Extra Time May 7 2021 by Western Sydney Publishing Group

PANTHERS V SHARKS We preview another big Friday night in Penrith

PAGE 27

MASKED PANTHER Why Penrith let Brent Naden walk away, plus a special guest at Zac Cini’s debut

PAGE 28

IVAN CLEARY POSTER Add to your collection with our special Panthers coach pin-up!

PAGES 32-33

FACE IN THE CROWD Win movie tickets if our snapper has spotted you in the crowd at BlueBet Stadium

PAGE 35

SPENCER STEPS UP LENIU READY TO TAKE CAREER TO NEXT LEVEL PAGE 29

Friday, May 7, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

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the final word

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 7, 2021

match preview

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Moses Leota powers through the Manly defence. Photo: NRL Photos.

TROY DODDS

he Sharks trade the beaches for the golden west on Friday night when they hit the M4 and head to the foot of the Mountains to tackle a Penrith outfit that continues to breeze through wins at present. Even when Manly got themselves back into the contest on the scoreboard in Bathurst last Saturday, you knew the Panthers were going to get the job done. With perhaps the best game manager in the NRL at the helm, it’s just expected now. In reality Penrith’s biggest test is just around the corner – how it navigates the difficult State of Origin period could ultimately decide whether this side is the real deal when it comes to the Premiership. You can lament the system and how it disadvantages teams at different stages, but the best of the best always manage to get through it and right the ship by September,

FRIDAY, MAY 7 | 6.00PM | BLUEBET STADIUM | REFEREE: CHRIS BUTLER and now it’s Penrith’s turn to prove they’re in that class. Before then, however, it’s business as usual. A near full strength side will run onto BlueBet Stadium on Friday night in front of what is expected to be another strong crowd despite the 6pm timeslot, enough to ensure NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet is shifting some numbers in the upcoming Budget to ensure the stadium’s upgrade is locked in. Cronulla essentially threw the 2021 season in the bin when they dumped coach John Morris in the most farcical of circumstances a few weeks back, resulting in losses to the Knights, Bulldogs and Storm, the latter a second half demolition at AAMI Park last Friday night. The Sharks will win their share of games in 2021 but the disruption caused by the Morris decision has derailed any realistic

chance of them taking out the title, or perhaps even making the Finals. Cronulla just isn’t competing for 80 minutes at the moment, a scary prospect when you consider that is one of Penrith’s most impressive traits – being switched on for the entire game, always feeling in control. It’s been a few weeks since Penrith have put the cleaners through a team and I get the feeling a complete performance is just around the corner – and it could come at Cronulla’s expense. Much of Penrith’s brilliance at the moment is coming from unexpected places and I’m not sure Cronulla can handle it. Winger Brian To’o was barely a lock for a first grade spot 12 months ago but is now a household name, defying his stature and size and absolutely tearing apart oppositions.

PANTHERS

KAYO FOX LEAGUE ABC 702 TRIPLE M

Tyrone May may be far from a fan favourite and you can certainly pick out deficiencies in his game, but he’s delivering in multiple positions at present and quietly going about the hard yards. And then there’s Isaah Yeo – one of the hardest working locks in the game with a superb tackle efficiency rate and a heart that any coach would be proud of. Cronulla just don’t have that spirit at the moment. The club is hoping that incoming coach Craig Fitzgibbon can discover it, but that’s a long way down the road. Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has named the same side that beat Manly last Saturday to face the Sharks, with Kurt Capewell under a slight injury cloud. Braden Hamlin-Uele is out for Cronulla, while Matt Moylan has been named on an extended bench. Tip: Panthers by 30.

