Extra Time June 7 2024 (Round 14 - Panthers v Sea Eagles)

Moses Leota.

Photo: NRL Photos.

the finalword

Last Saturday night I walked into a time machine, and was taken back to somewhere around 2012.

Only 12,000-odd fans were at BlueBet Stadium, a huge contrast from the sell-out crowds of recent years.

The Panthers were ordinary, especially in the second half, and didn’t get the two competition points.

The atmosphere was non-existent and the crowd was half asleep.

Thankfully, the time machine can bring us back to current day pretty quickly.

But for those new Panthers fans among us, what happened last Saturday evening was pretty stock standard a decade or so ago. Those nights though always separate the real fans and the casual followers; so you do get something out of it.

There’s been plenty of harsh criticism of Penrith’s performance last Saturday, much of it from the side’s own supposedly loyal fans –

many of whom don’t grasp the concept that sport is about winning and losing.

The Panthers’ performance was poor but we all know the contributing factors behind it. Wet weather, Origin stars missing, and a halfback clearly not quite ready to have returned from injury but doing his best to guide the side around the park.

Penrith have an opportunity to make amends for what happened last Saturday when they face Manly back at BlueBet Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Beware the wounded Panther. We saw just how well the side responded to the loss to the Warriors last month, bouncing back to thrash Cronulla less than seven days later.

The Panthers could well repeat that effort on Sunday, though much of the outcome may depend on just how many Origin stars back-up from Wednesday night’s brutal encounter at Accor Stadium. All have been named.

You’d like Brian To’o and Isaah Yeo in particu-

lar to be there; the work rate of those two makes such a significant difference to the way Penrith play.

Manly have been up and down like a yo-yo this season and while they’ve dropped games to the likes of the Dragons and Eels, they have managed to claim huge scalps like Melbourne and of course the Panthers earlier this year.

The Sea Eagles have a pretty ordinary record at BlueBet Stadium, having only won five of their 18 matches at the venue since the formation of the NRL in 1998.

And a huge concern for coach Anthony Seibold would be the side’s defence. They’ve conceded 263 points so far this season, the second worst of the current top eight teams.

But that performance against Melbourne a fortnight ago remains fresh in my mind and is enough to convince me the Sea Eagles will offer a pretty decent showing on Sunday afternoon. It was a gritty win, and with the match in doubt until the final siren sounded, Seibold

would have been happy with the 80 minute performance.

You can’t read too much into Penrith’s loss to the Dragons on Saturday given the circumstances, but you’d like to see a more consistent Penrith team emerge through and after the Origin period.

Panthers fans shouldn’t be hitting the panic button, despite the desire of so many to do so. Despite all the challenges that have been thrown their way this year, the Panthers still sit in third place on the ladder and only one side has won more games than them this season. And they still boast the best defensive record in the competition.

A good performance against Manly on Sunday would put the train back on the right track heading into a clash against the struggling Knights and then another bye.

I can’t see the Panthers dropping a second straight home game.

Tip: Panthers by 12.

PANTHERS COULD SACK MAY

The contract of Penrith centre Taylan May could be terminated by the club’s Board as soon as next week.

It’s understood May, who is currently fighting domestic violence charges in court and is stood down from playing, will front the Board after being issued a show cause notice.

The show cause notice is unrelated to the current court case.

The Board is moving to sack May after a number of alleged breaches of the club’s code of conduct, which are understood to date back several years.

It appears the Board may have run

out of patience with May, despite rubber stamping a contract extension earlier this year.

A Panthers spokesperson confirmed the matter is before the Board but that no further comment would be made.

The 22-year-old will sit out the rest of the season after being banned under the NRL’s no-fault stand down rule, following his arrest and subsequent domestic violence charges last month. May has plead not guilty.

Curiously, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was due to front the media on Tuesday to discuss this Sunday’s clash with Manly at BlueBet Stadium. But the media opportunity was postponed due to a scheduling conflict.

Last week, Cleary clashed with journalists when asked about May’s case.

Taylan May arriving at Panthers training recently. Photo: Melinda Jane.

