Extra Time July 26

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Panthers five-eighth James Maloney.

Photo: Megan Dunn

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JIMMY M ALONEY TO LEAVE PANTHERS FOR FR ANCE PANTHERS V RAIDERS > P29 Troy Dodds previews Sunday arvo’s blockbuster at Panthers Stadium

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Friday, July 26, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

FEATURE

FRENCH CONNECTION NATHAN

TAYLOR One of the worst kept secrets in rugby league was finally confirmed on Wednesday with veteran Panthers playmaker James Maloney announcing he’ll depart the NRL at season’s end to take up a threeyear offer with French club Catalans.

The 33- year- old two- time premiership winner still had one year remaining on his contract with the Panthers but was granted an early release to secure the lucrative opportunity.

Maloney said he’s excited to have his future finalised and is looking forward to playing overseas.

“It was always a goal of mine to play in the Super League and living in France was the preferred option,” he said.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity and I’m very grateful to Penrith for allowing me to take up the deal over there.

I’m excited to finish the season well.”

Maloney and his wife Jess will relocate their young family from Penrith to the south of France in the off-season. He said the chance to live and play overseas was too good to refuse.

“I’m not getting any younger and when

the opportunity arose, it was too hard to knock back,” Maloney said.

“I’m 33 now and footy doesn’t last forever. The timing was right and Jess and the kids are all really excited about the move.

“We’ve always said we’d be silly not to take the opportunity to be able to travel and play in the Super League. The lifestyle in France is a bit more family friendly than the north of England but it’s something we’ve always planned and wanted to do.”

Maloney revealed he had received a phone call from Catalans coach Steve McNamara recently, to talk about his future endeavours. Maloney said he was open and honest with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary throughout the whole process.

“I spoke to Ivan the very next day after Steve called me,” he said.

“Ivan said you can’t go on forever and if the opportunity comes it may not be there in 12 months’ time. He said he couldn’t possibly ask me to turn it down.

“I’ve got a fair bit of history with Ivan and it was easy to be up front and open about the whole process.”

While Maloney would want the ultimate fairytale finish – a third NRL Premiership – he knows there’s plenty of work to do in the meantime.

James Maloney addresses the media on Wednesday. Photo: Megan Dunn “That would be the ultimate goal but we are a long way from that at the moment,” he said.

“This announcement probably gives me a really steely focus for the remainder of

this year knowing that it is going to be my last.”

Penrith will celebrate Maloney’s decorated career at the final home game of the regular season on Sunday, September 8.

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SUNDAY, JULY 28 • 4PM | PANTHERS STADIUM | REFEREES: ASHLEY KLEIN & DAVID MUNRO

PANTHERS 1

Dylan Edwards

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Josh Mansour Dean Whare Brent Naden Brian To’o James Maloney Nathan Cleary James Tamou (c) Mitchell Kenny James Fisher-Harris Liam Martin (TBC) Frank Winterstein Isaah Yeo Wayde Egan Jarome Luai Moses Leota Reagan Campbell-Gillard Jed Cartwright

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, July 26, 2019

MATCH PREVIEW

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RAIDERS

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Reagan Campbell-Gillard grabs a try last weekend. Photo: Megan Dunn

TROY

DODDS They say confidence is contagious and if that’s true, a plague has surely broken out at Panthers HQ in recent times.

Ivan Cleary’s side continues to ride the wave of a mid-season resurgence, repeating the efforts of Anthony Griffin’s team in 2017 by winning seven straight matches at the right time of the season.

Cleary has a chance to go one better on Sunday and make it eight straight victories, an achievement only unlocked once before – in 2003, when John Lang’s Panthers went on to win the premiership.

Standing in Penrith’s way is their toughest opponent to date on this sensational run of form – Ricky Stuart’s Canberra Raiders.

Stuart has the Raiders humming along

nicely, sitting in fourth spot on the competition ladder having won 11 matches this season and with a bunch of individuals who are setting the competition alight.

