Extra Time May 3 2019 by Western Sydney Publishing Group

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ROAD TRIP PANTHERS HEAD TO WAGGA TO FACE R AIDERS MASKED PANTHER > P32 Maloney slays Buzz plus a huge rumour about Tyrone Peachey

FISH IN FORM > P33 James Fisher-Harris opens up about his dynamite start to the season

CLINTON MAYNARD > P39 The rocky future facing the friendless ANZ Stadium

Friday, May 3, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

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THE FINAL WORD

SATURDAY, MAY 4 • 3.00PM | MCDONALDS PARK | REFEREES: GRANT ATKINS & DAVID MUNRO

PANTHERS 1

Caleb Aekins

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

Josh Mansour Dallin Watene-Zelezniak Waqa Blake Malakai Watene-Zelezniak James Maloney Nathan Cleary James Tamou (c) Wayde Egan Tim Grant Viliame Kikau Isaah Yeo James Fisher-Harris Sione Katoa Liam Martin Moses Leota Regan Campbell-Gillard Jarome Luai 19 Kaide Ellis

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 3, 2019

MATCH PREVIEW

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Reagan Campbell-Gillard in action against Souths. Photo: Melinda Jane

TROY

DODDS At the end of this preview, you’ll note that I’ve once again tipped the Penrith Panthers to win. And no, it’s not because I’ve allowed the heart to overrule the head or have looked at the NRL ladder upside down, it’s genuine belief that Ivan Cleary’s men are on the verge of turning things around. I believe this weekend could be the start of the 2019 competition working itself out. There were hints of it last weekend – Canberra showed glimpses of their inconsistent form from recent years, Parramatta were exposed by the Knights and the Broncos found themselves back firmly in the winners’ circle. There are seven clubs that have only won two matches this season and if you

don’t believe that a few of those teams will play Finals football at the end of the year, then you’re essentially arguing that the top eight is all but locked and loaded, with only ninth placed Cronulla (currently on three wins) a chance of sneaking in. Rugby league fans have a tendency to judge their teams in March or April when in reality the competition is only just getting warmed up. There are teams in the top eight who won’t be there come September and others on just two wins right now who will be fighting for the ultimate prize. Now it’s up to Penrith to ensure they are one of those teams. The Panthers produced probably their best performance of the season last Friday night and while they didn’t get the chocolates in the end, it wasn’t through lack of effort. Had a few 50/50 calls gone Penrith’s way, the result may have been entirely

TRIPLE M ABC 702 different and the side walked off the park surely feeling like they were edging closer to their best form. Saturday’s trip to Wagga to play fourth placed Canberra is no easy task, but the neutral venue will add to Penrith’s chances, with GIO Stadium not a factor and the Viking Clap most likely downgraded to a soft applause. Canberra’s form has been strong to start the season but against Manly last Sunday they fell into some old habits, and despite holding a 12- 0 lead early in the game weren’t able to capitalise on what they’d built. Even with Daly Cherry-Evans off the field, Manly managed to wrestle momentum from the Raiders and Ricky Stuart’s side never got it back. For Penrith this weekend, being on top early is critical. While the Raiders have plenty of points in them and can certainly put back to back tries on the board quickly,

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

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

Nick Cotric Jarrod Croker (c) Joseph Leilua Bailey Simonsson Jack Wighton Sam Williams Josh Papalii Josh Hodgson Dunamis Lui John Bateman Elliott Whitehead Ryan Sutton Siliva Havili Hudson Young Iosia Soliola Corey Horsburgh

they often get frustrated into silly errors when things don’t go their way and can be squeezed out of matches purely by the enthusiasm and structure of their opposition. It sounds simple, but the more Penrith can starve the Raiders of possession the better. Kick to the corners, force scrum feeds, earn repeat sets. When Canberra does have the footy, the Panthers will need to be tight – especially in the middle where the Raiders have dominated many sides this season. Penrith will of course send much of their attack down the left, hoping Viliame Kikau can spark points. I’m confident the Panthers are on the verge of some strong form that will result in some crucial wins, but nobody can deny that time is running out. It’s time to stand up and deliver – right across the park. Tip: Panthers by 10