TROY DODDS

panther rumblings

PANTHER CUBS CALLED IN

! Huge moment for young Panthers: Penrith’s SG Ball squad was given an incredible opportunity last week when they were called upon to clash with the NSW Blues in an opposed session at Blue Mountains Grammar School. The Blues called the Panthers looking for a team to partake in the session, and the SG Ball boys answered the call. An incredible experience for the young Panthers.

! Edwards shattered by withdrawal: Not surprisingly, Dylan Edwards has been left heartbroken by the injury that ruled him out of State of Origin I on Wednesday night. And it’s particularly frustrating given, I’m told, Edwards believes he could have played despite the quad strain he picked up at training. Coach Michael Maguire clearly didn’t want to risk it and made the final call on Sunday morning.

! Family matters: It wasn’t the debut either of them would have wanted, but Preston Riki and Trent Toelau both achieved long-held dreams when they ran on for the Panthers at

BlueBet Stadium last Saturday night. Families of both players braved the rain to cheer on the pair in their NRL debuts. We had seen earlier in the week how much family meant to both players, with Panthers releasing emotional videos of the pair telling their families they’d been selected in first grade.

! Luai buys in: In any other setting Jarome Luai would be coordinating the playlist on a giant boom box at training. But not the NSW camp of the past week. Luai has very much bought into the leadership role he’s been handed with the Blues, and the side opted for much quieter training sessions heading into Wednesday’s series opener under the fresh approach of Michael Maguire. It was noted how well Luai spoke to the media when opportunities arose over the past week too – all good signs for the Tigers who no doubt will lean heavily on his experience next year.

! Spotted: Ivan Cleary’s wife Bec with

friends enjoying a pre-match beverage at the new Alexander’s bar inside Panthers Leagues Club last Saturday afternoon.

! Spotted: Injured halfback Nathan Cleary maintaining his presence around his teammates on game day, providing whatever inspiration he can while he’s sidelined.

! Stadium tree plan: The upcoming redevelopment of Penrith Stadium will see 11 trees removed, but the Environmental Impact Statement confirms a total of 182 new trees will be planted as part of the project.

! Spotted: Despite the wet conditions, Penrith’s tough loss and suffering an injury, Moses Leota still had plenty of time to sign autographs last Saturday.

! New stadium image: Here’s a side by side look at the huge transformation set to take place when the Western

at

is

The left image shows the view from behind the

as

is now, while the right shows what it’s expected to look like once complete in 2026.

Stand

Penrith Stadium

re-built.

Western Stand

it

Penrith’s SG Ball side with the Blues.

GARNER LOCKED IN UNTIL END OF 2026

Impressive forward Luke Garner has re-signed with Penrith until at least the end of the 2026 season.

The 28-year-old Premiership winner this week inked a fresh two-year deal with the club. He was off-contract at the end of the season.

“It means a lot to me to re-sign with the club for another two years,” Garner said.

“Ivan Cleary gave me my NRL debut back in the day and then it was special to win a Grand Final with him last year.

“To stick around here for another two years is pretty exciting. It’s great to see where this club is going and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

Since debuting for the Wests Tigers in 2018, Garner has played 97 first grade games and represented the Prime Minister’s XIII in 2022.

The back rower joined the Panthers at the start of the 2023 season and played an influential role in the club’s premiership success.

“Luke has made a positive influence to

our club both on and off the field since joining us last season,” Panthers General Manager of Rugby League Shane Elford said.

“Not only is Luke a talented and reliable footballer, but he’s also an impressive man who lives out the values we share at the Panthers.”

Elford praised Garner’s loyalty.

“We’re thrilled that he has shown his commitment to the Panthers by re-signing with the club,” he said.

Luke Garner has been impressive since joining Penrith last year. Photo: NRL Photos.

Luke Garner celebrated a Premiership last year. Photo: NRL Images.

COLE PUTS HIS HAND UP

Who will partner Nathan Cleary in the halves next year?

It’s the question Penrith fans have been asking themselves all season long as the battle for Jarome Luai’s soon-to-be vacant number six jersey rolls on.