SHARKS

1 Dylan Edwards

10 James Fisher-Harris

1 William Kennedy

2 Charlie Staines

11 Viliame Kikau

2 Mawene Hiroti

10 Aaron Woods 11 Briton Nikora

3 Stephen Crichton

12 Kurt Capewell

3 Will Chambers

12 Wade Graham (c)

4 Matt Burton

13 Isaah Yeo (c)

4 Jesse Ramien

13 Toby Rudolf

5 Brian To’o

14 Tyrone May

5 Connor Tracey

14 Braydon Trindall

6 Jarome Luai

15 Spencer Leniu

6 Shaun Johnson

15 Teig Wilton

7 Nathan Cleary (c)

16 Matt Eisenhuth

7 Chad Townsend

16 Jack Williams

8 Moses Leota

17 Liam Martin

8 Aiden Tolman

17 Billy Magoulias

9 Apisai Koroisau

18 Scott Sorenson 19 J’Maine Hopgood

9 Blayke Brailey

18 Matt Moylan 19 Josh Dugan

Friday, May 7, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

panther rumblings

WITH THE MASKED PANTHER

CLEARY FOR THE CLIVE ! Sportsbet has installed Nathan Cleary as a $7 favourite to win this year’s Clive Churchill Medal. Cameron Munster is next best as $12, followed by Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker at $13. Two other Penrith players are also in the top contenders, including Jarome Luai ($15) and James Fisher-Harris ($18). “It’s no surprise Nathan Cleary is a clear favourite. His Panthers are unbeaten after eight rounds and even at this early stage look like they are Grand Final bound,’’ said Sportsbet.com. au’s Rich Hummerston.

Panthers halfback and captain Nathan Cleary. Photo: Megan Dunn.

! Panthers forward Spencer Leniu ventured to Wollongong last Sunday to support his old team mate and friend Zac Cini, who made his debut for the Tigers against St George-Illawarra at WIN Stadium. “It was good seeing him play, I grew up with him. We played at the same junior club,” Leniu said. “My mum messaged me just before game day saying that Zac’s making his debut and I was over the moon for him. Obviously growing up together I’ve seen all the hard work he’s put in. His whole family are a bunch of legends and I can imagine how proud they were of him. I had to be there. It was pretty hard coming off a twohour trip from Bathurst and then travelling another hour and a half to Wollongong but there was no way I was going to miss it.” ! Which Panthers player and leading NRL journalist still have some unsettled beef over a cancelled photo shoot on the eve of the 2020 Grand Final? ! While most Penrith players live locally and enjoy short trips to training, the same can’t be said for suspended centre Paul Momirovski. The 24-year-old lives in Pyrmont with his family and has no plans to head west despite the long commute, which can often take more than an hour. ! The Panthers are comfortable enough with Brent Naden’s (pictured right) departure to Canterbury next season. I’m told many key figures at the club remain unconvinced that Naden has learned enough from last year’s Grand Final scandal involving cocaine, and his subsequent clubdriven suspension. It’s unlikely Naden will

find himself back in first grade at Penrith this season, unless there’s a catastrophic injury toll.

! Matt Burton took an early guilty plea this week on a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle charge stemming out of Penrith’s win over Manly last weekend. It means he’ll cop a $1,150 fine and will be free to play against Cronulla on Friday night. There’s a few people suggesting Burton was only charged to justify the bizarre decision to go back several plays and penalise the incident – which was barely worth a penalty let alone a charge. ! Greta Thunberg would be so proud of the Panthers. There’s so many car pooling

arrangements going on at Panthers HQ that the club could be the most environmentally friendly team in the NRL. It’s only increasing the impressive bond the young squad is building.

! There’s more raised eyebrows out of the Dally M judging after Steve Roach awarded Daly Cherry-Evans one point in Manly’s 28-16 loss to Penrith. Brian To’o had the most run metres in the game, two line breaks and a try but couldn’t get on the list, with Nathan Cleary grabbing three points and Liam Martin two. Cherry-Evans topped Manly’s missed tackle count with five, had a couple of errors and had little impact on the game, but was apparently the third best player on the field.

