Extra Time Round 6 (Panthers v Manly) - April 7 2023

LIAM MARTIN POSTER INSIDE

LEOTA RE-SIGNS

RAMPAGING FORWARD TO REMAIN A PANTHER UNTIL AT LEAST THE END OF 2027 WHY THE TWO-TIME PREMIERSHIP WINNER DECIDED TO STAY: SEE PAGE 39

MASKED PANTHER SEE PAGE 37

PETER LANG

SEE PAGE 43

WARREN SMITH

SEE PAGE 44

The Panthers return home after a few weeks on the road buoyed by a strong performance against Canberra last Friday night, in which they well and truly got their point scoring mojo back.

And perhaps more impressive in the 53-12 flogging was that yet again, Penrith’s rock solid defence conceded only two tries for the fourth consecutive game this season.

That defence will be well and truly tested by Manly this Saturday, with the Sea Eagles having scored more than 30 points in three of their four games this year, including last week’s 32-all draw with Newcastle.

That clash with the Knights was highly entertaining but Manly’s defence was nothing short of poor, and in the end they were probably lucky to escape with the point they did.

Just how much of an impact the slug fest has on the side, particularly given it went the full 90 minutes, will be an intriguing part of the Easter Saturday clash at BlueBet Stadium.

Indeed this game will probably be a good indicator of where both Penrith and Manly are at – the Panthers were certainly impressive against the Raiders but the opposition offered very little in the second half. The Sea Eagles sit in fourth spot on the ladder but have been far from convincing in any of their games so far.

The big blow for Penrith in this one is the loss of James Fisher-Harris to a knee injury. It’ll hurt the forward rotation significantly, but not wanting to disrupt his bench too much, Ivan Cleary has opted to start Matt Eisenhuth and keep Spencer Leniu on the interchange.

Leniu will however likely get more minutes

than his average. The fact he recorded 42 minutes against the Raiders – the most of the season so far – is a good sign that there’s petrol in the tank.

Liam Martin’s problematic hamstring will keep him out for another week, forcing Cleary to go with Scott Sorensen and Zac Hosking in the second row, given Luke Garner is also hurt. Soni Luke returns on the bench after a week out due to concussion, and while Tyrone Peachey made a solid return to first grade last weekend, there’s no denying that inserting the energy of Luke into a tight game can be a match-winning move.

In terms of Penrith’s schedule this is a critical match.

After this Easter Saturday showdown, they hit the road for clashes against Newcastle, Souths,

Wests Tigers (a home game in Bathurst) and the Warriors before finally returning to Penrith on May 12.

And while the Panthers have a strong record away from home, there’s no doubt such a schedule – which involves travel to Newcastle, Brisbane and regional New South Wales – can take its toll, hence any chance to grab two points at home is important during this part of the season.

I think Manly will put up plenty of fight here and there’s no question they’ve got ability right across the park, but Penrith should come into the game fresher and with home ground advantage.

A tight one, but Penrith should get the Easter chocolates.

Tip: Panthers by 6.

against Canberra last week. Photo: NRL Images.

nrl ladder & fixtures

here ’ s cheers

NAME: ROCHENE CASSIDY AGE: 24 SUBURB: PENRITH

Seasons as a Pantherette? Four

Favourite food? Nandos, spicy burger

Favourite TV show? ‘Friends’

Favourite Panthers player? James Fisher-Harris or Dylan Edwards

Must-follow social media account? @ erinlouisecamilleri or me (@cheneycassidy)

Go to pump up song? ‘Get Ready’ or ‘Honey I’m Good’! Very energetic songs!

What do you love about being a Pantherette? Besides being a massive Panthers fan, I love performing – it makes me feel like myself and relieves stress!