One man hoping to score the coveted position is 20-year-old Jack Cole.

The Orange CYMS junior is the current favourite to play alongside the two-time Clive Churchill Medallist in Cleary next year after some strong performances in first grade already this season.

Speaking with Extra Time on Tuesday, Cole said he’s relishing his yearlong audition for Luai’s jumper.

“I’ve been pretty stoked to get the opportunities that I’ve been given,” he said.

“It’s obviously unfortunate Nath being injured, he’s the centrepiece of the team. But I’m really enjoying getting the exposure to the first grade team and try and earn a spot for next year.”

Cole said he’s learning as much as he can off Penrith’s three-time premiership-winning halves pairing as he competes for the much-desired role.

“I’m still learning off Nath and Romey at the moment – trying to build my game but getting some game time and experience,” he said.

“This has been a great opportunity for me to get my foot in the door but there’s a few of us that can play that position next year and we’re all competing against each other.”

One of those players also vying to play alongside Cleary next season is young gun Trent Toelau, who made his NRL debut last weekend against the Dragons at BlueBet Stadium.

“I’m really good friends with Trent, so it was good to see him get his debut,” Cole said.

“He’s a bit older than me, he has a young family but shows up every day with a good attitude and it’s good to see him get rewarded.”

Including February’s World Club Challenge in England – which was Cole’s only game alongside Cleary this season – the young playmaker has played in half a dozen games in 2024. His best game to date was against the Cronulla Sharks a fortnight ago, where he managed to score his first NRL try in Penrith’s 42-0 win.

“That was my second full game of first grade,” Cole said.

“I got a lot of confidence from the Warriors game the week before; I got a bit more involved and felt a bit more in the game.

“But the Sharks game, I felt that was one of my better performances.”

That Warriors game up in Brisbane during Magic Round will also be remem bered for another moment when it comes to Cole.

With the clock winding down and the Panthers on the brink of defeat, Cole was shown live on Fox League vomiting on the pitch after being hit in the stomach during a tackle. The two-second footage went viral, and is still doing the rounds three weeks later.

“I’ve been seeing that clip every where – a few of my mates have it as their profile picture,” Cole laughed.

“When I went to catch the ball, I got hit in the gut and it upset it. I tried to hold it in, but I couldn’t.

“Everyone got some good laughs from it. Someone’s got to be on the receiving end.”

Young Panthers half Jack Cole. Photo: NRL Photos.

NATHAN TAYLOR

MAVRIK GEYER

PEACH SETS UP LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL

Off-contract at season’s end, Panthers veteran Tyrone Peachey hasn’t made a decision on his future in the game as yet, but one thing is for certain – he doesn’t want to be digging ditches.

To avoid any manual labour on the side of a road, the 32-year-old is putting in the yard yards off the field now to make sure he is set up post-football.

From starting his own Indigenous transport business to launching his own podcast and interning at the RLPA under Clint Newton, Peachey has his fingers in many pies.

“I don’t have any qualifications outside of footy and I don’t want to be digging holes when I retire – that’s what I’m scared of – so I’m trying to dip my toe into a bit of everything and put myself in uncomfortable situations,” Peachey told Extra Time on Tuesday.

Last year, Peachey founded his own businesses called Nanima Care, which aims to be Australia’s number one Indigenous transport company. With six buses and six employees, Peachey is thrilled with the impact it is having in the community so far.

“I know there’s a lot of players that

don’t have much after football and I kind of find that inspirational in wanting to start something before I finish playing and hopefully transition straight into if I chose to retire,” he said.

“However, right now I am still playing and having Nanima Care on the side is keeping me busy off the field. I’m enjoying and loving every minute of it. Having my own business on the side… it’s pretty cool!”

When he’s not training with the Panthers, Peachey also works at the RLPA (Rugby League Players Association) in Balmain dabbling in player relations.

“I’m the little apprentice!” Peachey laughed.

“Clint Newton (RLPA CEO) has been awesome. Seeing what happens behind the scenes, it’s different to what I saw as a player coming to meetings.

