Extra Time August 18 2023 (Round 25 - Panthers v Titans)

the final word v

Penrith hit the road for what could be the final time this season to take on a plucky Gold Coast side at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday evening.

Should all go to plan, the Panthers will bunker down in Sydney after this visit to the glitter strip – with two home games to end the season and a Finals campaign that will begin at Panthers Stadium and end just up the road at the bigger venues.

After a competitive stretch in the middle of the season, it feels like the air has gone out of the Titans’ tyres in recent weeks, as a long season – which included the sacking of head coach Justin Holbrook – rolls to its conclusion.

They weren’t terrible against Cronulla last week but the end scoreline – a 36-6 demolition – ultimately tells the story.

Often, teams with a new coach coming in and

the Finals well out of reach fall away over this end period of the competition and you get the feeling that’s how it’ll be for the Titans, though they’d be ear-marking their final home game against the Bulldogs as a possible positive end to an otherwise dull season.

Penrith meantime continue to roll on. Without a host of big names again last Thursday night, they finished on top of Manly 24-12 in what was an entertaining affair at 4 Pines Park.

Credit where credit’s due – Manly knew they weren’t going to beat the Panthers with a regular, simple game plan so they threw caution to the wind and very nearly got themselves a result. It was perhaps a warning to Penrith that if other teams a little more equipped to pull off such an audacious game plan get it right on the day, it could spell trouble.

The Titans may not necessarily adapt the

Manly approach on Saturday but they’d be silly not to throw the ball around and try to unsettle the defending champions.

Why not push the pass, take the early kick or chip that ball over the top? What have you really got to lose when you’re playing the best defensive team in the competition by far and your Finals hopes are over?

The Panthers are poised to welcome back Jarome Luai for this clash, and it’s a solid addition – he was clearly missed against the Sea Eagles last Thursday as the combination of two natural number sevens in the halves didn’t really deliver the same punch as the usual Nathan Cleary / Luai partnership we’re used to.

Luai may have been handed the villain tag by sections of the media and other teams, but you only get to carry such a tag if you’re a winner and Luai is definitely that. The spark that he

brings to Penrith’s attack cannot be underrated.

Mitch Kenny also makes a welcome return this week, but it should be noted that Soni Luke played well when getting more minutes and earlier game time last week. I’m not convinced by the role Luke plays off the bench usually, but if he can get the type of minutes he did last week then it’s certainly a justified selection each week.

Kenny struggled at the start of the year out of dummy half but the adjustment period post Api Koroisau now appears complete and keeping him fit at this business end of the season will be critical.

I’m expecting a high scoring encounter on Saturday – and I don’t anticipate the Panthers to be all that troubled.

Tip: Panthers by 20.

Zac Hosking in action against Melbourne.

Photo: NRL Images.

nrl ladder & fixtures

WW49239

ROUND 25

here ’ s cheers

NAME: KALINDA GORSUCH AGE: 21 SUBURB: CRANEBROOK

Seasons as a Pantherette? Four.

Favourite Food? Potato Bake.

Favourite TV show? ‘Family Guy’.

Favourite Panthers Player? Dylan Edwards.

Must-follow social media account?

@_aussiefitness

Go to pump up song? ‘Rhyme Dust’, Mk & Dom Dolla.

What do you love about being a

Pantherette? Starting off as a Kitty Kat when I was young, it was always my childhood dream to become a Pantherette! I am so grateful to be in my fourth season with the club! I love dancing with my friends on the field and cheering on my favourite NRL team!

If you were stranded on a desert island, who are you bringing with you and why? I would bring my dad so he can protect me!

face in the crowd WW51565

panther rumblings

WAITING GAME ON EDWARDS DEAL

! Edwards deal still not done: The Panthers may not get a new contract with superstar fullback Dylan Edwards sorted before the Finals. Penrith met with Edwards’ management last week and it’s understood the length of the deal remains a sticking point. The Panthers are keen to ensure Edwards doesn’t hit the open market on November 1 but also won’t disrupt the club’s Finals campaign, which could delay negotiations.

! Door open for Luai: Five-eighth Jarome Luai may still test the open market with a new management company after November 1 but the door has been opened for the 26-year-old to deal with the club directly. His former management company will waive the termination clause that would have delayed any deal being done, according to multiple sources. Luai would save a significant chunk of cash in agent fees if he did a deal directly.

! Broncos out to stop three-peat: Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has stopped short of declaring Brisbane his side’s biggest threat to pulling off an unprecedented NRL threepeat, but admits they’re in sensational form. “They’ve had an outstanding season. They’re very dangerous and a very good team,” he said. “They’re a threat, for sure. There’s lots of teams that are capable this season. It’s been a very evenly fought year.”

! Week of celebration: It’s been a big week for Panthers hooker Luke Sommerton (pictured below). Not only did he make his NRL debut against the Sea Eagles last Thursday night, but a few days ago he celebrated his three year anniversary with girlfriend Kiera. Sommerton had plenty of friends and family watching on at 4 Pines Park last week.

