Extra Time September 8 2023 (Finals Week 1)

quest for glory

EIGHT CLUBS ARE LEFT IN THE RACE FOR THE TROPHY WHO WILL WIN IT ALL? FULL FINALS COVERAGE INSIDE

MASKED PANTHER

SEE PAGE 46

PETER LANG

SEE PAGE 47

WARREN SMITH

SEE PAGE 48

nrl ladder & fixtures

Congrats on the Minor Premiership!

NAME: JESSICA TREVETHAN AGE: 23 SUBURB: PENRITH the western weekender • extra time » 40 Friday, September 8, 2023

2022 WW52080

face in the crowd CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CELEBRITY TIPPING COMP WINNER: KEITH WILSON FROM IRRESISTIBLE POOLS & SPAS here ’ s cheers Seasons as a Pantherette? Three. Favourite food? Spinach Cob Loaf. Favourite TV show? Honestly it changes all the time but at the moment I’m watching ‘Supernatural’. Favourite Panthers player? James Fisher-Harris. Must-follow social media account? @mesciatwinsoffical. What do you love about being a

Pantherette? I love everything about being a Pantherette, the girls, the dancing, the atmosphere, the field and the Panthers fans. Go-to pump up song? ‘Pump It Up’, Endor. If you were stranded on a desert island, who are you bringing with you and why? My dog Molly because I honestly don’t think I could live without her.

the final word v

The Finals have arrived and it feels like Penrith have been waiting weeks, if not months, for this Saturday afternoon at 4.05pm to arrive.

When you’ve been as consistent as the Panthers have been over the past four seasons – winning three Minor Premierships and finishing second in the other year – the lull of the middle part of the season becomes obvious. It explains why Penrith only cracked the half century once this season, despite looking likely to do so on countless occasions during the year. In the simplest terms, the side just did what they needed to do each week.

A new competition begins this weekend, however, and the Panthers play a Warriors side that surprised many this year under new coach Andrew Webster, who ironically has played a crucial role in Penrith’s era of success.

We know where the Panthers are at heading

into this one. They came up against a Cowboys side with everything to play for last weekend and totally dismantled them, claiming the Minor Premiership in the process.

In contrast, we don’t quite know what to make of the Warriors. Sure, they’ve managed to finish in the top four – but they haven’t played a top eight side since way back in the depths of winter when they toppled Canberra 21-20 in Auckland. Whether or not they’re a little underdone for the Finals is a big question mark heading into this one.

What can’t be denied is that the Warriors boast plenty of talent across the park.

Shaun Johnson – at risk of being sent off to a retirement home this time last year – finds himself in vintage form, leading the competition in try assists this year and playing with an infectious enthusiasm.

There’s Addin Fonua-Blake leading the comp

in post-contact metres, and second in all run metres – behind only Penrith’s Dylan Edwards. And former Panther Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who has reached cult figure status at the Warriors and like Johnson, has turned back the clock this year.

But it’s very difficult to go past a Penrith side that leads the competition in almost every statistic – from completion rates to line engagement, possession and run metres. It has been a dominant regular season.

I see the Panthers winning this one in the first 20 or 25 minutes – similar to the way they took control of the game against the Cowboys last weekend. I just can’t see the side not being up for this one, and there’s no question Penrith’s form in Home Finals is superb. The Warriors may take a little bit of time to warm into the game and by the time they find their rhythm, it may be too late.

The Panthers just don’t give you time to breathe. There’s very few ‘settlers’ – they make every play count, and it can drain the opposition.

The absence of Jarome Luai is obviously a huge factor in this match, but Penrith’s spine is strengthened by the long-awaited return of Mitch Kenny, who will certainly be refreshed after a stint on the sideline with injury.

Scott Sorensen is also back in the team after a period on the sidelines.

I’m expecting big opening stanzas from James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota, and I expect Nathan Cleary to take plenty of ownership over the result, and the entire Finals series.

I think this one may get away from the Warriors in the end, though I do expect it to be a high scoring affair – especially given the afternoon timeslot.

Tip: Panthers by 12.

James Fisher Harris in action last week.

Photo: NRL Images.