Case in point – Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who joined Canberra from the Warriors this season and is almost certainly a candidate for buy of the year, with nine tries to his name this season and 75 tackle breaks. He also has the most kick return metres out of anyone in the competition, easily ahead of the likes of James Tedesco and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

And what about Josh Papalii? This 112kg giant has been one of Canberra’s best this season and has come out of the State of Origin series with a renewed focus and confidence.

Taking the form line into account, this match promises to be a closely fought affair. Both sides have played St GeorgeIllawarra in the past fortnight, with

TRIPLE M ABC 702 Penrith winning 40- 18 and the Raiders collecting a 36-14 victory.

The Panthers got the job done in spectacular fashion last Friday night, starting the game well and then taking control again when it looked likely to slip from their grasp late in the first half. The dominant second stanza was amongst Penrith’s best halves this season and sets up this clash with Canberra nicely.

While the Raiders deserve to be sitting in the top four, it’s not to say they’ve always been world beaters this season.

Prior to their victories over the Dragons and Tigers, they produced a disappointing effort in Darwin to lose to Parramatta and the week prior were far from impressive against Cronulla.

There’s no reason for Penrith to be daunted by this contest, in fact if anything they should welcome it – it’ll be a true indication of where they sit at this stage

1

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

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

Bailey Simonsson Jarrod Croker (c) Michael Oldfield Jordan Rapana Jack Wighton Aidan Sezer Josh Papalii Josh Hodgson Iosia Soliola John Bateman Elliott Whitehead Joseph Tapine Siliva Havili Emre Guler Corey Horsburgh Dunamis Lui

of the season and if they do manage to win, it will surely silence any remaining critics who have questioned the validity of Penrith’s stirring mid-season run.

The judiciary, however, hasn’t helped Penrith’s cause with the bizarre suspension of Viliame Kikau on Tuesday night.

His loss will be significant, especially given how much ball he sees during a match.

With Kikau out, Liam Martin will most likely make his return from injury, and while he may not deliver the same impact as Kikau, nobody can deny he’s held his own when given opportunities this season.

I’m tipping Canberra to start the match well on Sunday but if Penrith can keep the errors low and implement a patient game plan, they should be able to reel in the green machine.

Tip: Panthers by 4.

29

Friday, July 26, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

PANTHER RUMBLINGS

with the Masked Panther

BUY A BEANIE  This weekend is Beanie for Brain Can-

cer Round and once again the Panthers are getting behind the concept. “Beanie for Brain Cancer Round is one of the most important weeks for the community on the rugby league calendar,” said NRL CEO Todd Greenberg. “The collective support shown from the players, coaches and fans at the grounds each year is nothing short of incredible and goes a long way to finding a cure and tackling brain cancer once and for all.” Penrith players tried on the new beanies on Monday. They’ll be available to purchase at Sunday’s game between Penrith and Canberra for $25.

Jarome Luai, Mitch Kenny and Dean Whare try on the new beanies

 Penrith officials were stunned when

Viliame Kikau was found guilty of a shoulder charge at the judiciary on Tuesday night and suspended for two matches. They were very confident he’d get off. Too confident, perhaps.

 Spotted: Our recent sighting of Manly

coach Des Hasler on the streets of Penrith has been matched by news that former Sea Eagles leader Trent Barrett was in the area last week. Barrett was spotted meeting with a Penrith official at The Coffee Club.

 Spotted: Josh Mansour enjoying the

joys / struggles of parenting while catching ‘The Lion King’ at the movies.

 Dragons forward James Graham was

due to speak to guests at an Emu Plains Junior Rugby League Club function last Friday, but was a late withdrawal when it became clear he was going to be fit to play against the Panthers the same night.

Former international Gorden Tallis filled in for Graham, and did a stellar job.

 Spotted: Panthers coach Ivan Cleary

and Chairman Dave O’Neill sitting together watching the Canterbury Cup clash between Penrith and Newcastle at Panthers Stadium last Saturday.

 Spotted: Fox Sports commentator Hannah Hollis enjoying the very comfortable bench seats the Panthers have at home games (pictured).