! Spotted: Panthers Media Manager Michael Blok looking supremely fit undertaking the City2Surf on Sunday.

! Not a Bunker blunder: NRL Head of Football Graham Annesley has admitted Stephen Crichton’s second try against Manly in the first half last Thursday should never have

happened given Liam Martin knocked the ball on during the previous play. But Annesley has confirmed The Bunker could not intervene –given the try was not scored in the same play as the knock-on. Most fans knew that but a few supporters, and even a couple of journos, blew up at The Bunker over the weekend. It was simply missed in the run of play – understandable when you look at the replay in full speed.

! Taylan time: Nobody was more surprised that injured winger Taylan May was put up for media interviews on Tuesday than the man himself. The 21-year-old, who is continuing his long ACL recovery, was available to the media this week for the first time this season. I’m told it was Penrith coach Ivan Cleary who suggested May be made available – perhaps helping him get some confidence ahead of his NRL return next year.

! International fixtures locked in: A Pacific Championship involving international men’s and women’s teams has been locked in for the end of the year. The Pacific Championships will be staged in 2023 and 2024, after the NRL and NRLW Premiership seasons, and will include men’s and women’s teams from Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Cook Islands. The Federal Government has chipped in to help fund the tournament, with games in Queensland, Victoria, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

! Spill the tea: I don’t keep secrets, but I do

Dylan Edwards. Photo: Megan Dunn.

MAY’S UNLIKELY DISTRACTION FROM NRL

that – not afraid to be different and test the boundaries a little.

Chess.

One of the oldest and most widely played games on the planet has a bunch of Panthers hooked.

More on that soon.

On Tuesday, Extra Time had the opportunity to chat one-on-one with injured Penrith winger Taylan May for the first time this season.

At coach Ivan Cleary’s request, May’s availability to the media this week was an opportunity for him to give Panthers fans an update on his season-ending knee injury and what the past six months of recovery and rehab has been like for the soon-to-be 22-year-old.

But in classic May fashion, the man marches to his own beat and the seven-minute interview was largely filled with content that wasn’t entirely footy related.

Funnily enough, it was refreshing. While most players offer up the cliché lines whenever they speak, May isn’t like

The 9am interview kicked off with questions about how he’s coped with missing 24 rounds of the NRL this season before it very quickly turned to life away from the footy field and what he’s been doing to occupy himself during this unscheduled ‘gap year’ from the game.

“The first two weeks after my injury were hard but now that I’ve got over it and did my grieving, it’s been pretty easy from here,” May told Extra Time

“Having a wife and kid at home, I’m able to spend more time with them and it allows me to see life outside of footy, because my life’s just not about footy.”

In late June, while his teammates were on the road playing the Storm in Melbourne, May got married to the love of his life, Jess. He said tying the knot has been “the best thing” he’s done this year and switching off from the game he loves has been rather therapeutic.

His time out has also allowed May to return to some old hobbies, like boxing, and take up some new ones, like chess.

Yes, chess. The two-player game that dates back some 1500 years is now infiltrating the Panthers Rugby League Academy, with May the ‘king’ of the squad.

The Samoan international said he used to play chess regularly online but ended up switching to a physical chess board due to his “bad” eyesight. Since then, he started getting his teammates involved and now it’s become quite a ‘thing’.

We’ll let May take it from here…

“I play with [Izack] Tago and that, he’s pretty good. Spencer [Leniu] got into it too, he got good pretty quick. Marto (Liam Martin), he’s one of the best and even Romey (Jarome Luai). A few of the boys… you’d be surprised… get into chess,” May explained.

“We play here at the Academy and away from here too. I’ve got my own travel chess board. We all get into it, it’s pretty competitive.”

Asked what sort of chess board the team play on and who’s the best of the bunch, May was very honest with his answer.

“It’s me, Tago and Marto – we are top three but it’s always switching,” he said.

“Tago can beat Marto, but I struggle against Marto, but I can beat Tago, so it’s a bit of a weird one.

“We do play on a fancy board in the Academy. We did have a normal one, but it’s been

upgraded to a fancy one with characters – it’s pretty mad.”

Mad, indeed.

Following the ins and outs of Panthers Chess Club for a few minutes, the chat resumed to footy and May’s impending comeback in 2024.

Since his absence this year, Sunia Turuva hasn’t let anyone down wearing May’s old jumper and it’s unlikely he’ll need to return it even when May is fit and healthy again.

And May doesn’t want it back either, declaring he wants a positional change when he does eventually return.

“It’s no secret that I want to play in the centres,” May revealed, who’s added plenty of muscle to his upper body.

“I don’t see myself as a winger anymore. Obviously, if I have to play there I will, but I see myself more as a centre anyways. I feel like I can do more there.”

As for how the rest of the year pans out –May will continue ticking boxes in his rehab, dominating chess, and cheering on an historic Panthers three-peat from the stands.

“I’ve been running a fair bit lately and I think I’m ahead of schedule,” May said.

“For me, it’s not hard to watch games. Each player is different, but I don’t struggle watching. I just wish the best for the boys.