Friday, May 3, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

PANTHER RUMBLINGS

with the Masked Panther

BURNING BUZZ  Penrith five-eighth James Maloney

has shamed Daily Telegraph reporter Phil Rothfield on Twitter, forcing ‘Buzz’ into a two-day social media hiatus and into an embarrassing backdown. It came after Rothfield used his ‘What’s The Buzz’ column last weekend to claim Maloney was not happy about being dumped as Penrith captain and was likely to quit the club at the end of the season. Maloney hit back, saying: “If u wanna write an article Phil feel free to pick up the phone and call me like every other journalist does before making up blatant lies”. Maloney said any suggestion he was unhappy about losing the captaincy was “bull***t”. On ‘NRL 360’, Rothfield tried to backtrack on his original comments and later phoned Maloney to clear the air.

everybody could fit on the flight – the club’s media manager Evan Sieff and photographer Jeff Lambert have been assigned a lengthy road trip. We hope somebody has organised the snacks.

 Former Panthers captain Peter Wallace

appears to be having a tough time staying off the field. Now one of the club’s trainers, Wallace has been fined several times by the NRL for being on the field too long or at the wrong time during matches.

 As I reported a couple of weeks ago,

Nathan Cleary remains the top contender for the Blues’ halfback spot for this year’s Origin series, despite his questionable form this season. Blues coach Brad Fittler last weekend confirmed that Cleary and James Maloney remain the front-runners for the halves spots, but admitted he wanted to see some sharp improvement from both. I’m told Maloney is still the most likely of the duo to miss out, with Fittler believing Cleary will be his longterm number 7.

 There’s a big rumour doing the rounds

at the moment about Tyrone Peachey wanting to return to Penrith. Peachey wanted to stay at the Panthers beyond last season but in the end stuck by his word to join the Gold Coast Titans on a lucrative deal. With Ivan Cleary back at the helm and Phil Gould now out of the picture, Peachey’s return to the foot of the Mountains would not be totally out of the question.

 Talking of player movements, I’d

expect Dylan Edwards to be playing NRL elsewhere by the end of the season. With Caleb Aekins coming into the Penrith side last weekend, it would appear Edwards is suddenly the club’s third choice fullback and now faces a tough road back into first grade.

 Talking of Gould, it didn’t take him

long to clear out his office at Panthers after his sudden departure last week. That’s mainly because he didn’t have an office, or even a desk for that matter. Gould did all his work on his trusty mobile phone.

 Phil Gould is adamant that the club is

in good hands despite his exit. In his column for The Sun-Herald, Gus said: “Our current board of directors are an amazing group of men: all true Penrith people, all tremendously successful in their own right, now lending their passion and expertise to the Panthers. The club is in very good hands. These people, led by Chairman Dave O’Neill and Panthers Group Chief Executive Brian Fletcher, will guide Panthers towards what I’m sure will be a long and prosperous future.”

 Spotted: Panthers captain James Ta-

mou grabbing a pizza and a can of Sunkist at Glenmore Park Domino’s last Saturday night.

James Maloney’s message to Phil Rothfield

 Spotted: Former Panthers halfback



Security at Panthers Stadium had to deal with an unusual situation last Friday night when a fan smuggled a pet poodle into the ground in her handbag. Word is the dog doesn’t like being left alone and the die-hard supporter didn’t want to miss the crucial clash against the Rabbitohs, so she brought the pet along with her. After a brief discussion, the fan was escorted out of the ground.

 The Panthers opted to fly to Wagga for

Phil Gould

 Ivan Cleary insists he had no issue with

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Gould, but something’s certainly happened in the past week or so to brighten up the coach. His two most recent press conferences have been more lively and open than anything he’s done this year.