“Everyone’s working really hard all day and it’s cool to see. I’m trying to put myself in different situations to see what I want to do after footy.”

Another different situation Peachey has thrust himself into of late is the wild world of podcasting. Billed as ‘laid-back chats and endless laughs’, the 209-game veteran launched the ‘Peached Podcast’ on YouTube back in April.

With his home equipped with a

state-of-the-art recording studio, Peachey said he was always keen to have an outlet where he could share his thoughts about an array of topics.

“There’s a lot of people with a podcast these days and they’re doing a great job, but I take mine down a different path,” he said.

“I suppose I see things in a different aspect and try to get my point across. I like to have a bit of a joke and some fun and that’s kind of my avenue that I want to go down.”

Peachey has already scored Daine Laurie as a guest, but he’s a little wary of involving his other teammates.

“I try and get the boys on but most of them are shy or take the mickey out of it, but I still enjoy it,” he said.

“Hopefully the podcast continues to get bigger and will be a source of revenue, so I can make a living off it.”

As for his playing future, Peachey knows he needs to have a massive second half of the season to be offered a new deal at Penrith.

“I’ve probably been a bit scattered this year. I haven’t been playing consistent footy and that probably shows on the field,” he admitted.

“I need to put everything into this backend of the year and see where I’m at. If I get to the end of the year and I’ve had enough, then I’ve had enough, but I don’t think so, I think I’ll miss the game too much.”

Tyrone Peachey runs Nanima Care, a growing transport business.

NATHAN TAYLOR

MY MID-SEASON REPORT CARD

Alot of has happened over the last seven weeks. The momentum shift into second gear has not really eventuated for the Panthers and they find themselves a little stuck between gears.

So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into the mid- season report card.

Attack: Understandably the Penrith attack has been a little disjointed at times but with multiple halves pairings since Nathan Cleary’s injury it’s hardly surprising. The highlight of the season so far has been the 42-0 shutout of the Sharks in Round 12. Still the team has managed to score 178 points since Round 6 which is not too bad, however there’s still room for improvement.

CURRENT GRADE: B

Quarter Grade: B

on league analysis Mid Season Report Card

Defence: Despite conceding 102 points since Round 6 the Panthers still have the best defensive record in the competition. To keep the high-flying Sharks to nil was quite an achievement and helped the above stat look more impressive. Unfortunately conceding 22 unanswered points against the Dragons last round showed that the defence can also be a little brittle at times but with so many senior players

missing, it’s all very understandable.

CURRENT GRADE: A Quarter Grade: B

Player performances: Dylan Edwards has again been the standout player since Round 6 and his unbelievable form was vindicated as he led the Dally M’s just before the voting went behind closed doors. Other players to shine have been Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo and Liam Henry. Yes, Henry has

taken to first grade like a duck to water and his 80-minute, 78 tackle performance against the Dragons in round 13 was the ‘piece de resistance!’

CURRENT GRADE: B+ Quarter Grade: C+

Who needs to lift: It’s pretty obvious which players are struggling to produce their top form and the reasons vary. Izack Tago is now the senior centre at the club with Taylan May not available for the rest of the

season and he has been incredibly disappointing of late. Tago really needs to lift and produce the type of form that earned him a $750,000 multi-year contract. Moses Leota has also been a little quiet of late, perhaps due to some niggling injuries while Sunia Turuva has simply forgotten where the tryline is.

Players to watch: Liam Henry and Jesse McLean. I’ve been a fan of Henry since he made his firstgrade debut last year. For a big man he has an excellent motor and he’ll only get better. I also hope Jesse McLean gets more opportunities in first grade this season, this kid is the real deal and could nail down a wing spot for 2025 with Turuva leaving the club.

Coaching: This is obviously a tough one to judge because Ivan’s record speaks for itself. By his own admission however he does make mistakes. Most of them don’t cause any major issues. Although sometimes he does seem a little distracted with events off the field, the Taylan May case being one of them. Although I don’t think that’s enough to distract him from coaching the team to the best of his ability.

OVERALL GRADE: B Quarter Grade: C+.

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.

