is a catalyst for a lot of the issues. Not only did it disrupt the squad and test a number of friendships, but there’s been some uncomfortable issues with wives and girlfriends too. The whole thing has really unsettled the season and made away trips particularly difficult.

 Watching the Panthers at the moment

is enough to turn anybody to the drink so it was no surprise that Ivan Cleary, Peter Wallace and Cameron Ciraldo headed to a bar last Friday night in an attempt to start an immediate review of what went wrong against the Wests Tigers. When the trio arrived at a Brisbane watering hole, they found it to be full of journalists. Not surprisingly, Cleary, Wallace and Ciraldo didn’t stay long.

 Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher was

instrumental in convincing the NRL to allow suburban grounds to host matches in week one of the Finals. Fletcher was ruthless on the issue after the Panthers were forced to host the Warriors at the soulless ANZ Stadium in the Finals last year. Last week, the NRL announced that suburban grounds were back on the menu for the Finals with Panthers Stadium now an approved venue to host matches. “This is an extremely positive result for our Club, particularly our fans but also for the game,” Fletcher said.

 Be prepared for another home game to be lost from Panthers Stadium next year

Ivan Cleary. Photo: Megan Dunn with the club likely to be forced to host a Magic Round match at Suncorp Stadium.

Clubs have been informed that Magic Round will definitely be back in 2020, and it’s likely that ‘away’ teams from last weekend will be forced to move home matches as part of the concept next year.

It’ll mean there will be just 10 matches at Panthers Stadium, with one game already shifted to Bathurst.

 With another injury to his shoulder

and his teammates in Brisbane, Isaah Yeo headed back home to the country last weekend for some fresh air and recharging. Yeo was back in Penrith on Monday and is continuing to get treatment for his

CC TYRES FAMILY-OWNED & OPERATED, WITH OVER 60 YEARS SERVICING THE PENRITH REGION.

shoulder with the hope of being back on the field against the Roosters in Round 13.



Serious questions are being raised about Ivan Cleary’s decision to appoint James Tamou as the team’s sole captain.

While plenty of eyebrows were raised when it was first announced a few weeks ago, a number of league experts including Blues coach Brad Fittler are publicly airing concerns over the decision. Tamou is an excellent player and leads by his actions on the field, but he’s hardly the talker and motivator that the Panthers need at the moment.

 It’s unlikely that Dallin Watene-

Zelezniak will be in a blue and gold jersey any time soon. Reports emerged last weekend suggesting Watene-Zelezniak’s management had been in discussions about a move to Parramatta before June 30. I’m told Penrith officials were filthy when they heard the rumour in the leadup to last Friday’s clash against the Tigers at Suncorp Stadium. The Panthers have no intention of releasing the 23-year-old and there has been no formal approach by the Eels.

 Some of Penrith’s most famous names are set to pull the jersey back on for this year’s Legends of League tournament, which now features the Panthers.

✓ All tyre brands available & a wide selection of wheels ✓ We service local business, fleet companies, government and the local community ✓ Large diameter fitting and balancing & Advanced camera alignments ✓ Tyre puncture repairs (all tyres) ✓ Road Side Service for on site equipment inc backhoes, bobcats trucks, tractors etc

We'll get the job done right!

42

(02) 4731 4822 / 108 BATT STREET, PENRITH WW36201

Let’s admire the toughness of NRL players

CLINTON MAYNARD T

oo often rugby league dominates the headlines for the wrong reasons.

The off- field behaviour displayed by many NRL players during the last off- season was terrible and costly to the reputation of the game. When we hear about the atrocities committed by so- called ‘role models’, we can easily forget about all that is good about the game and the players.

The modern day NRL player is very well remunerated and when they find themselves in trouble, the fact they don’t have full-time jobs outside the game is cited as one of the reasons some stray down the wrong path.

However last weekend and the season so far show one of the key reasons they are paid well – they put their bodies on the line without fear and the result is injury, which can destroy their season and leave them with years of pain in retirement.

The injury toll from the season so far is almost unprecedented and it’s dominated by many of the game’s biggest names.

The struggling Broncos have lost Jack Bird for the rest of the year with a knee injury. It’s the second straight year his

season has been ruined by injury and, given his history of arthritis, one can’t help but ask whether his body is up to the rigours of NRL year after year. Bird demonstrated just how tough players are, by attempting to get up and run with what was a ruptured ACL. Melbourne’s Curtis Scott broke his foot, the Roosters lost Daniel Tupou, Boyd Cordner and we all feared the worst when Latrell Mitchell went off only to come back.

The list of long-term stars out injured is endless.