FROM SPOON TO PREMIERSHIP CHANCE

After claiming the wooden spoon last year with the Wests Tigers, Tyrone Peachey says his career has done a “full 180” following Penrith’s Minor Premiership win last Saturday.

As he enters his first NRL Finals Series with the Panthers since 2018, the 32-year-old almost can’t believe his luck after he revealed to Extra Time on Tuesday that he contemplated retirement during his rough one-year stint with the battling joint venture last season.

“To be honest, I was almost going to give the game up at the Tigers. It was hard rocking up to training. I wasn’t really happy mentally,” Peachey admitted.

“When the swap with Charlie Staines ended up happening, I just said I’d give it my all in pre-season and see what happens.”

Thinking he’d just play a handful of games in first grade, Peachey has since strung together 14 matches and scored 10 tries playing in the centres and off the interchange bench for the Panthers this season.

“I have ended up playing a few games and Ivan’s just kind of backed me,” Peachey said.

“Even though I’ve had some hiccups along the way, a few stuff ups here and there, Iv’s talked me through it and has been really good with me.

“I just don’t want to let anyone down; I don’t want to let him down. I love this club for giving me my first opportunity all those years ago and I just want to try and do my best.”

206 games into his NRL career, Peachey finally got to celebrate some silverware last weekend when the Panthers secured their second straight J.J. Giltinan Shield for first past the post.

“It’s pretty surreal! I got the wooden spoon last

year and did a full 180 – got the Minor Premiership this

“I’ve played in a few Finals games before but have never gone past week two.”

The Wellington Cowboys junior is a red-hot chance to progress further in the post-season than he ever has before after he was named on the bench for Penrith’s clash with the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday afternoon.

Peachey said he’s looking forward to contributing to a Panthers win in any way he can.

“I’m just happy to be a part of it. This team is so special, has so many good players and the system is really awesome

to be a part of,” he said.

“Whatever Iv needs I’m happy to do. If it’s on the bench and fill in, be that utility, I’m definitely happy to do that. It’s probably my best role.

“That bench spot is my position to lose, I just have to keep on playing good footy.”

Good footy is what earned Peachey a new one-year deal with the Panthers back in July. With several clubs hunting his signature, the former Shark, Titan and Tiger said he was over switching clubs and was very happy to remain where he was.

“I’m just happy here and even if I’m not playing first grade, I’m happy to play Cup,” Peachey said.

“I just wanted to get back in a happy place. I’m keen as to keep playing and I’m not even thinking about retirement at the moment.

“I’m really excited to hopefully give myself two opportunities to try and win a competition.”

The Panthers will kick-off their 2023 Finals campaign with a home match against the fourth-placed New Zealand Warriors this Saturday afternoon.

Like most matches at BlueBet Stadium this season, the game is expected to be a sell-out. Peachey said he can’t wait to play his first-ever Finals match in Penrith.

“The Warriors are an exciting team and have been playing really good footy – it’s great to see,” he said.

“Shaun Johnson has been playing really well.

We kind of came through at the same time and to see him killing it is awesome.

“We have a lot of New Zealand fans out here, so it should be sold out. It should be a great game – I can’t wait!”

It’s been a big year for Tyrone Peachey.

Tyrone Peachey with his son.

Tyrone Peachey has had a strong year with Penrith. Photo: NRL Images.

NATHAN TAYLOR

TAGO READY TO SHINE IN FINALS FOOTY

Tago played 60 minutes in his comeback game, getting through unscathed after running 122 metres and making nine tackles.

After missing six games with a pesky hamstring injury he suffered at training, Izack Tago says he’s ready to make up for lost time.

The 21-year-old has been in and out of Penrith’s line-up all season – first dealing with a lengthy pectoral injury before being sidelined for longer than expected with a recent hamstring complaint.

Tago made his comeback during Penrith’s monster win over the North Queensland Cowboys last Saturday where they also wrapped up the Minor Premiership for the second straight year.

Speaking with Extra Time on Tuesday, the St Marys junior said he was thrilled to make his return just in time for Finals.

“I was supposed to come back way before last weekend, but I ended up reaggravating the injury,” Tago said.