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 7, 2021

feature

LENIU CRAVES EXTRA MINUTES NATHAN TAYLOR

pencer Leniu is one of the brightest young prospects in the game, with Panthers bosses moving heaven and earth late last year just to keep him on their roster. And while fans, and even TV commentators, can’t get enough of Leniu’s barnstorming runs off the bench, his lack of minutes this year hasn’t gone unnoticed. In eight games this season, the 20-year-old has averaged just 24.8 minutes per game while fellow bench warmers Liam Martin (47 minutes per game), Matt Eisenhuth (33 minutes per game) and Tyrone May (33 minutes per game) have been enjoying significantly more game time on a weekly basis. Over the last two weeks – in wins against Newcastle and Manly – Leniu has played the least amount of minutes among his teammates with 17 and 19 minutes recorded respectively. “I’m not too sure why I’m not getting many minutes. I just go on whenever Ivan puts me on

and go off when he takes me off – I’m just rolling with the punches at the moment,” he said. Initially, injury concerns were mentioned as potential reasons for Leniu’s decreased minutes, however the Minchinbury Jets junior assures Extra Time his body is “feeling pretty good” two months in, but hinted the NRL’s new rules could be a factor. “I haven’t really been getting as much minutes as I would like but the body is feeling pretty fresh, I feel alright,” he confirmed. “My lungs aren’t feeling too well though with all the set restarts, but everything else is sweet.” Leniu shouldn’t worry too much about his lack of game time, most forwards take several years to get used to the rigours of week to week NRL footy. And while James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota are playing heavy minutes as Penrith’s starting props, they certainly weren’t doing that early in their careers. “I just have to keep on doing the extras and, whenever I have my days off, just come in and do the extra work, like getting my legs ticking over and all that sort of stuff,” Leniu said. “I enjoy working out with Moses and Fish, they are pretty hard trainers.”

Prop Spencer Leniu on Monday afternoon. Photo: Melinda Jane.

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Friday, May 7, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

Next batch of superstars is just around the corner

lang on league S

o while some teams were busy buying their way to the top, importing top talent and back-ending player deals to achieve instant success, the Panthers were building a relationship with the Central West and nurturing young talent from the age of 15 through their innovative pathways program. The next breed of superstars are on their way. Here’s just a few players to look out for. In Harold Matthews (Under 17s), there are high hopes for both five-eighth Isaiya Katoa, brother of former Panther Sione, and Jett Cleary, yes Ivan Cleary’s youngest son and Nathan’s brother. In Jersey Flegg (Under 21s) two forwards in particular are showing plenty of promise. One is lock Brad Fearnley, who has already won the 2019 SG Ball Player of the Year and recently spent six weeks during the pre-season training with Penrith’s NRL squad. There’s also another name Penrith fans will be familiar with and that’s Mavrik Geyer, a prop and son of Panthers legend Mark. After starting on the bench early in the season, Mavrik was recently promoted to a starting spot and continues to impress. While in the unbeaten reserve grade side the club has high hopes for Lindsay Smith, J’maine Hopgood, Izack Tago and Taylan May. All have a realistic chance to make their first grade debuts later in the season. There are plenty of other players who will make their mark over the next few years,

with Peter Lang

however keeping them is another matter altogether. Quite simply Penrith should be rewarded for all the hard work that goes into developing these players… but that’s a column for another day. What caught my eye last week... The fact that no one wanted to talk about allegations made by former Newcastle winger Nathan Ross that he was ‘shamed’ by then coach Nathan Brown who suggested he was ‘weak’ for not wanting to play on with a serious injury. I would have loved to have heard Brown’s side of the story. What game I’m looking forward to... The Cowboys v Broncos was once considered a highlight on the NRL calendar. Recent results have once again made this a game to watch but for all the wrong reasons. This week, it will be to see which side is slowly emerging from an 18-month form slump. How the mighty have fallen. My tips for the week... Storm, Panthers, Eels, Raiders, Titans, Broncos, Sea Eagles. The final word... I’ve never heard a more stupid idea than splitting the NRL into two conferences. It works in the NFL and in the NBA where there are 30+ teams involved. It is a moronic suggestion.

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There are high hopes for Penrith youngster Taylan May. Photo: NRL Photos.

