Extra Time April 26 2024 (Round 8 - Panthers v Cowboys)

Photo: NRL Photos.

the finalword

This Saturday’s clash between the Panthers and Cowboys in Townsville will provide some legitimate insight into where both teams sit at this stage of the season.

Penrith are tracking in a similar fashion to last year, but there’s a feeling they’ve come back to the pack a little. Just how they go on their first interstate trip since Round 1 against a side that failed to fire against the Sharks last Sunday and has some real question marks over its defence will be telling.

And North Queensland, how they respond to coach Todd Payton’s razzing in the press conference last Sunday following the capitulation to Cronulla will inform how they travel for the rest of the season. After some promising signs early, things aren’t looking so good for the Cowboys at the moment.

I thought the Panthers were solid without being brilliant against the Tigers last Saturday

in Bathurst. Importantly, they muscled up when they needed to and did enough to get the two competition points relatively comfortably in the end. Some solid work in the middle by Isaah Yeo really laid the platform for a dominant second half.

But there’s definitely plenty to work on. The return of Nathan Cleary to manage the game will be critical this weekend. As much as Jarome Luai and Brad Schneider have held the fort reasonably well during his three week absence, it can’t be denied that the Panthers have lacked direction at times without Cleary running the show.

Taylan May has also been named to return this weekend and his power game will be critical against the Cowboys. Paul Alamoti did a fine job filling in, but May certainly offers an X-factor.

There is no doubt that North Queensland’s

defence needs to improve if they are any chance of beating the Panthers on Saturday. They’re conceding an average of 27 points per game (compared to Penrith’s 15) which is just extraordinary. Such a statistic does not a top eight team make.

But we know in the NRL that bounce-back is a significant factor, especially when you get to play a home game after copping a thrashing. There would be no better cure for the Cowboys’ woes than to forget about that game against Cronulla and beat the Premiers back in Townsville on Saturday night – North Queensland’s preferred timeslot.

But after losses to both the Sharks and Eels (who are going terribly) on the trot, and their last home game being a high scoring 35-22 win over Gold Coast, perhaps this North Queensland team just doesn’t have what it takes this year.

Penrith have a chance to confirm that, and to make a statement of their own.

It was around this time last year that things really started to click for Ivan Cleary’s side after a mixed start to the year.

After losses to the Rabbitohs and Tigers, Penrith went on a five game winning streak and set up what would ultimately be a Minor Premiership and Premiership winning season. Despite some worrying signs, I’d say Cleary has his Panthers sitting just where he wants them at the moment. And to grab two wins from three without your best player on the park, is something that shouldn’t be under-valued.

I’m concerned the Cowboys may just spring an upset here, but on paper, there’s no reason Penrith shouldn’t get the job done – and if they’re switched on, they may well run away with it in the end.

Tip: Panthers by 16.

panther rumblings

! Tago’s takes a concern: Taylan May’s Instagram posts raised eyebrows recently, and there’s another Panther also skating on thin ice in terms of his social media presence. Izack Tago recently re-posted a news video that encouraged people to get the flu shot ahead of winter. He accompanied it with a clown and circus emoji and the line: “better go get my sixth booster”. Tago is 22-years-old and does not have a medical degree. His elite fitness likely ensures he wouldn’t be hit too hard by the flu. But not everyone is so lucky. It’s not the first time Tago’s Instagram posts have left people shaking their head. It’s not a good look, and it might be time Penrith took greater control over the message its players/ employees are presenting on socials given this issue seems to raise its head often. It feels like it’s only one post away from escalating into a full-blown scandal.

! May mystery: Meantime, the Panthers are adamant Taylan May didn’t miss last weekend’s clash against the Tigers as punishment for that Instagram video inside a speeding car. Despite the curious timing, club officials say he missed the game for legitimate personal reasons. May didn’t make the trip to Bathurst even as a spectator, and was spotted watching Penrith’s NSW Cup match at BlueBet Stadium instead.

! Cleary popular as ever: He may not have played in Bathurst last Saturday, but Nathan Cleary still made the trip with the squad and proved very popular among the locals. He spent plenty of time posing for photos and signing autographs.

! Spotted: photos and memorabilia

! Junior numbers soar: are registered in the Penrith Junior Rugby League District this year, smashing the previ ous record. There’s 626 teams registered this year, up from 571 last year. It shows the future is in good shape in the district.

! Tommy Talks Footy:

coach Ivan Cleary and a host of players who gave up plenty of time to speak to ‘Tommy Talks Footy’, a TikTok account run by a pas sionate Tigers fan. It was touching to see the time offered to this true fan of the game.

