PANTHERS ONE WIN AWAY FROM ANOTHER GRAND FINAL APPEARANCE SEE PAGE 31 FOR MORE
Jarome Luai. Photo: NRL Photos.
PANTHERS SURGE INTO PRELIM
Penrith Park enjoyed the ultimate farewell last Friday night, with the Penrith Panthers putting on an absolute clinic against the Sydney Roosters in the first Qualifying Final.
The defending Premiers advanced to their fifth consecutive Prelim Final after destroying Trent Robinson’s men 30-10 in front of a soldout crowd at BlueBet Stadium.
With Nathan Cleary back steering the ship, the Panthers were simply unstoppable in the first half – running in four tries to zip to lead 24-0 at half-time.
The Roosters managed to score two quick tries after the break, but the damage had already been done, with Cleary putting in a pinpoint grubber for backrower Luke Garner to ice the match in the 70th minute.
Penrith will have this weekend off before playing in a Preliminary Final
North Queensland, in an effort to book a spot in the 2024 NRL Grand Final.
Speaking after the match, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said the first half was probably his side’s best this season.
“To get through to a Prelim in any season is an achievement and it’s nice to get the week off as well,” he said.
“We understand how to play Finals and I think our style is suited to it.
“The second half wasn’t at all what we planned but that was probably not a bad thing either. We had to work hard and fight off the Roosters resurgence. All in all, I’m stoked with that.”
With his champion son Nathan sitting next to him in the post-match press conference, the super coach couldn’t be more glowing when discussing his brilliant return from a month on the side
had to be a positive influence on the team even though I wasn’t playing and then in the background, working hard to put my best foot forward when I did get back out onto the field.
“I’m really happy with how tonight went, but there’s more ahead of us and I’ve got to keep working hard, keep putting myself in the best position to help the team.”
Penrith is no stranger to earning the week off, having now won four of their past five Qualifying Finals. But they haven’t been kicking back and putting their feet up, instead they have been training most days this week
as they prepare for a showdown with either Cronulla or North Queensland next Saturday night at presumably Accor Stadium.
Ivan said he was planning to use this week to rest some players as well ramp up proceedings ahead of their most important match of the year.
“We’ve got some experience and will look back on what we’ve done before, but there’s a few guys I would’ve like to have rested in the last couple of weeks, so it’s the best way to be able to rest people,” he said.
“We’ll work out [what we do this week], but it does give you a good chance to get some serious preparation in because we’re going to have to go up again in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Nathan Cleary is magic. Photo: NRL Photos.
Mitch Kenny celebrates Penrith’s win last Friday night. Photo: NRL Photos.
NATHAN TAYLOR
IVAN CLEARY’S CHARITY EFFORT
! Cleary’s Care for charity: You could have forgiven Ivan Cleary for having other things on his mind last Thursday night, just 24 hours out from kick-off against the Roosters in the Qualifying Final. But the Panthers coach is a huge supporter of local charity WestCare and along with wife Bec and daughter Indi attended the annual fundraising dinner at The Coffee Club Nepean River. Cleary even donated an auction prize – being a lunch with the man himself and superstar son Nathan. The lunch went for $10,000 – and then sold again, making it $20,000 for the charity.
! Panthers eye Accor: Penrith want to play their Preliminary Final against North Queensland or Cronulla at Accor Stadium. The NRL is likely to schedule the game at Accor on September 28 but should the Cowboys advance, there’s a real argument to play the match at CommBank Stadium given the likely attendance. But the Panthers love Accor and feel it’s a home away from home during September, almost like the old days of the SCG and Sydney Football Stadium for Finals matches. The NRL will make a final call this weekend. It’s also almost certain the game will be on the Saturday – ensuring Melbourne’s Preliminary Final does not clash with the AFL Grand Final.
! Salty Robbo: It wasn’t long ago that Roosters coach Trent Robinson (pictured) was one of the most respected voices in the game. But he’s starting to develop a reputation as a whinger. While his frustration at a forward pass call last Friday night was understandable, it was hardly a howler and he seemed to forget his side got itself into a position of being down 24-0. His recent post-game comments about Canberra’s Elliott Whitehead also raised plenty of eyebrows, especially given his side features Jared Waerea-Hargreaves,
! Spotted: Panthers Media Manager Michael Blok competing in the Sydney Marathon last weekend.