Roosters captain Jake Friend, winger Josh Morris; Brisbane’s Andrew McCulloch; Panther Isaah Yeo; Sharks stars Matt Moylan, Aaron Woods, Wade Graham and Shaun Johnson; Canberra’s Joey Leilua; Manly’s Daly Cherry- Evans and Tom Trbojevic.

Talk to any former rugby league player in retirement and they’ll tell you about the pain they suffer day in, day out years after they’ve finished playing.

The injury toll is a reminder that the stars who entertain us each week deserve their big salaries.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 17, 2019

Brought to you by

Isaah Yeo leaving the field injured earlier this month. Photo: NRL Photos

DO YOU HAVE A GREAT BUSINESS IDEA?

WW33414

ϬϮ ϰϳϮϭ ϱϬϭϭ ǁǁǁ͘ǁƐďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͘ĐŽŵ͘ĂƵ

43

Friday, May 17, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

NRL LADDER AND FIXTURES PD

W

D

L

B

F

A

9

8

0

1

0

253

148

+105 16

2 Rabbitohs

9

8

0

1

0

234

137

+97

16

3 Storm

9

7

0

2

0

227

115

+112

14

4 Raiders

9

6

0

3

0

197

132

+65

12

5 Sea Eagles

9

5

0

4

0

171

156

+15

10

6 W. Tigers

9

5

0

4

0

170

170

0

10

7 Sharks

9

5

0

4

0

174

175

-1

10

8 Eels

9

5

0

4

0

205

207

-2

10

9 Knights

9

4

0

5

0

168

160

+8

8

CLUB

1

Roosters

+/-

PTS

10 Dragons

9

4

0

5

0

166

186

-20

8

11 Broncos

9

3

0

6

0

168

195

-27

6

12 Warriors

9

3

0

6

0

174

208

-34

6

13 Cowboys

9

3

0

6

0

147

211

-64

6

14 Titans

9

2

0

7

0

150

217

-67

4

15 Panthers

9

2

0

7

0

117

210

-93

4

16 Bulldogs

9

2

0

7

0

114

208

-94

4

Round 10

/ / / / / / / /

FACE IN THE CROWD

Thursday, May 16 7.50pm AAMI Park Friday, May 17 6pm Panthers Stadium Friday, May 17 7.55pm Suncorp Stadium Saturday, May 18 3pm Cbus Super Stadium Saturday, May 18 5.30pm 1300 Smiles Stadium Saturday, May 18 7.30pm GIO Stadium

Sunday, May 19 2pm Glen Willow Oval

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 2019-010 PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 / troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au

Sunday, May 19 4pm PointsBet Stadium

CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Taylor / Clinton Maynard / Andy Raymond SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi / 4722 2998 chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au

Australian Owned.

Australian Made.

Delicious Aussie Milk from

our farms to your home.

Find us in the long life milk aisle. australiasownfoods.com.au

44

WW36531

From bad boy to club legend When Mark Geyer announced his retirement on a Wednesday morning back in 2000, it brought to an end a remarkable 180- game career that was one of the great roller coaster rides.

Geyer was a rugby league loose cannon in his early days at Penrith, so much so that his career was almost derailed numerous times due to both his on-field and off-field behaviour.

‘MG’ won the premiership with Penrith in 1991 but after 92 games at the foot of the Mountains, headed to the Balmain Tigers for the 1993 season. After sitting out the 1994 season, he was handed a lifeline by the Western Reds, playing with the Perth- based club for three seasons from 1995-1997.

In 1998, Geyer was back where he belonged – at the Penrith Panthers.

Now matured, Geyer had a strong three seasons with Penrith before announcing his retirement in 2000.

“Rugby league and Penrith have been great to me,” Geyer said when announcing his retirement at a press conference.

“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity of returning to Penrith.

To the fans who have showed faith in my career and the general public, who’s perception of me seems to have changed over time, I thank them for their support.”

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 17, 2019

Panther Flashback

SCOREBOARD NRL

TIGERS 30 PANTHERS 4

NSW CUP

PANTHERS BYE

JERSEY FLEGG PANTHERS 22 EELS 14

How the Weekender covered Mark Geyer’s retirement in 2000 Geyer was emotional at his retirement press conference, but said he was comfortable with his decision.

“I’ve been training and playing at this level for 14 years,” he said.

“I’ve also got a wife, three kids and another one on the way. I want to spend more time with my family.”

Geyer went on to build a successful media career, working with Triple M.

BEHIND THE PANTHERS

Cassidy Gabrio

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR PANTHERS? Eight months.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING FOR PANTHERS? Working closely with the commercial and football staff and seeing all the hard work in action on game days.

WHO IS YOUR FUNNIEST COLLEAGUE AT PANTHERS? Jeremy Tuite and his team of space cadets.

WW36214

Membership Executive

45

WW37411

46

Friday, May 17, 2019 « the western weekender