If you were stranded on a desert island, which other Pantherette are you bringing with you and why? Definitely Emma as we have been best friends forever, we would have endless laughs and would be the best company!

panther rumblings

CAMPAIGN FOR PLACE IN HISTORY

! Call to recognise wheelchair players: Local wheelchair rugby league player Nathan Pentecost is calling on the Penrith Panthers to bestow him and his teammates a player number, just like the 615 NRL players have received for debuting with the club. While Pentecost doesn’t want to be added to the current list of first grade NRL players, he wants to be recognised on a brand-new list for first grade wheelchair rugby league players. Pentecost and Penrith won the 2016 Wheelchair Rugby League title, a huge honour for not only him but the club in general. Pentecost already has an Australian Wheelaroos number as well as a NSW number at the Blues Centre of Excellence in Homebush, but unfortunately he doesn’t have a number at the club he represented for many years. “I have my Australian number, my NSW number, but I kind of need a club number,” he said. “But not just me, I want all my teammates to have a number as well. I floated the idea at Panthers years ago, but they weren’t interested at the time. I’ve pretty much done everything in the game – vice-captained Australia, captained the City team, won Premierships – it’s my missing piece of the puzzle.” If Penrith do decide to jump on board, they will be the first NRL club to acknowledge their wheelchair players with a number. “You just need someone to step up and hopefully other clubs will follow,” Pentecost said. “It would mean everything to me. You always want to be treated and recognised as an equal.”

! Kenty’s fuse blows: ‘NRL 360’ co-host Paul Kent was almost alone in his defence of Canberra coach Ricky Stuart when he made his abhorrent comments towards Jaeman Salmon last year. Now he’s doubled down by criticising Ivan Cleary for some very tame comments following the return bout at GIO Stadium last weekend, and unloading on the wider club as a whole. Kent is entitled to his view, but it’s a surprise someone at Fox Sports hasn’t had a word in his ear – his well-known friendship with Stuart, and his constant criticism of Penrith is significantly harming the credibility of the show, and the network. I know hundreds of Penrith fans who now refuse to watch ‘NRL 360’.

! Keeping their distance: I’m hearing a number of News Corp journalists were in touch with Penrith this week to distance themselves from Paul Kent’s comments. They know the club is fuming over the constant attacks and don’t want it to impact their chance of getting leads or talking to players.

! Day Doug blessed the Panthers: The passing of radio great Doug Mulray last week

sparked memories of an iconic photo taken in the lead-up to the 1991 Grand Final. Greg Alexander, Brad Fittler and Ben Alexander all attended Triple M’s Bondi studios in the lead-up to the decider, as Grand Final week unfolded. Mulray “blessed” the trio ahead of the big game against Canberra and the photo ended up on the front page of The Daily Telegraph. It was a period in time when Triple M dominated the FM airwaves and resonated strongly in western Sydney and they really got behind Penrith’s 1991 Premiership push.

! Just married: Congratulations to former Pantherette Nat Sinclair, who married her partner James last weekend.

! Slice of magic: The NRL officially launched Magic Round in Brisbane this week (pictured below). Former Panthers Luke Lewis and Trent Merrin were in attendance at the launch along with a host of other players from the past. Magic Round will be held over the weekend of May 5-7, with the Panthers to play the Warriors in the Saturday 3pm game at Suncorp Stadium.

! Panthers chase Wilton: The rumours that Penrith are interested in signing impressive Cronulla second-rower Teig Wilton won’t go away. The 23-year-old is off-contract at the end of the season and would obviously form a formidable second-row partnership with Liam Martin if he did come to the club. There’s no doubt the Sharks would like to keep him but he’s likely to command big dollars.

! Forward blow: The Panthers will be without James Fisher-Harris for up to a month after he suffered a knee injury against the Raiders last weekend. We spotted him at the Panthers Academy on Tuesday in a brace. He’s in good spirits and won’t be out for too long.

! Spill the tea: Got some news? Spotted a Panther out and about? Have you heard a rumour you think I should check out? Send an email to maskedpanther@westernweekender. com.au. I don’t keep secrets but I do protect sources.

Nathan Pentecost.