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NEW RECRUIT PRAISES COACHES P

anthers forward Matt Eisenhuth has heaped plenty of praise on Penrith’s often unacknowledged coaching staff, who have currently guided teams to the top of the table in not one but two competitions. After eight rounds of action, the Panthers remain undefeated in both the NRL and NSW Cup – a huge feat this far into a season. Eisenhuth, who joined the Panthers this season from the Wests Tigers, said head coach Ivan Cleary and his assistants Andrew Webster and Cameron Ciraldo, as well as NSW Cup coach Peter Wallace, deserve to be celebrated. “The coaching staff here is unbelievable, from Ivan down to his two assistants and all the other performance staff,” he said. “From top to bottom they do everything they can to make sure we’re right and ready to go each week – that’s from player one to player 30 – and that’s shown in our performances from our NSW Cup team as well.” Along with sitting on top and undefeated, Penrith also hold the best ‘for’ and ‘against’ in both competitions. Eisenhuth said players buying into a coaching philosophy is hugely important for overall success.

Matt Eisenhuth has fit in like a glove at Penrith. Photo: NRL Photos.

“It’s the playing group as well buying into that and wanting to get better every week,” he said. “Even though both sides are winning, there’s always areas for improvement. It’s a pretty hard-working group of blokes.”

Since Eisenhuth joined the Panthers in the off-season, he hasn’t missed a game with his new teammates. Ever reliable off the interchange bench, the 28-year-old is running close to 100m per game and enjoying a tackle efficiency rate of 93.2 per cent.

Eisenhuth said he pinches himself every day that he gets to be part of such a successful club. “That’s footy… it’s just worked out in my favour, I guess,” he said. “I’m happy with the time I spent at my previous club but I’m enjoying my time here at Penrith and enjoying each week for what it is. “I’m not getting too far ahead of myself, and that’s the same as the team. It’s week by week, we’re just enjoying the ride.” Penrith will look to continue their recordbreaking winning run when they aim for nine straight victories when they take on Cronulla this evening at BlueBet Stadium. While the Panthers are flying high in 2021, the Sharks are currently on a four-game losing skid. The odds might be very much in Penrith’s favour for tonight’s clash, but Eisenhuth believe the Sharks still pose a huge threat. “You don’t expect any win in the NRL to be easy, but I guess when we’re going as well as we have been, teams that are coming to verse you are going to bring their best to try and knock you off,” he said. “That’s why we’ve got to respect every team that we’re playing. We know they are going to come out and be ready for us. I’m expecting nothing but a good performance from them.”

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 7, 2021

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Friday, May 7, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 7, 2021

joel caine W

e’re now a third of the way through the season and injury tolls are starting to mount throughout the

league. Week by week, we’re seeing team lists released with big names missing across various positions. Some clubs have been hit particularly hard in key areas, so it got me thinking. What if NRL clubs had a $350,000 allowance to spend to poach a player from another club, and who exactly would they target at this stage of the season? Obviously, the teams outside the eight would be most desperate for reinforcements. So, looking at those sides, here’s who I’d target with my hypothetical $350k cheque. The Bulldogs sit bottom of the table and desperately need a dummy-half. I think the Cowboys’ Jake Granville would walk into a starting spot having been relegated to a bench role in Townsville recently. The Broncos need some punch from their outside backs, and the Storm’s Brenko Lee could help add depth in that position. For the Tigers, Michael Maguire would love to be able to raid the Super League and pick up a ball-playing half in Gareth Widdop.

Cronulla also need another outside back, and Braiden Burns could make the move for a starting role after finding himself down the pecking order at Souths. North Queensland have already signed Tom Dearden for next year, he’d love to get up there early to escape his current reserve-grade status at Red Hill. The Knights are sorely missing Mitchell Pearce in the halves and the Storm’s Nicho Hynes has been open in his desire for a starting role. He could make the six jersey his own in Newcastle and move closer to home on the Central Coast. Manly would also love a dummy-half and now that Api Koroisau is back at Penrith, Mitch Kenny could walk into a nine jersey at Brookvale. The Raiders need a ball-playing fullback particularly with the rumours of homesickness surrounding George Williams, and Scott Drinkwater could return to a number one jersey under Ricky Stuart. Obviously top eight sides would also like some reinforcements, but the NRL would need to let the bottom pack have the first pick of the bunch. We’ll have a look at which recruits could make a difference in the Finals next week.

Jake Granville could do with a change of scenery says Joel Caine. Photo: NRL Photos.