“It was good to get back out there and have a run with the boys.”

Confined to just 14 games this year, Tago said while it’s been a frustrating season on a personal note, he has to look at the positives.

“That’s footy… it is what it is,” he said.

“Obviously, it’s been annoying, but I just took it on the chin and tried to use that time off to build my game off the field.”

The Samoan international said coach Ivan Cleary wanted him to get a decent stint on the playing field before Finals get underway this Saturday.

“He just wanted me to get some game fitness before Finals,” Tago said.

“I don’t know if I was supposed to play that long, but I was feeling good, looking good, and it was no worries. It was a good little blowout to find my feet again. It was better than the first time I came back from injury, I was just keen to get back.”

The talented centre will play his second straight game since coming back from his injured hamstring when the Panthers take on the New Zealand Warriors in this Saturday afternoon’s Qualifying Final at BlueBet Stadium. The match is tipped to be a sell-out, with scores of fans expected to travel from across the ditch to be part of the Finals atmosphere.

“The Warriors have been heaps good and have a mad following too. They always get up for games and their crowd helps them with that,” Tago said.

“They seem like a community club too, and it’s like they are playing more than just for the team. Like us, they are playing for the people, and I think that always helps.”

Izack Tago in action against the Cowboys. Photo: NRL Images.

PENRITH PANTHERS 2023 MINOR PREMIERS

panther rumblings

! Brian’s Blues gong: Penrith winger Brian To’o has been honoured for a strong State of Origin series, taking out the prestigious Brad Fittler Medal this week. “Brian epitomises the attributes of a NSW Blues player as he always gives his all whenever he pulls on the jersey,” Blues coach Brad Fittler said. “He is a hard worker at training and on the field, and brings a great energy to camp that other players enjoy being around.” To’o has represented NSW nine times since making his debut in 2021 and played a key role in the Game Three win in Sydney this year. He ran for 258m, including 102 post-contact, had a line break, an offload, two tackle busts and scored the opening try of the game. He wasn’t the only Panther honoured at the event at The Star this week –Liam Martin took home the True Blue award.

! No Minor achievement: Isaah

Yeo and Nathan Cleary accepted the J.J. Giltinan Shield at BlueBet Stadium last Saturday night after the Panthers claimed their third minor Premiership in the space of four seasons. It’s an incredible reward for the club’s consistency. The club not only pockets $200,000 prize money for finishing first past the post, but gets a host of other benefits – such as being able to select their choice of dressing room on Grand Final day, and the ability to wear their choice of jersey in the season decider.

in November. There’s reports the Panthers are unlikely to offer more than $800,000 per season from 2025. Most believe Luai could attract around $1 million per season if he was to head elsewhere.

! Spotted: Western Weekender

Editor Troy Dodds reminding anyone who will listen that he predicted both South Sydney and Parramatta to miss the Finals in a pre-season column back in February. He’s a chance of taking over the Horoscopes section next week.

! Edwards gets it done: It’s been an incredible ride for fullback Dylan Edwards since he was named Ben Alexander Rookie of the Year in 2017. There were times his first grade career appeared to be hanging by a thread, but the Bellingen Dorrigo Magpies junior has come through it and is now one of the most reliable fullbacks in the competition. Last week he signed a massive new deal that will keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2028 season.

! Spotted: Nathan Cleary happily signing autographs for early arriving fans in the hours prior to Penrith’s clash against North Queensland last Saturday.

! Early renewal: Panthers Members with auto renewal selected on their membership were a little surprised to receive an email last week confirming a September 15 payment date. In other words, you’ll pay for your 2024 ticket before the 2023 season is even over. Last year, the payment was taken in October –well after the Grand Final.

core. Both shirts are available to buy from the Panthers website.

! Panthers show their cards: Jarome Luai knows where he stands at Penrith after the club indicated their likely offer to him, as he weighs up whether to test the open market

! New merch: The Panthers have released two new shirts, celebrating another Finals series as well as the Minor Premiership. The Finals shirt – with ‘Hunting History’ as its theme (pictured) –comes as a spectacular, spine-chilling Finals campaign video is re leased by the club with the same slogan at its

! Scheduling quirk: Despite finishing Minor Premiers, those on the inside at Panthers always knew they wouldn’t play on the Friday night. Channel Nine’s obsession with Brisbane in the Friday slot was always going to win out. The fact Penrith are playing the Warriors and an earlier timeslot helps out their fans back in New Zealand was also a factor.