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

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and in fact the club will have about $1 million in its kitty for recruitment next year. Expect one or two mid-level signings for the 2020 season.

Scoop confirmed: I told you in August last year that James Maloney was unlikely to play for the Panthers in 2020 and would end up in England or France.

Confirmation of his overseas move this week was no surprise at all. The third year of Maloney’s contract was always a safety net of sorts, and the original deal was finalised on the expectation that the Origin hero would head to the Super League in 2020.

 Several players helped Sam McKendry



 Spencer Leniu has re-signed with Pen-

Maloney’s departure certainly has nothing to do with salary cap pressures

celebrate his 30th birthday last weekend at a private party. Panthers captain James Tamou stepped up to lead a Haka in tribute to the big front rower, who remains unsigned for next season. rith until the end of 2021.

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Penrith captain James Tamou reflects on the 2019 season this week. Photo: Megan Dunn

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, July 26, 2019

FEATURE

HISTORY MAKERS DESPAIR TO DELIGHT: OUR INCREDIBLE TURNAROUND NATHAN

TAYLOR ‘As Low As It Gets’ graced the front cover of the May 24 edition of Extra Time after the Penrith Panthers ended the previous round dead last following their sixth consecutive defeat.

Times were tough at the foot of the Mountains 63 days ago, but not even the great Nostradamus could’ve predicted what was around the corner for Ivan Cleary’s bruised and battered men.

As the old saying goes, “rugby league is a funny game” and what would ensue would be one of the greatest winning streaks in club history.

Penrith would knock off the Eels, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Warriors, Titans, Dragons and this Sunday afternoon – in front of an expected bumper crowd at Panthers Stadium – will be aiming for

a record equalling eighth straight win against the Raiders.

A victory this weekend over an in-form Canberra side will not only rewrite history but further cement Penrith’s unlikely place in the top eight.

Speaking with Extra Time this week, Panthers captain James Tamou said he always had faith in his team despite their dire predicament two months ago.

“I knew we had a huge mountain to climb but I have always been confident with this group, even when we suffered those six losses in a row,” he said.

“I knew we had the talent and I remained positive about the group because I knew what they were capable of achieving.

“With the talent coming out of this group, the winning streak doesn’t surprise me because I see how hard they work every day at training.”

While working hard at training is one thing, Penrith are now making a real effort

on the playing field – something they were severely lacking over the first 10 rounds of the season.

“I REMAINED POSITIVE ABOUT THE GROUP BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT WE WERE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING” Tamou said effort along with the energy and enthusiasm of the team’s rookie class is producing dividends.

“A lot has changed especially effort-wise.

We knew we had to change something otherwise we would have kept on losing,” the 30-year-old said.

“The boys are working hard for each other and these young ones coming through, their enthusiastic attitude has given us a real lift. We’ve been through the hard times, so hopefully we can keep it going and good things will come.”

This Sunday’s clash against Ricky Stuart’s men will be the toughest game of Penrith’s winning run thus far. Not only did Canberra belt the Panthers 30-12 back in Round 8, but they’ll also be desperate to consolidate their spot in the top four.

“You can’t be too complacent and that’s one of the best things about Ivan, he’s always pushing us so we can never get too complacent,” Tamou said.

“I’m happy we’re winning but we’ve still got a long way to go and it doesn’t get any easier against Canberra.”

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Friday, July 26, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, July 26, 2019

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Friday, July 26, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

Panther Flashback Fla a Gus walks out on Panthers Phil Gould’s return to the Penrith Panthers in 2011 was the next chapter in the long, sometimes rocky relationship between ‘Gus’ and the club.

Whilst Gould is seen today as the man who helped save the Panthers and helped lead a remarkable turnaround at the club, back in the mid 1990s, the story was somewhat different.

As head coach, Gould had taken the Panthers to the heights of its first premiership in 1991, but had to deal with the devastating lows that would follow, including Ben Alexander’s tragic death in an horrific car accident, which all but tore the club apart.