Saturday’s game against Canberra instead of endure a five hour bus trip. But not

Jamie Soward switching codes and enjoying the hospitality at the Western Sydney Wanderers’ awards night on Tuesday.

 There was an unusual situation when

Tyrone May faced court in Penrith on Wednesday morning. The magistrate assigned to the case, Geoff Hiatt, has removed himself from future involvement with the matter. Mr Hiatt is the son of John Hiatt, a retired magistrate who spent many years on the Panthers’ Board.

 Hooker Sione Katoa submitted an

early guilty plea to a ‘Dangerous Contact’ charge from last weekend’s game against Souths. He won’t miss any game time.

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 3, 2019

FEATURE

FISH IN FORM: BEST ON FIELD NATHAN

TAYLOR While the Panthers have copped a fair bit of warranted criticism to start the year, one player that should be excluded from the wrath of fans is Penrith’s own raging bull James Fisher-Harris. Now in his fourth year of first grade, the 23- year- old has been Penrith’s standout forward – if not player – in the opening seven rounds. Not only is he leading the club in tackles made and decoy runs but he’s also Penrith’s equal leading try scorer with two – not bad for a forward who only scored five tries in his three seasons prior. Speaking with Extra Time on Monday, Fisher-Harris said he made it his mission in the pre- season to improve all areas of his game. “Ivan and I had a talk in the pre-season about getting better in pretty much all aspects,” he said. “I’m just trying to do my thing out there,

just trying to step up and get better each year. I feel I’m still learning every week but I’m getting more confident and the body is feeling good.” While the New Zealand product is leading the way for his side, things aren’t quite going Penrith’s way this season – dropping their third straight game last Friday night. Fisher- Harris labelled the season so far “frustrating”, however he can see the light at the end of the tunnel. “I reckon we are getting better and better each week but we’re still not getting the win,” he said. “I feel we’ve been getting closer these last three weeks, it’s just one last pass or something like that. It’s frustrating but that’s footy. It’s good that it’s early and we still have time.” The Panthers returned to training on Monday, looking to build on what has been a relatively strong few weeks despite not collecting any competition points. They’ll face a rejuvenated Canberra Raiders side this Saturday afternoon, who will be looking to bounce back following a

James Fisher-Harris in action against Souths last week. Photo: Melinda Jane surprise loss to the Manly Sea Eagles last weekend. Fisher-Harris said there’s no doubt that Ricky Stuart’s side will be dangerous. “Canberra have some good players and made some purchases,” Fisher- Harris said.

“Their English boys have been pretty good for them and they’ve always been a dangerous team.” The match between the Panthers and Canberra will be played at McDonalds Park in Wagga this Saturday afternoon from 3pm.

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Friday, May 3, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

FEATURE Caleb Aekins. Photo: Melinda Jane

SURPRISE STAR AEKINS MAKES THE MOST OF NRL OPPORTUNITY NATHAN

TAYLOR

When Caleb Aekins moved from the Northland region of New Zealand to the suburbs of Penrith as a teenager back in 2016, he never envisioned his career going further than the now defunct National Youth Competition (NYC). Staying with Shane Elford and his family in the famed ‘Panther House’ in Cranebrook, Aekins was just one of several young kids living a long way from home, dreaming of a career in rugby league. “When I came over as a 17-year-old, I was just happy to play U20s. I thought if that’s how far my career goes, I’ll be able to go back home and tell all my friends that I played U20s,” Aekins told Extra Time. “I came over as a centre but moved to fullback in my last year of the NYC. I then got offered a development contract to

train with the first grade side and midway through last year I had a few more years added to my deal.” Aekins’ sheer talent and ability saw his career extend further than the Holden Cup when he made his surprise NRL debut back in July 2018. His debut match against Cronulla made headlines across the league after the then 20-year-old ran for a record-breaking 303 metres – the most by any player on debut in NRL history. Last Friday Aekins made his longawaited return to the NRL and he didn’t disappoint. With Dylan Edwards out of favour and Dean Whare injured, a backline reshuffle saw Dallin Watene-Zelezniak switch from fullback to centre, with Aekins the new number one. “I was very happy to get the call-up again to play and just to be in the NRL environment again was awesome,” Aekins said. “I was very surprised to get picked, it