Peter Lang has run the ruler over Penrith’s season so far.

panther memories

Shane Richardson is currently charged with turning around the fortunes of the Wests Tigers, but do you remember his time as boss of the Panthers?

Richardson’s short stint at the Panthers was rather sweet, becoming a very pivotal figure during Penrith’s premiership-winning run in 2003.

Richardson joined Penrith following their disastrous wooden spoon season in 2001.

Richardson was very hands-on, although some club insiders labelled his leadership style as “aggressive”. His motto was “Get it done and get it done now!”

Unbelievably, just eight months after Craig Gower hoisted the Provan-Summons Trophy in front of 81,000 fans at Telstra Stadium in 2003, Richardson was out the door, defecting to South Sydney.

In The Panthers: Men in Black book, Richardson explained the decision behind his shock departure.

“Roger Cowan and I never had a falling out but we had a philosophical difference. I’m football and he’s business,” he said.

“I was upfront with Roger and he was upfront with me and at the end of the day I was sad to leave, but these are the challenges you have in life.”

DRAGONS TITANS

COWBOYS BRONCOS

STORM PANTHERS BULLDOGS

DRAGONS TITANS

COWBOYS SHARKS

STORM PANTHERS EELS

TIGERS RABBITOHS

DRAGONS TITANS

DRAGONS RABBITOHS

DRAGONS RABBITOHS

DRAGONS TITANS

DRAGONS RABBITOHS

DRAGONS RABBITOHS

DRAGONS TITANS

COWBOYS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS EELS

WARRIORS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS BULLDOGS

WARRIORS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS EELS

COWBOYS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS BULLDOGS

WARRIORS BRONCOS

STORM PANTHERS BULLDOGS

COWBOYS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS BULLDOGS

COWBOYS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS BULLDOGS

DRAGONS RABBITOHS

WARRIORS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS EELS

TIGERS TITANS

BRONCOS

TIGERS RABBITOHS WARRIORS SHARKS KNIGHTS SEA EAGLES EELS

DRAGONS TITANS

DRAGONS RABBITOHS

DRAGONS TITANS

DRAGONS RABBITOHS

DRAGONS TITANS

WARRIORS BRONCOS

COWBOYS SHARKS

STORM PANTHERS BULLDOGS

PANTHERS

COWBOYS BRONCOS STORM SEA EAGLES EELS

COWBOYS BRONCOS

SEA EAGLES

TIGERS RABBITOHS

WARRIORS SHARKS KNIGHTS SEA EAGLES EELS

DRAGONS TITANS COWBOYS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS EELS

DRAGONS TITANS

COWBOYS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS EELS

TIGERS RABBITOHS WARRIORS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS EELS

TIGERS RABBITOHS WARRIORS SHARKS KNIGHTS SEA EAGLES EELS

TIGERS RABBITOHS

TIGERS RABBITOHS

COWBOYS BRONCOS KNIGHTS PANTHERS EELS

COWBOYS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS EELS

DRAGONS TITANS

COWBOYS BRONCOS STORM PANTHERS BULLDOGS

- 12 JUNE

WesternSydney GigGuid e

If you have a gig or event you would like to promote please contact Megan on 0433 241 737

trivia with gaz

7pm

watkins

Ska Fighter II: World Tour Edition – Admiral Ackbar’s Dishonourable Discharge, The Kittyhawks, Operation Ibis & The Skarntz

the ultimate luke combs tribute show

8pm

panthers vs sea eagles

oz icons

9pm

St marys leagues club

stone 9pm

castle lounge, penrith rsl

A Rose for Jade with So I Says to Mabel & Lightyears

evan theatre, panthers sun 9

8pm- $15 elton chong

7:30pm - $23.50-$25 elton chong sun 9

4:05pm Kick O bluebet stadium

lunchtime tunes

11am - 2pm

city park penrith

Alien Nation Tour: Goatzilla, Pyrefly, Mushroom Horizon & Durty Triix

6pm - $10

elton chong

TINA The Ultimate Tribute To The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Sunday, 23rd June, 3pm wed 12

evan theatre, Panthers