By 1994, Gould had fallen out with Ben’s brother and club legend Greg over the family trophy business.

Once firm mates, the pair were all but torn apart by the rift, but managed to bury the hatchet in the early part of the 1994 season.

“It was personal stuff between my family and Gus,” Alexander told Rugby League Week.

“You can’t change what’s happened in the past but you have to put it behind you and get on with it.”

A much bigger story was happening behind the scenes though: Gould was preparing to quit Penrith and join the Roosters.

By mid- season, the rumours were public. Six rounds out from the end of the 1994 season, Gould announced he would join the Roosters on a three-year deal, with a two year option.

Gould would tell Rugby League Week some time later that he wanted to leave Penrith since Ben Alexander’s death in 1992.

“No one knows what I’ve been through at the club,” he said.

Indeed, Gould was young himself but was thrust into being the man to handle a squad totally devastated by the loss of one of their own.

The pressure, the challenge and the huge personal toll that

SCOREBOARD NRL

PANTHERS 40 DRAGONS 18

NSW CUP

KNIGHTS 30 PANTHERS 22

JERSEY FLEGG PANTHERS 42 KNIGHTS 12

Phil Gould in the early 1990s young Alexander’s death had on Gould was never really appreciated by the media, or the fans in the years that followed.

Whilst Gould’s move to the Roosters would be played out in the rugby league press as a major defection, truth was that whilst the media and fans may have recovered from Ben Alexander’s death, Gould and the squad hadn’t. It was time to move on, time to heal.

It is somewhat fitting that Gould would, almost two decades later, return to the Panthers to finish the job of building the club into the force it promised to be when he led them to their first grand final win in 1991. Ironic, too, that Greg Alexander is on the Board that approved his return.

Gould exited the Panthers again mid-way through 2019.

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W

D

L

B

F

A

Storm

17

15

0

2

1

453

217

2 Rabbitohs

17

12

0

5

1

386

282 +104 26

3 Roosters

17

11

0

6

1

419

287

+132 24

4 Raiders

17

11

0

6

1

359

248

+111

24

5 Sea Eagles

17 10

0

7

1

367

312

+55

22

6 Eels

17

9

0

8

1

387

376

+11

20

7 Panthers

17

9

0

8

1

279

328

-49

20

8 Knights

17

8

0

9

1

345

334

+11

18

9 Warriors

17

7

1

9

1

319

353

-34

17

CLUB

PTS

+236 32

10 Broncos

17

7

1

9

1

301

343

-42

17

11 Sharks

17

7

0

10

1

340

349

-9

16

12 W. Tigers

17

7

0

10

1

295

363

-68

16

13 Cowboys

17

7

0

10

1

285

354

-69

16

14 Dragons

17

6

0

11

1

305

405 -100 14

15 Bulldogs

17

5

0

12

1

216

392

-176

12

16 Titans

17

4

0

13

1

284

397

-113

10

Round 19

/ / / / / / / /

FACE IN THE CROWD

Thursday, July 25 7.50pm PointsBet Stadium Friday, July 26 6pm McDonald Jones Stadium Friday, July 26 7.55pm ANZ Stadium Saturday, July 27 3pm Bankwest Stadium

IS THIS YOU?

Saturday, July 27 5.30pm C Cbus Super Stadium

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.

Saturday, July 27 7.35pm AAMI Park

Sunday, July 28 2pm ANZ Stadium

Extra Time Issue Number 2019-020 PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 / troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au

Sunday, July 28 4.05pm Panthers Stadium

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

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, July 26, 2019

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Friday, July 26, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

Brought to you by

How a super signing can change everything

CLINTON MAYNARD A

fter winning just two of their first 10 matches the Panthers are now flying. They appear headed for a spot in the Finals and if their form continues, they’ll press for a spot in the top four. What’s behind the improved form? Yes the players are now gelling with their new coach, but the biggest reason for their turnaround is James Maloney.

No one knows Penrith and its history better than Phil Gould and Gus has declared Maloney probably the greatest buy in the club’s history.