LIFE’S PEACHEY AGAIN FOR TYRONE

the perfect situa tion with me and

happy to be involved with this club again. I live just two minutes from the Academy – it just ended up being perfect.”

While Peachey made a name for himself during his five-year run at the Panthers – including playing State of Origin in 2018 – his four seasons away weren’t as fruitful. Peachey said while he tried to make the best of his time at the Titans and Tigers, he always kept one eye on his former club.

“The last time I was here, a lot of these players were rookies – Nath was only 20 when I left and it’s been great to see him develop over the years that I was away,” he said.

“I always watched from afar and supported them; they are all such hard workers and trained really hard when I was here last.

“To see them finally get the recognition that they deserve and win two comps, now everyone has to respect them. Their work ethic alone is special.”

Knowing how hard his new teammates worked on the training paddock was the kick up the backside Peachey needed to get his career firing again.

After a lacklustre 2022 season that saw him celebrate just two wins from 13 games, Peachey knew he had to hit the ground running right away at Penrith.

“I knew it was going to be hard to crack first grade here after they made three straight Grand Finals and won two Premierships. I spoke to Ivan, and he told me that it was going to be tough. I said I’m happy to play NSW Cup and earn my spot in the 17,” Peachey said.

“I ended up having a really big pre-season, I was here from day one with some of the young lads. It was one of the toughest pre-seasons I have ever had. I dropped a lot of weight, I ran a lot, and to finally earn that jersey and play on the weekend was something special.”

Special indeed.

1659 days since he last played in the NRL for the Panthers, Peachey made his triumphant return during the team’s 53-12 flogging of the Raiders in the nation’s capital.

With his young family in the stands watching on, it was a night he’ll never forget especially after bagging a try in the 41-point demolition.

“It was special, it was such a good first game back,” Peachey said.

“I think I played the last 25 minutes. I haven’t played in the middle all year and that was my first time there all season.

“After the game, Ivan was happy for me. When he told me during the week that I had made the side, I didn’t believe him… I didn’t know what to do. It was an exciting time.”

After playing off the bench last Friday night in the absence of hooker Soni Luke, Peachey said he’d be happy to continue in that utility role moving forward.

The Indigenous All Star said his relationship with Ivan Cleary is still as tight as it was when he was first coached by him all those years ago.

“The last time Ivan was the coach here, I got the Merv Cartwright Medal. I was devastated when he got fired,” Peachey admitted.

“I think I played some good footy under Ivan and I always wanted to get coached by him again.

“Every coach has always wanted me to play that utility role but I’ve kind of been against it. I’ve always wanted to start and play the full 80 minutes, but in a team like this I’m happy to play 20 minutes, play hooker, play whatever to position to be involved. I just want a role here.”

Tyrone Peachey has revealed he

The now 31-year-old played with Penrith for five seasons between 2014-2018 before signing a rich three-year contract at the Gold Coast

The Peach is happy to be back.

Photo: Melinda Jane.

NATHAN TAYLOR

Panthers star Tyrone Peachey chats with Nathan Taylor this week. Photo: Melinda Jane.

LEOTA A PANTHER UNTIL END OF 2027

“This re-signing means everything because this club is home to me,” the St Marys Saint said.

Penrith’s fearsome forward pack will remain rock solid for many more years to come after one of their most underrated players inked a new deal this week.

On Monday afternoon, the Panthers announced the re-signing of Kiwi representative prop Moses Leota until the end of the 2027 NRL season.

Already signed for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the 27-year-old saw the value of recommitting to the back-to-back Premiers for a further three years.

Born in Auckland and growing up in New Zealand, Leota moved to Australia and progressed through the Panthers junior development pathways and was a member of the club’s premiership-winning NYC side in 2015.

A Penrith local junior, Leota made his NRL debut in 2016 and has gone on to play 128 games for the Panthers, playing an influential role in the club’s recent Premierships in 2021 and 2022.

A representative player, Leota made his Test debut for Samoa in 2019 and has played three Tests for New Zealand.