!

Jersey choice: I understand Penrith will wear their 2003 heritage strip throughout the entire Finals series, and the Grand Final should they make it. They wore the 1991 strip during last year’s series.

!

Plenty of love for the Penrith ‘old boys’ last Saturday, including 2003 Premiership winner Craig Gower who was among the most popular players on the lap of honour.

Spotted:

Brian To’o with the Brad Fittler Medal. Photo: NRL Images.

analysis

It’s my favourite time of the rugby league season, Finals time and this year I thought I’d do something a little different and select eight players, one from each team in the Top 8, that I feel could be a game changer. These are players opposition teams need to keep an eye on but normally aren’t on the top of an opposition coach’s tip sheet.

Penrith Panthers: Izack Tago

Tago may have only played 60 minutes of football in two months but he showed enough in his return against the Cowboys last week to suggest that he’s ready to produce the type of blistering form he was in before his leg injury.

Tago is tough, hard to tackle, can break a tackle and find a hole to the tryline, a hole so small, you could thread a needle through it. Geeze it’s good to have him back!

Brisbane Broncos: Billy Walters

Now here’s a bloke who has slipped under the radar but make no mistake, Billy is one tough and tenacious son of a gun. His running from dummy half has improved out of sight this year and he’s not afraid to tackle the big boys either.

Melbourne Storm: Nelson Asofa-Solomona

The big fella has been a little quiet of late. Finals time is the time the Storm need him the most, so opposition sides better watch out. Big ‘Nelson’ is about to come out of hibernation and once he gets on a roll, it’s near impossible to stop him.

New Zealand Warriors: Addin Fonua-Blake

Fonua-Blake is arguably the form prop in the competition. He’s the leader of a very good Warriors pack and his leg drive makes it very hard to stop him at first contact. Fonua-Blake also has plenty of speed for a big man and he’s not afraid of anyone.

Newcastle Knights: Greg Marzhew

BUSINESS

I know what you’re thinking, that I’m mad to pick a winger as a major danger. The way I look at it, while everyone is worried about the tall bloke on the other wing, a man monolith named Marzhew, a 5ft 10, 104 kg block of iron is bulldozing his way to the tryline, time-after-time after time.

Cronulla Sharks: Thomas Hazelton

He’s the super sub with the shiny chrome dome who looks like a throwback from the 80s. When forwards were so big they towered over everyone and made kamikaze charges into opposition defensive lines. Let’s put it this way, you know when Hazelton is on the field!

Sydney Roosters: Joseph-Aukusi Suaalii

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A month ago you wouldn’t feed him but over the last few weeks Suaalli has come alive. His form has been scintillating to say the least. He’s breaking tackles, taking high balls in a single bound and has become a real handful every time he touches the ball.

Canberra Raiders: Jordan Rapana

At 34 years-of-age, Rapana should be in the twilight of his career, instead he’s in the form of his career. Put him at fullback, on the wing or in the centres, Rapana is the most dangerous attacking player in the Raiders backline. Ok well they’re my eight in the Top 8 to look out for.

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Izack Tago at training this week.

Photo: Melinda Jane.

TIME TO GIVE LANG HIS DALLY M analysis

It’s time to right a wrong.

A wrong that, for 20 years now, has denied the man who should have received the award in question the chance to join a rather exclusive club.

With the Dally M’s just around the corner, there’s no better time to fix this situation so that we can duly recognise a great achievement.

It won’t be lost on Panthers fans that the Dally M Awards weren’t held in 2003, after the NRL pre-empted the Rugby League Players Association and cancelled the annual footy prize-giving.

warren smith

The players had threatened to boycott the awards as part of a push for a collective bargaining agreement, the NRL didn’t want to run the risk of having nobody turn up to collect their gongs, so they canned it in one fell swoop.