Gus says it’s Maloney’s calm on- field leadership that’s allowing the team’s young stars to shine. One only has to look at the turnaround in form of the New South Wales team from Origin I to II to realise the impact Maloney has.

Gould’s praise of Jimmy Maloney raises the question, which recruits over the years have had the biggest impact on their new clubs?

In recent seasons the impact Cooper Cronk has had at the Sydney Roosters has been astonishing. Yes the club already had an exceptional playing squad but coach Trent Robinson knew he was missing

on-field leadership in pressure situations in the biggest games of the year.

Cronk brought that in spades in last year’s Grand Final, acting effectively as an on- field coach rather than a player because of his broken shoulder. They are now favourites to become the first side to go back to back since 1993.

The Roosters have a knack of buying key players, James Tedesco has taken the Roosters to a new level over the last 18 months. However perhaps the club’s most significant recruit was Brad Fittler. They secured Fittler’s signature as a result of the Super League war, he then went on to win a Premiership with the club and make four Grand Finals, however his biggest contribution was changing the culture.

It’s hard to believe for younger fans given their sustained success, but in the early ‘90s the Roosters were a basket case.

Fittler changed that and it’s a change that is still felt today.

Perhaps the greatest recruitment decision of any club of the past 20 years was the Cowboys signing Johnathan Thurston.

For years North Queensland languished at the bottom of the table. They had plenty

James Maloney is in career-best form at Penrith. Photo: Megan Dunn of local talent but had trouble enticing quality players to move to Townsville.

Thurston changed that, he took the Cowboys to the 2005 Grand Final and the 2015 Premiership. All from a player who was a fringe first grader at the Bulldogs

and went on to become one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

Thurston and Fittler proved if your club can recruit the right superstar the fortunes of your side improve dramatically for years to come.

EXTRA MINUTES  The Canberra Raiders and major spon-

sor Huawei will use their Round 23 home match against the Manly Sea Eagles to help raise awareness and funds for Deaf Australia. The Raiders launched the special jerseys they will wear in the match on Monday, which features the Deaf Australia logo and the entire Auslan Alphabet. The jerseys worn in the match will be auctioned off via www.allbids.com.au with proceeds going to Deaf Australia.

 The NRL has confirmed the three pools

which will make up the inaugural Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s Sydney 2019, to be held in Parramatta on October 18-19.

Group A will include Australia, New Zealand, PNG and USA; Group B will include England, France, Lebanon and Wales; and Group C will include Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Cook Islands. The two highestplaced teams from Group A will progress to the Semi Finals, alongside the winners of Groups B and C.

 The Sydney Roosters have announced

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the signing of Cronulla halfback Kyle Flanagan on a two-year deal. Flanagan, the son of former Sharks coach Shane, will fill the void left by the retiring Cooper Cronk. “Kyle is a crafty playmaker and an exciting young talent, whose services we are delighted to have secured,” said

Canberra Raiders players show off the jersey they’ll wear against Manly in round 23 Roosters CEO Joe Kelly. “We look forward to welcoming Kyle to the Roosters and to watching his development over the coming seasons.”



Roosters hooker Jake Friend is unlikely to be back before the Finals after suffering an arm injury against the Knights last weekend. It’s the second long-term injury Friend has suffered this season.

 It’s understood Josh Reynolds is strug-

gling to find a new club for next season, with little interest in the playmaker since he was given permission to speak to other clubs. Reynolds still has two-and-a-half years to run on his $800,000-a-season contract, which the Tigers will be forced to honour should Reynolds be unable to find an opportunity elsewhere.

 The National Rugby League’s new

introductory participation program – League Stars – officially launched on

Tuesday at events held in both Sydney and Brisbane. More than 100 children at each location took part in the newest version of rugby league that introduces kids to the basic skills of the game through regular non-contact skills sessions held both after school and in the holidays.



The ARLC will meet next Thursday to discuss Mark Coyne’s future as a Commissioner, following a highly publicised incident in Singapore.

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Friday, July 26, 2019 « the western weekender