From washing cars for $15 per hour at a local dealership to playing on the biggest stage in rugby league, Leota said he can’t believe how far he’s come.

“I never thought I’d be in this situation, so I’m grateful to re-sign with the Panthers. It will be great to stay with the club for the rest of my career.”

Leota’s contract extension ensures a key group of Panthers players – including Brian To’o (2027), Nathan Cleary (2027), Isaah Yeo (2027), James Fisher-Harris (2026) – will remain together on long-term deals.

Panthers Rugby League CEO Matt Cameron congratulated the man they call ‘Tank’ on his new contract.

“Everyone at the club is pleased to see Moses commit to the Panthers until the end of the 2027 season,” he said.

“Moses embodies the qualities that we hold at our club and has consistently demonstrated his strong work ethic.

“We take pride in the fact that Moses has progressed through the ranks at the club and will now continue his journey in Panthers colours.”

With his front-row partner in James Fisher-Harris sidelined for several weeks with a knee injury, Leota will be tasked to lead Penrith’s engine room for their upcoming stretch of games.

Leota stepped up in a big way against Canberra, punching out 162 running metres, 60 post contact and racking up a whopping six tackle breaks over 47 minutes of action.

Moses Leota has signed a new long-term deal with Penrith.

Photo: Melinda Jane.

NATHAN TAYLOR

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POSITION: SECOND ROW | NRL DEBUT: V STORM, MAY 2019

WEIGHT: 1 03KG |

HEIGHT: 183CM |

DOB: 05/03/97 |

Over the last three years the Penrith Panthers have broken plenty of records. They set a ‘new record’ last Friday when they became the first team in rugby league history to defeat a side with a scoreline that read 53-12.

Granted, it’s a bit obscure but it got me thinking, just how many club records has this team broken since 2020 and what other records may tumble over the next few years?

First up, we have the record of most consecutive wins with 17 in-a-row between June 19 and October 2020. What a run that was and ironically win number 18 would have, in fact, been a Premiership as Penrith fell short 26-20 to the Melbourne Storm in the decider.

The longest winning run up until that point, was eight games between April 19 and June 7 by the Premiership winning 2003 Panthers side.

Another impressive record by this team since 2020 includes the Longest Winning Away streak of 14 from round 8 2020 until round 11, 2021. Individually, it seems only a career ending injury can stop co-captain Isaah Yeo from playing the most games for the club. Yeo has just notched up game number 200 and has a minimum of four years to pass the legendary Steve Carter, who is currently number one with 243 games.

Another individual club record which will fall in the next two seasons is most points scored for the club. Nathan Cleary, who is currently on 1232 career points, is only 340 behind the number one points scorer Ryan Girdler on 1572. This one also seems a formality.

However the one record that this team would love to match and then break is held by the powerhouse Parramatta Eels side of the 1980s

which not only won three Premierships in-arow (1981-1983) but another one in 1986 to notch up four premier ships in a decade.

Admittedly these records have only stood since 1981 but they would still be nice ones to break. Right now they are still a long way off. Which shows you just how impressive they are and just

how good the Eels were in the 80s. There’s a quote by former great American basketball coach Red Auerbach who once said; “All records are made to be broken”.

Just how many individual and team records this Panthers team of the 2020s will eventually break, remains to be seen. But the ride over the next seven years, is going to be a doozy!

analysis PN42652

Isaah Yeo is set to be a record breaker at the Panthers.

Photo: NRL Images.

with Peter Lang

WHY PERTH SHOULD BE NEXT STEP

What a beginning to the new season we’ve seen. Every weekend there’s a handful of games that hang in the balance with barely a few minutes remaining, crowds are up and so are television ratings, and there’s already been five golden point games in five rounds compared to eight in total for the entire 2022 season.