! Spotted: Former Panthers forward Sam McKendry holidaying in Bali with his family.
Stadium momentos: I spotted a few Penrith fans carrying different items from the stadium with them after the game last Friday night. From signs to chairs, plenty of people managed to sneak away with their little bit of Penrith Stadium history. In some cases they were stopped by security, but plenty got away with their own memento.
! Vegas birthday: Penrith coach Ivan Cleary may have double the reasons to celebrate in Las Vegas next year. His side is playing on the same day as his birthday – March 1.
! No interest in RCG: The chances of Reagan Campbell-Gillard having an NRL swansong with Penrith are close to zero. The Eels have re-
leased the former Panther from the final year of his contract, giving him the opportunity to negotiate with other clubs. Somehow he was linked to the Panthers last week, but there’s no chance of it happening. And while we’re at it, there’s also zero chance Josh Addo-Carr ends up at the foot of the Mountains.
! Spotted: Penrith Toyota’s Garth Butler was given the honour of tossing the coin for last Friday night’s Qualifying Final.
! Grand Final worry: The NRL is privately worried that the Grand Final will be tough to sell out if it ends up being Melbourne against Penrith, which seems the most likely scenario. It would be Penrith’s fifth Grand Final and it’s understandable that winning the competition is no longer ‘once in a lifetime’ type stuff for many Panthers fans, who may choose to stay at home or hold watch parties with friends. Melbourne will have a dedicated contingent fly north but it won’t be anything like the Broncos’ supporter base last year.
! Podcast out today: Despite there being no Penrith game this weekend, the ‘Tension’s Running High’ podcast will still be released. Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor will look ahead to next week’s Preliminary Final. Visit www. westernweekender.com.au/podcast or search Western Weekender wherever you listen.
! Got some goss? I don’t keep secrets but I do protect my sources. Email maskedpanther@ westernweekender.com.au if you’ve got some news, or you’ve spotted a Panther out and about.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary with WestCare Director Andrew Paech.
CHOOKS COOKED ON UNFORGETTABLE
The
The Panthers celebrate a try.
Fans pour in to BlueBet Stadium for the final time.
Sombrero, anyone? The Pantherettes in fine form.
Fans celebrating in the stands.
Mitch Kenny tackles James Tedesco.
Nathan Cleary returned to the field.
Coach Ivan Cleary arrives.
Ashley Klein, James Tedesco, Garth Butler and Isaah Yeo.
Reunited: Izack Tago, Sunia Turuva, Spencer Leniu and Brian To’o.
Brian To’o scores for Penrith.
Luke Garner.
Family affair for Jarome Luai. Nathan Cleary
BRIAN TO’O
scoreboard & fixtures
Tries: L Garner 2, B To’o I Tago, J Luai Goals: N Cleary 5/6
Tries: J Stuart, J Schiller, E Guler, S Sasagi, M Spencer Goals: A Cook 5/6
Tries: J Sua’ali’i, J Tedesco Goals: J Sua’ali’i 1/2
Tries: A Kepaoa, T Peachey, L Sommerton
Goals: T Toelau 1/3
Tries: M Gabrael 3, S Taukamo 2, C Jarvis, T Waitere
Goals: R Pollard 6/7
Tries: J Liddiard, J Edgar, R Wake, S Hanson, A Hotere-Papalii
Goals: J Cleary 3/5
FOOTY CLUB
THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER
lang on league analysis
with Peter Lang
It’s the little things that make co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo such great players and inspirational leaders.
Most people think it’s only the big plays that define a champion player. The jaw-dropping tackles, clutch plays and ‘oohh ahh’ moments that make a player stand out.
But it’s more than that.
Often, it’s the little things that define us.
The little things, that go unnoticed by most supporters but not by a player’s teammates and coach, which make them so damn good.
Last Friday night against the Roosters, Nathan Cleary returned to the field in a blaze of glory. He set up several tries, kicked plenty of great bombs all the while barking orders to his teammates while guiding them around the paddock, like a good leader should.
However, it was the little things which make him truly great.
After being tackled a few metres out from the Roosters tryline, he quickly played the ball and a split second after the ball cleared the ruck, he ran backwards a few metres and re-positioned himself in the backline.
He was there to take the next pass without missing a beat. It’s like he was there the whole time. Like he never left the line.