! Mudgee locked in: week confirmed what I’ve been saying for more than a year now – the time away from Penrith for the stadium re-build will include an extra regional game. The club will play in Mudgee for the 2025 and 2026 seasons; as well as Bathurst. The two-year Mudgee deal is unlikely to be extended, with Penrith to return to 11 home games at the new Penrith Stadium from 2027. In addition to the Mudgee and Bathurst games, it’s likely Penrith will give up a home game to Magic Round next year as well as Las Vegas, leaving just eight home match es in Sydney at CommBank Stadium.

! Forgotten show goes live: ‘100% Footy’ is a pretty good rugby league program on Nine but has been treated shabbily by the network over the years, shafted into late-night timeslots and often forgotten about. Finally, Nine has started airing the program live on 9NOW from 7.30pm on Monday nights.

! Annesley’s admission: NRL Head of Football Graham Annesley confirmed Penrith halfback Brad Schneider should have been sent to the sin bin for his foul on Justin Olam last Saturday. The incident was missed by the on-field officials and only picked up when the Tigers lodged a Captain’s Challenge. But for the Tigers to be blowing up over the lack of sin-bin is ridiculous, especially given Aiden Sezer escaped an on-field penalty for his late hit on Schneider, which was later charged by the Match Review Committee. The Tigers scored soon after – they should count them-

! Fish timing just right: It wasn’t necessarily deliberate but the timing worked out per fectly in terms of James Fish-

er-Harris’ departure being a potential distraction last week. Fisher-Harris himself fronted the media for a standard interview session on Monday, while Ivan Cleary held his press conference on Tuesday. By the time the shock Fisher-Harris announcement was made on Wednesday, Penrith’s media commitments for the week were done – allowing them to focus solely on the game. Fisher-Harris (pictured left) spoke for the first time in post-match interviews on Saturday.

! Panthers won’t overspend on Turuva: There’s no doubt the departure of James Fisher-Harris has freed up more salary cap space for Penrith in 2025 and 2026. And yes, it may even allow them to up their offer to off-contract winger Sunia Turuva. But Penrith won’t match rival clubs for fun; which means Turuva will still have a tough call to make at some stage. Stay within a winning system, or take a gamble elsewhere but for more cash.

! Spotted: Panthers legend Royce Simmons grabbing a sandwich at Percy Plunkett in Penrith last week.

at Crotty’s Bakery in Kingswood.

Izack Tago.

PENRITH’S NEW HOME AWAY FROM HOME

In a massive win for country footy, the Penrith Panthers will not take one but two games to the Central West next year.

With Penrith’s BlueBet Stadium unavailable due to a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, the Panthers and Mid-Western Regional Council announced this week that they will play an NRL Premiership match at Glen Willow Stadium in Mudgee each season over the next two years.

The new Mudgee fixture and Penrith’s annual Bathurst trip is further proof that the Panthers have a strong relationship with the Central West region, and this partnership will only

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TO’O REACHES BIG MILESTONE

He was famously told growing up that he was too small to ever play in the NRL.

Now after four Grand Final appearances, three premiership rings and 99 games and counting, Brian To’o is having the last laugh.

Sporting a fresh new haircut that everyone says makes him look younger, the 25-year-old will notch up an incredible milestone on Saturday night – 100 first-grade games.

After being handed his debut in 2019 by Ivan Cleary, the St Marys junior made an instant impact on the Panthers and hasn’t looked back since.

“It’s been a journey; it’s been a long journey –I can’t believe I’ve played 100 games especially with the one club,” To’o told Extra Time on Tuesday.

“It’s so weird… I was so young back in 2019 and fast forward five years later, I’m standing where I am now about to play 100 games.

“It makes me feel old, I feel old as now!”

While the milestone might make ‘Bizza’ feel old, he still has plenty left in the tank and he’ll be hoping to make this weekend’s clash

against the North Queensland Cowboys one to remember.

While his young family is unlikely to make the trip to Townsville for the occasion, To’o said he’s grateful he even has the chance to play a century of games.

“It’s pretty crazy just to step back and have a think about the amount of games I’ve played and to play 100 games is a massive milestone for me and the family – I can’t wait to run out with the guys,” he said.

“Most players don’t reach 50 or 20 games… it’s pretty cool to look back on those many moments and to think everything happens for a reason.

“I’m just grateful to play those 99 games with the one club.”

To’o’s milestone in the tropics will be played on the same weekend the NRL commemorates ANZAC Day. Every year the NRL does a wonderful job honouring Australia’s and New Zealand’s diggers, and this upcoming round will be no different.