“I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO GET PICKED, IT WAS VERY UNEXPECTED BUT WELCOMED”

was very unexpected but welcomed. I was hoping I’d break my way in somehow, but I didn’t think it would be so early.” Despite Penrith losing to South Sydney in a thriller, Aekins enjoyed a strong second outing in the top grade – notching up an impressive 224 metres. He’s once again been selected at fullback for this weekend’s season defining game against the Canberra Raiders. Aekins said he’s receiving plenty of feedback from his fellow teammates and coach Ivan Cleary leading into the match. “Ivan just tells me to play my game and back myself. If I see an opportunity I should take it, just like I would in the lower grades,” he said. “My teammates have been similar; Jimmy Maloney and Nathan Cleary help me out a lot. Everyone has the same message – just play your game, do what you do and keep it simple.” Aekins is signed until the end of 2020.

Panthers missing an x-factor

WARREN SMITH T

wo wins from seven games, with only the For and Against points differential stopping them from being on the very bottom of the ladder, is not what was expected of the Panthers when the various premiership contenders were being scrutinised back in February. Ivan Cleary had returned to finish the job he began in 2012 and the talented roster at his disposal looked ready to realise the potential they’d shown over a number of seasons. But instead of announcing themselves as a legitimate premiership prospect over the opening two months of the season, the Panthers have stumbled out of the gates and lurched from one off-field distraction to the next. Throw in a pre- season injury to one of the game’s most damaging forwards, Viliame Kikau, and you can find a number of reasons as to why Penrith is behind the eight ball before we reach Round 8. You can suggest all the above in explaining how the Panthers are 14th on the ladder, but there’s something more than just injuries and front office chess games

Under pressure: Penrith coach Ivan Cleary. Photo: Melinda Jane that has the club in this very difficult predicament. There’s something missing – an x-factor that won the day in so many games over

the past two seasons – that just isn’t there at the moment. It was tough for the team to overcome the loss of Matt Moylan in 2018, and

while James Maloney did a great job in giving the attack direction, if you throw in the added loss of Tyrone Peachey for 2019 there’s suddenly a sizable portion of unpredictability that the Panthers can no longer call on. It’s impossible to teach what Moylan and Peachey are able to do when they decide to back themselves, and it’s that burst of brilliance that seems to be missing in the first half of the season. Sure, James Maloney and Nathan Cleary can reel off the set plays and second-man options with the best of them, but with the defence of most teams so well-drilled, it’s hard to crack the line unless you can bring a little bit of something other than the meat- and- potatoes attacking sets we see teams run through time and again. Kikau, with his ability to burst through brick walls on the left- hand- side of the field, can’t be the lone way of finding the tryline if the Panthers are to be a serious title contender. They need to find the sort of x- factor that Moylan and Peachey provided the team, and fast, before the competition big guns disappear over the horizon.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 3, 2019

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Friday, May 3, 2019 Â« the western weekender

Why rugby league must abandon ANZ Stadium

CLINTON MAYNARD A

NZ Stadium, the home of the 2000 Olympics, has been the venue for some of the greatest achievements in Australian sporting history. Cathy Freeman’s gold in the 400 at the Sydney Games, Penrith’s amazing 2003 NRL Grand Final victory and the Socceroos’ 2006 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay are particularly fond memories. However, the end has arrived for ANZ Stadium when it comes to NRL club matches. The NRL needs to insist clubs no longer play regular season matches at the stadium, it is causing too much embarrassment for the game. 6,711 fans turned up to watch Canterbury play North Queensland last week. 6,711 in a stadium that holds 85,000! Yes the 6pm Friday night timeslot is not popular and the Bulldogs were playing an out of town team, however just days after the magnificent Western Sydney Stadium was opened in Parramatta, a crowd of 6,711 is beyond acceptable. The ground has never been suitable for rectangular sport.