Meanwhile, co-captain Isaah Yeo just kept the opposition guessing every time he had the ball in his hands. He ran straight and hard when the Roosters thought he’d pass and ran right to the defensive line and passed when the Chooks thought he’d just keep running.
Yeo’s stats during the game were scary and so were Cleary’s.
They were the two best players on the field not only for Penrith but from both sides.
PATIOMAN PATIOMAN
That makes them great players.
But a simple action long after the game had finished is what makes them great leaders.
As the fans were filing out of Penrith Park for the last time and the TV coverage was winding down both players made a lap around the ground together, just to say goodbye to a ground which had been their home their entire career.
The lucky ones who stayed behind long enough to see it, gave the boys a little cheer as if they also knew what the gesture meant. They were paying their respects to the old stadium one final time.
One more lap on the hallowed turf.
Now that’s leadership.
So I put it to you, if Jarome Luai is Robin and Nathan Cleary is Batman, then which superhero is Isaah Yeo?
Simple, he’s Superman. While the team of Batman and Robin will split up next year when Luai leaves to join the Tigers, the dynamic duo of Batman and Superman will continue.
The following quote best sums up the character of both Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.
“Good leaders deliver results. Great leaders develop people. Good leaders have vision. Great leaders have values. Good leaders are role models at work.
“Great leaders are role models…. in life.”
player of the year
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
is crowned our Player of the Year.
Nathan Cleary in action last Friday night. Photo: NRL Photos.
panther memories
Check out this one from the archives!
This 1987 Panthers calendar features some great action shots of the boys in the old chocolate soldiers jumper. From Brad Izzard to Royce Simmons and Greg Alexander, all of the great names from the era are pictured. While a calendar hasn’t been released every year, most years you can still stumble across a Panthers calendar in the shops.
We wonder what the oldest Panthers calendar you may have is?
DO OR DIE BATTLES AS PRELIMS AWAIT
TROY DODDS
Cronulla Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys. Friday, September 20, 7.50pm. Allianz Stadium.
This is the most important game Cronulla face since the 2016 Grand Final.
They haven’t won a Finals game since 2018 despite finishing in the top eight in all but one season since.
Should they lose against the Cowboys on Friday and go out of the top four in straight sets, I’m not sure how they recover. It could start a collapse well down the ladder in future seasons.
There is enormous pressure on the entire team, but especially halfback Nicho Hynes. He’s got the world on his shoulders at the moment and the lack of confidence was obvious against the Storm last weekend.
All the pressure meanwhile is off North Queensland. Their victory over the Knights last weekend was impressive and they now face a top four side in Sydney – and are outsiders, as expected.
Being in such a position plays nicely for the Cowboys, who almost went under the radar this season after periods of poor form that
could have resulted in them missing the Finals altogether.
The Cowboys offer plenty of big game experience, whether that be in Finals or representative football, and that could be the thing that gets them across the line on Friday night.
I’m expecting this to be a close contest, but I’m struggling to see Cronulla having the confidence to get the win. All the momentum is with the Cowboys.
Tip: Cowboys by 8.
Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles. Saturday, September 21, 7.50pm. Allianz Stadium. Trent Robinson was desperate to focus on a forward pass call against his side against Penrith as part of the blame game following his side’s heavy defeat.
But let’s not forget, Trent, that the Roosters conceded 24 first half points and failed to score one themselves. They completed at 81 per cent and made 10 errors. Perhaps focusing on the 10 errors is the best place to start, rather than the referee.
I thought Robinson’s decision to bench Spencer Leniu instead of allowing him to be part of the opening fireworks against his former club was a concession well before a ball had been kicked.
In short, the Roosters have far bigger prob-
lems than a single forward pass call, with injuries plaguing the end of their campaign. That said, I do expect them to regroup and beat Manly on Saturday night. It was only the Bulldogs’ lack of big game experience that saw them give up a healthy lead and eventually get beaten by the Sea Eagles.
Prior to that, Manly looked off the pace, and their star player in Tom Trbojevic looked broken – you can’t imagine it’ll be any better this weekend.
The Roosters will be desperate to start well after last week’s first half capitulation and I expect them to do so.
Desperation brings out the best and worst in teams, but I think on this occasion the Roosters will put the foot down and book a Preliminary Final showdown with Melbourne.
Tip: Roosters by 12.
Under pressure: Nicho Hynes.
Tom Trbojevic. Photo: NRL Photos.
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