The Dolphins have been nothing short of a barnstorming success and it’s with the newest franchise in mind that the NRL has already made noises about the competition going from 17 teams to 18 as early as 2027.

warren smith

An expansion to 18 teams was always on the cards, but to have that possibility being openly talked about by NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, just weeks into the first season of the Dolphins’ existence, tells you a lot about how bullish they are at HQ.

A move to 18 teams gives us an extra game per round which will improve the NRL’s revenue stream from a variety of angles, and the only hard decision to be made is where a new franchise should be based.

There’s a solid push at the moment for a Pasifika team to be included in the competition, with suggestions that it could be located in Port Moresby. I can only imagine

the celebration that would follow in the rugby league-mad Papua New Guinea capital if that idea was given the green light!

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett, along with QRL Chairman Bruce Hartcher, has already jumped onto the front foot and said if expansion is happening the only place for the NRL to consider is Ipswich, in the heart of the growing western corridor just a short drive from Brisbane.

The seven-time premiership winning coach makes a solid argument if the incredible response to the Dolphins is anything to go

by, with more games each season in the footy obsessed South East Queensland region seeming like a sure-fire winner.

Not only that, but the supercoach himself could be the man to lead the new team into the competition, after he hands over the reins at the Dolphins to Kristian Woolf in a couple of years’ time.

The other possibility is taking elite rugby league back to the golden west, more than a quarter century after the game expanded to Perth in 1995.

It always felt like a massive opportunity lost when the Reds

became the victim of a compromise between the ARL and Super League after the 1997 split season.

The good people at the West Australian Rugby League have been waiting patiently over the past 10-15 years for the day when their call for re-admittance to the NRL would be given the thumbs up, and with another former club, the Bears, looking for a way back also, it could be the perfect opportunity to establish an 18th team that already boasts a recognisable brand.

The Perth Bears – put me down for a vote that puts the ‘national’ in National Rugby League.

hidden panther WHO AM I ?

2.

4. I was one of Phil Gould’s more bizarre signings.

5. I played one season at the Panthers.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWER: Josh Mansour

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Perth’s Optus Stadium has already hosted several rugby league games. Photo: NRL Images.

lower grades

PANTHERS BACK TO WINNING WAYS

The Penrith Panthers have returned to the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup winners’ circle, holding off a late surge from the Canberra Raiders to win 24-16 at BlueBet Stadium.

The Panthers wasted no time in going on the attack courtesy of a one-on-one strip by Kurt Falls in the second minute. Liam Henry crashed over near the posts in the ensuing set to take a 6-0 lead.

Both sides had tries disallowed due to double movements as the rain set in, however it was Canberra who were next to score when Semi Valemei got possession back from a kick, locking the scores at 6-all.

Luke Sommerton broke the game open in the 29th minute when he snuck over from dummy half.

lower grades report

He backed it up with another break that led to a try to Tom Jenkins, giving the Panthers a 16-6 lead.

The grind continued for much of the second half, before a bomb from Falls rebounded perfectly for Jack Cole to score with 20 minutes remaining.

Two quick tries to the Raiders cut the score back to 22-16, before a penalty goal from Falls pushed the Panthers’ lead back beyond a converted try just before full-time.

A strong defensive performance helped the Jersey Flegg Panthers claim their first win since Round 1, beating the Raiders 28-6 in the earlier fixture at BlueBet Stadium.

The Panthers dominated the opening minutes thanks to their defence, however it took them until the 15th minute to score through Aston Warwick.

That gave the Panthers the momentum and they quickly backed it up with tries to Kristian

Li-Mai and Ryley Smith, taking a 14-0 lead to half-time.

The Panthers continued to dominate the field position in the second half, scoring tries through Sam Lane and Zac Lipowicz to extend the lead to 24-0.

Livai Kolutalou finally breached the Panthers defence late, however they quickly hit back with Peter Taateo crashing over out wide to complete the 28-6 win.

In Round 6, both grades are at BlueBet Stadium as curtain-raisers to the Panthers-Manly clash.

Panthers hooker Luke Sommerton. Photo: NRL Images.

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