Empty seats at ANZ Stadium have become a common sight. Photo: Megan Dunn

No seat feels close to the action. Even high priced seats on the sideline feel miles away from the players. The atmosphere is nonexistent in almost all games outside State of Origin and Grand Finals, and even then fans can hardly see the action. Parramatta’s Western Sydney Stadium sets a new benchmark and is proof the State Government needs to do more than just renovate ANZ Stadium, it needs to be demolished. If the Sydney Football Stadium wasn’t good enough, ANZ certainly isn’t. So far details of a new look ANZ Stadium are sketchy and even when it is renovated it will still be far too big. Time for NRL clubs to leave Olympic Park for big events and go back to grounds fans actually want to attend. 6,711 fans turning out last Friday night proves it. ANZ Stadium has served rugby league very well, but it is time to part ways, at least for the regular club competition. Should clubs walk away from ANZ Stadium? Send your thoughts to news@ westernweekender.com.au.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 3, 2019

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Friday, May 3, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

NRL LADDER AND FIXTURES PD

+/-

PTS

181

112

+69

2 Storm

145

+60

3 Rabbitohs

164

115

+49

4 Raiders

143

+53

5 Eels

163

125

+38

6 Sea Eagles

143

120

+23

7 W. Tigers

128

124

8 Dragons

130

128

9 Sharks

128

139

-11

CLUB

Roosters

10 Broncos

136

147

-11

11 Knights

110

132

-22

12 Warriors

130

154

-24

13 Titans

118

163

-45

14 Panthers

101

150

-49

15 Cowboys

103

165

-62

16 Bulldogs

168

-74

Round 8

/ / / / / / / /

FACE IN THE CROWD

Thursday, May 2 7.50pm ANZ Stadium Friday, May 3 6.00pm 1300SMILES Stadium Friday, May 3 7.55pm PointsBet Stadium Saturday, May 4 3.00pm McDonalds Park Saturday, May 4 5.30pm Lottoland Saturday, May 4 7.35pm Sydney Cricket Ground Sunday, May 5 2.00pm Mt Smart Stadium Sunday, May 5 4.05pm Western Sydney Stadium

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 2019-008 PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 / troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Taylor / Clinton Maynard / Warren Smith SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi / 4722 2998 chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au

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Picture tells a thousand words With clubs fighting for survival in the NRL’s planned 14 team competition for the year 2000, there was plenty of focus on Penrith and its future. Merger talks with Parramatta took place, and it seemed that the Panthers’ chances of being included in the new competition were somewhat shaky. With the battle for survival on, the gloves were well and truly off – and during this period, a bitter war with the Sydney Roosters would erupt. Penrith believed that some clubs were claiming higher crowds than were actually at matches – a major issue given crowd numbers were part of the criteria that would help decide the 14 teams for 2000. During this period, Roosters boss Nick Politis called Penrith a “club in crisis”, words that would spark a major drama and scandal in the game. An angry Panthers boss Roger Cowan dispatched photographer Neil Billington to opposition grounds to photograph attendances. It was a covert operation designed to expose the flaw of the NRL’s criteria and its crowd component. When Billington was sent to the Sydney Football Stadium to photograph a Roosters game, stunning revelations were made.