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Friday, May 7, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

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202

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Thursday, May 6 7.50pm Stadium Australia

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Friday, May 7 7.55pm Bankwest Stadium

Saturday, May 8 3.00pm McDonalds Park

Saturday, May 8 5.30pm Campbelltown Stadium

Saturday, May 8 7.35pm QLD Country Bank Stadium

Sunday, May 9 2.00pm Lottoland

Sunday, May 9 4.05pm Kogarah Oval

Face In Th e Crowd

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 7, 2021

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matt russell H

ow good is bush footy! In some parts sadly, it’s how good WAS bush footy! I have wonderful memories of starting my sports media career in Orange, part of which involved covering vibrant Group 10 and Group 11 competitions. So, it’s a joyful trip down memory lane when I get to go back with Fox League, like I did to Bathurst last weekend. Penrith, to their credit, have been taking games to Carrington Park since 2014. Panthers have the old Bathurst Penguins Leagues Club in town and naming rights to a Bathurst Group 10 team. Sadly, it’s only a six-team competition now – two from Bathurst and Orange, plus Lithgow Workies and Mudgee Dragons. Gone are Cowra, Blayney, Oberon and more. I remember covering Group 10 Grand Finals at King George Oval, Blayney, where the town would empty for the games and the pubs would fill afterwards. I remember Bert Gordon flying down a sideline in front of an enormous crowd for Grand Final glory with Cowra. I remember Oberon’s stubborn efforts to repeat their complete domination of the 1960s. Rugby League in the country needs help. Look at the shrinking competition sizes and you’ll see it. Speak to the administrators trying to make ends meet and you’ll hear it. Think about all the sporting and entertain-

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 7, 2021

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Why we can’t let bush footy die

The special scenes at Carrington Park in Bathurst last weekend. Photo: NRL Photos.

ment options to prospective players these days and you can imagine it. The fix is complicated. Reduced costs – definitely. More Friday and Saturday footy – perhaps. Better sideline and crowd behaviour – probably. More ex first-graders like Daniel Mortimer at Orange CYMS giving back – great. NRL clubs adopting country regions – why not. Better promotion, pathways and policy – yes, yes, yes! Bush footy – for want of a better term – has a friend in current ARLC Chair Peter V’landys. I’ve seen text messages from him

to others regarding the state of the game and what’s needed. He’s here to help. The $1.5 million announced recently is just the start. He plans to make sure the NRL clubs and broadcasters are also involved. This year, NRL games will be held in Mudgee, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour and Tamworth. I can’t wait to go out in Wagga Wagga on Friday and talk footy with fans – about how desperate Canberra and Newcastle will be. About what’s going on in Group 9. About plans to merge Groups 10 and 11.

I can’t wait to see a bumper crowd at McDonalds Park on Saturday and watch Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach take 1000 selfies with fans. There is talk of taking 16 games to country areas next season. Good! It’s a great step. The games have been sold out and with good reason. What thrill for Dubbo to get Souths against Penrith in a few weeks. Imagine the countless benefits the code will get from that. Ah, how good is bush footy!

extra minutes

" ƃW " # Trent Merrin his partner and son last Sunday. Photo: NRL Photos.

! The career of Brett Morris appears to be over after the Roosters confirmed he suffered an ACL injury in the win over Newcastle last Saturday night. The emotional scenes in the dressing room with Morris and his brother Josh after the game were difficult to watch as the 34-year-old realised his impressive NRL career was at an end.

! South Sydney have been rocked by a sudden injury crisis with Adam Reynolds, Cameron Murray, Campbell Graham and Jaxson Paulo all sidelined for an extended period. ! Gold Coast have lost winger Corey Thompson for the next two months after confirmation surgery is required on a syndesmosis injury.

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Brett Morris in pain. Photo: NRL Photos.

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! St George-Illawarra fans were given the opportunity to farewell forward Trent Merrin at WIN Stadium on Sunday. Merrin announced his sudden retirement from the game last month. The 31-year-old and his family were special guests at the game against the Tigers, with fans given the opportunity to say goodbye to the 2010 premiership winner.

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Friday, May 7, 2021 « the western weekender