“ANZAC Day is a very important day for not only us players but everyone,” To’o said.

“It’s the perfect day to represent all those amazing people that put their lives on the line to be where we are today, and it’s special we get

to honour them on and off the field. I can’t wait to play in this wonderful round and hopefully we can get the win.”

Proving he’s one of the good guys in rugby league, To’o got people talking on social media last weekend after it was revealed he performed a random act of kindness for someone doing it tough in the local area. While out getting a coffee before training last Wednesday, To’o walked past a man begging for something to eat.

“I went for a little coffee in Jordan Springs and saw and heard a man asking people for something to eat,” To’o recalled.

“I was on my way to training and I thought I’d get him whatever he wanted to eat and also have a little chat with him. He didn’t know who I was… it was just one of those strange things where I’m sure anyone would have done the same thing. It’s good to help other people and make a differ ence.”

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 season is crowned our Player of the Year.

last week’s results? Here’s a rundown of what happened in key Penrith Panthers games...

They say every cloud has a silver lining, which is just as well or the loss of James Fisher-Harris to the Warriors next year on compassionate grounds would be near impossible to see in a positive light.

Not that the man nicknamed ‘Fish’ can be replaced but it leaves the club with numerous options on how to at least try and find a positive solution.

Now let’s look at some of the positives.

One, it frees up an estimated $950,000 on the salary cap which can be utilised in many ways.

So how do you best spend the money?

Well, you can use it all and go to market and buy another topline prop to fill the position. The problem is there aren’t any props currently available on the market who are the equivalent of ‘Fish’.

that players like David Fifita and Nelson Asofa-Solomona are viable alternatives or the right fit to play for Penrith in any case.

I also can’t see the club signing a prop from the UK Super League either.

The best Penrith can hope for, as far as securing a truly topline prop, is to pick one who is still on contract with their current club but can negotiate an early release or be part of some sort of player-swap deal.

but with Zac Lomax, Addin FonuaBlake and now James Fisher-Harris all departing their respective clubs despite being signed years in advance, anything is possible.

Another option available to Penrith is to spend some of the cash made available to re-sign Sunia Turuva, Daine Laurie and even Luke Garner to long-term deals. Their combined salaries wouldn’t cover the whole $950,000, so there would still be enough money left over to buy an

going with either Brad Schnieder or Jack Cole for next season but what if Jack Cogger or even Sean O’Sullivan could be lured back from their respective clubs?

Again, this is no slight on either Schneider or Cole but the club wouldn’t be doing its due diligence if it didn’t explore all of its options.

One idea which is definitely out of the equation, is enticing back either Jarome Luai or Spencer Leniu. For one, I can’t see either the Tigers or Roosters letting them out of their

FISH SPARKS FRENZY OF RUMOURS lang on league analysis

No disrespect to Stefan Utoi kamanu from the Tigers but as talented as the young man is, he’s not in the same league as ‘Fish’ just yet.

I also doubt that he is a realistic option with the Tigers determined to keep him and there are some very complicated caveats in his contract to overcome before he becomes available in the first place.

I also find it hard to believe

James Fisher-Harris is leaving Penrith at season’s end. Photo: NRL Photos.

with Peter Lang

panther memories

As court battles continued and loyalty began to strain, May 12, 1995 would prove a significant day in rugby league history, and in the story of the Penrith Panthers footy club.

It was on that day that the Panthers declared their loyalty to Super League, in a major blow to the traditional competition.

The fallout was immediate.

Brad Fittler and Matt Sing were in Queensland on State of Origin duties, and the ARL rushed to sign them to new contracts, ending their relationships with Penrith. Both moved to the Roosters.

“We started out being loyal to the ARL, but then I developed a suspicion that they didn’t consider us part of their future,” then CEO Roger Cowan would later say.

Worried that Penrith would become collateral damage in the ongoing war, Cowan pursued Super League in an effort to secure the club’s rugby league presence.

While a court ruling prevented Super League running in 1996, rugby league was split down the middle in 1997 – with the ARL competition and the Super League competition, featuring the Panthers, running side by side. It lasted one year before the formation of the NRL in 1998.

The Panthers made the Finals in the only Super League season. Brisbane won the title.

Photographed is Jody Gall playing for Penrith in Super League in 1997.

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TITANS ROOSTERS

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Woolworths

C ambridge Gardens

Coles

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Overlander Hotel

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C ambridge Park Newsagency

Cellarbations

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Ampol Ser vice Station

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Iga Claremont Meadows

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Coles

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Silverdale

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Fish Fish

Friendly Grocer

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