Billington took photographs at specific times during the game and handed them over to a “counting cross- functional team” who, using magnifying glasses, counted every single person in every bay of the ground. The tally the team came up with was compared to the crowd figures submitted by the Roosters to the NRL, and there significant discrepancies. The Panthers leaked the findings to the major papers, and the story – even before the days of Twitter and Facebook – went viral. It became the biggest story in the game for days, if not weeks. Roosters marketing boss Richard Fisk fumbled and bumbled his way through an explanation – trying to claim that everyone must have been in corporate boxes or in the toilet when the photographer was snapping away. But then came the smoking gun – Billington had photographed a woman at the Roosters’ turnstile popping the same entry ticket in and out of the turnstile. The game was up. There’s many reasons why Penrith survived the 2000 cull and others didn’t – but the episode of Billington’s photos and Penrith’s shrewd detective work proved how fickle the criteria was and how it could be exploited.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 3, 2019

Panther Flashback

SCOREBOARD NRL

PANTHERS 22 SOUTHS 18

NSW CUP

PANTHERS 20 SOUTHS 18

JERSEY FLEGG The Telegraph exposed the Roosters Had Penrith been excluded from the competition in 2000, they would not have enjoyed the same public support of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, which included street marches the like of which Sydney had never seen. But emotion means very little in a court room – who knows just how important Billington’s photos could have become. As it turned out, Penrith survived the cut and while Souths were excluded from the 2000 competition, they eventually returned after a long and complicated court process.

PANTHERS 42 SOUTHS 0

BEHIND THE PANTHERS

Jeremy Tuite

Head of Sponsorship and Membership HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR PANTHERS? Four years.

WHO IS YOUR FUNNIEST COLLEAGUE AT PANTHERS? Joseph Dunn. For the past two years he has forgotten his wallet every time we go for lunch!

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WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING FOR PANTHERS? The opportunity the club gives its junior staff and players.

Friday, May 3, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

EXTRA MINUTES  Cronulla’s injury crisis has worsened

0.3 per cent bump to a 4.1 per cent share while over at the ABC, where Andrew Moore leads the NRL coverage, a 0.1 per cent boost helped them to a 7.4 per cent share of the market.

with multi-million dollar recruit Shaun Johnson to miss a month of football with a torn hamstring. Johnson, who joined the Sharks from the Warriors this season, picked up the injury during last Saturday’s loss to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

 Still on radio, two stations came out of Tuesday’s ratings survey a little concerned. Macquarie Sports Radio is still struggling to find its place in the market, while Triple M is having difficulty trying to match the glory days of the NRLfocused Grill Team at breakfast and Dan Ginnane’s Rush Hour in the evening.

 The NRL’s Graham Annesley says a

controversial penalty awarded to Melbourne late in last week’s game against the Warriors, which allowed them to level the scores and eventually go on and win, should not have been awarded. However, Annesley defended the referees and said they had to make a difficult split second decision.

 It’s been denied by Queensland coach

 Brisbane’s Kodi Nikorima may have

played his last game for the club. The halfback is being chased by the New Zealand Warriors and it’s understood the Kiwi club has tabled a mouthwatering offer for his services. There has been some suggestions that Nikorima has already farewelled his Brisbane teammates.

 Betting agencies seem to think it’s

a three horse race for the premiership this season. SportsBet has the Sydney Roosters at the short odds of $3.20 to go

2GB’s Continuous Call Team continues to dominate the radio ratings back to back and win this year’s title, with Melbourne at $5.00 and the Rabbitohs at $6.00. It’s a huge gap back to the Brisbane Broncos who despite struggling for form this season are equal fourth favourite at $15.00, alongside Canberra and St GeorgeIllawarra.



The return of the NRL gave 2GB, the ABC and Triple M a boost in the latest radio ratings. 2GB’s weekend programming went up 0.8 per cent to a 14.5 per cent share of the market, with the Continuous Call Team continuing to dominate the available audience. Triple M had a slight

YOU KNOW THE YOU KNOW THE

SHOW YOU

Kevin Walters, but speculation is mounting that Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith could come out of representative retirement to play for the Maroons this year. Queensland has serious injury concerns and may send the SOS out to Smith, especially now that Daly CherryEvans, who had ankle surgery this week, has joined the injury list.

 The Bulldogs have moved quickly to

lock up the services of Jayden Okunbor by extending the contract of the big winger by a further two years, keeping him at Belmore until the end of the 2021 season.

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 3, 2019

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Friday, May 3, 2019 Â« the western weekender