Gone.

It cost Panthers halfback Craig Gower the main prize itself, and while there have been various pushes over the years to have the premiership-winning number seven recognised as one of the elite to have won the award, the governing body has stood firm and maintained its stance that the space beside ‘2003 Dally M Winner’ will remain empty.

That’s tough for Gower who has

pill to swallow for another Panther who had nothing to do with player association threats of a boycott, yet has been denied what should be his only because the award in question happens to be handed out on the same night as the various player trophies.

John Lang has two Dally M Coach of the Year awards to his name, but it should be three.

Crowned as best coach in the competition in 1995 and again in

1999 while in charge of the Sharks, Lang would have been a lockeddown, gold-plated guaranteed winner of the 2003 award after taking the Panthers from a 7-17 record and a 12th place finish out of 15 teams in 2002, to 18 wins, the Minor Premiership and then the Premiership itself in a famous 18-6 victory over the previous year’s winners, Sydney Roosters. It was nothing short of remarkable.

The Panthers lost every one of their first eight games in 2002 after Lang had taken the reins at the club, yet just one season later they were doing a lap on the first Sunday in October with the Provan-Summons Trophy in hand.

The Dally M awards are presented each year in the lead-up to the Grand Final, so it’s not always a given that the premiership winning coach is also recognised as the Coach of the Year.

In fact, of the 42 Dally M trophies handed out to the coach voted as the best each season, only eight of them have won the premiership in that same year.

That’s right – eight.

The award, essentially, has been given to the coach who has been judged to have improved his team the most during the minor premiership from one season to the next.

Want proof?

Ivan Cleary won it in 2020, but wasn’t judged to have been the NRL’s best coach in either of the two following, premiership-winning, seasons.

That’s peculiar

Whatever the criteria, there’s zero doubt about who would have been Coach of the Year in 2003, and 20 years later it’s well beyond time that John Lang was given the recognition he fully deserves.

hidden panther WHO AM I ?

1. I’m of Italian heritage.

2. I debuted with South Sydney before moving to Cronulla.

3. I played hooker.

4. I finished my career at Penrith, playing 25 games for the club.

5. I held a Marketing job at Penrith when I retired.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWER: Shane Elford.

Brought to you by

John Lang on 2003 Grand Final night. Photo: NRL Images.

PENRITH IN SEASON-ENDING LOSS

The Penrith Panthers’ Jersey Flegg season is over, following a 30-20 defeat to the Parramatta Eels in the Elimination Final at North Sydney Oval.

After finishing the regular season with three straight losses, including Parramatta in the final round, the Panthers were unable to turn their form around, with their premiership defence coming to an end.

lower grades report

The Panthers forced a number of early errors from the Eels, finally opening the scoring in the 13th minute when they shifted right from a scrum, with Samuel Lane crossing out wide. Timothy SielaffBurns converted from out wide to take a 6-0 lead.

A strong set following points put the Panthers in attacking range again, with Peter Taateo crossing next to the posts following a repeat.

Sielaff-Burns again converted, extending the lead to 12-0.

An error in the following set invited the Eels to go on the attack, scoring out wide through Ethan Sanders. He also converted, reducing the Panthers lead to 12-6.

Back-to-back tries to Sam Tuivaiti and Blaize Talagi in the final four minutes of the first half gave the Eels an 18-12 lead at the break.

The Eels continued that form at the start of the second half, with Brock Parker scoring next to the posts, extending their lead to two

converted tries. The Panthers finally hit back in the 47th minute when Harrison Hassett won the race to a Luke Hanson kick, cutting the deficit to eight. Any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out with 12 minutes

remaining, as Matthew Komolafe scored in the corner after multiple sets in a row. Sanders converted again, pushing the Eels lead out to 30-16.

Riley Wake scored a consolation try for the Panthers with seven

minutes left on the clock, however Sielaff-Burns’ attempt at goal sailed wide, leaving the Panthers 10 points behind at full time, and left to wonder what might have been for season 2023, along with their NSW Cup colleagues.

Penrith’s Jersey Flegg season has come to an end.

Photo: Penrith Panthers.