“Seeing them win makes me happy. It feels like I’m there anyway because they make me feel a part of it, so that’s the main thing.”

Checkmate.

Taylan May has been a spectator on the sideline this season. Photo: NRL Images.

Taylan May is beginning his comeback on the training paddock. Photo: Panthers Media.

NATHAN TAYLOR

NO REST FOR TO’O AS FINALS LOOM

points heading into Round 25, with the coveted Minor Premiership race set to go down to the wire.

As Penrith count down the weeks until Finals footy, superstar Panthers winger Brian To’o says he refuses to rest even if he gets the tap on the shoulder from coach Ivan Cleary. “Hell no! I don’t want to rest,” the 24-yearold told Extra Time on Tuesday.

“I love putting on the Panthers jersey and there’s nothing more I want to do than to play for this team, play for the boys. I don’t want to rest at all, to be honest.”

While To’o is very defiant towards having a week off, it may not be his call with coach Cleary determined to preserve his best players ahead of another hard-fought NRL Finals Series.

To’o said with his best mates in Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu moving on at season’s end, he wants to make the most of his time with the pair.

“Even though I’ll see them outside of footy, you live these moments to the fullest and that’s something I really want to do,” he said.

“Especially for the boys that are departing in Spencer and Critta as well – you just want to make the most of everything.”

The Panthers are once again favourites for this year’s Premiership, but they do have a worthy challenger in the Brisbane Broncos breathing down their neck.

Both sides are on equal competition

To’o said he’s been impressed with the Broncos in 2023, but believes they aren’t Penrith’s only threat in achieving a magical three-peat.

“Every team is up there,” he said.

“Brisbane are a very competitive team as well and have come a long way over the past two or three years now.

“I’m really happy for them to see where they are at. They are heading towards the top as well and I’m looking forward to seeing them later down the track.”

Before a potential match-up with the Broncos in September, the Panthers will make what is likely their final trip up north this season when they travel to the Gold Coast to play the Titans.

The Titans have had a rollercoaster season to say the least. Not only did they sack their coach Justin Holbrook mid-season, but they’ve also dealt with an array of distraction surrounding the contracts of their best players David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

To’o labelled Saturday night’s clash at Cbus Super Stadium a “danger game”.

“The Titans are a tough, quality side,” he said.

“Every team is competitive and they’ve got their few superstars in there like Brimo (AJ Brimson), Tino and Fifita.

“We’ll definitely prepare well for another

Brian To’o during Penrith’s win over Manly last week. Photo: NRL Images.

NATHAN TAYLOR

POSITION: SECOND ROW | NRL DEBUT: JULY 2022 (FOR BRONCOS)

WEIGHT: 97KG |

HEIGHT: 198CM |

DOB: 26/02/97 |

analysis

Over the last two years the Panthers have embarked on an impressive recruitment drive which has seen the majority of key players tied up for many years to come. If you thought signing Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Moses Leota, Brian To’o and Liam Martin until the end of 2027 was impressive – you ain’t seen nothing yet!

That list of players alone would probably be enough to keep the Panthers competitive and in the Top 8 for the next four years. However, Panthers CEO Matt Cameron and the retention committee are already working on contract extensions for Dylan Edwards and Jarome Luai, with Mitch Kenny, Sunia Turuva and Lindsay Smith soon to follow.

Now some contracts will take longer than others to finalise, such is the complexity of contracts in the modern game of rugby league, especially if you’re a Penrith player and your value just keeps going up every year because of the success you’re enjoying being part of a winning team.

Of all the names on the list to re-sign, Dylan Edwards is probably the closest to being finalised. The length of Edwards’ contract is the sticking point now more than the amount.

‘Pickles’ has been hyped in the

media as a ‘million-dollar a year player’ and while the amount he’ll re-sign for will be less than that, it will be close enough to keep him in Panthers colours.

I’ll save Jarome until last because he’s the one attracting the most attention and speculation from the media.

Mitch Kenny is signed until the end of 2024 and he’s gotten better as the year’s gone on. The coach and club see him as the team’s long-term hooker and while official talks have not yet begun, there’s no doubt the club want to keep him longer than one more year. Kenny has worked hard to become the team’s number one hooker, he’s happy and it’s hard to see him playing in any other team’s colours.

Following Kenny, the whispers have started that Sunia Turuva and Lindsay Smith are also in line

for contract extensions. Both have proven themselves as first grade starters this season and are in the club’s long-term plans.

The one thing we do know is that all players will be offered what the club can afford under the salary cap. Some may elect not to take it and go for more money elsewhere and that is their right.

The salary cap may be going up each year but so are players’ price tags.

However apart from Edwards, the only other player I regard as a ‘sure-thing’ to stay is Jarome Luai, even though the maintram media keep pushing the line that he is the one in most

danger of leaving.

That’s not going to happen, CEO Matt Cameron is confident of keeping ‘Romey’ long-term, coach Ivan Cleary also wants him to stay while Nathan Cleary says he’s like another brother.

“Musicians don’t retire, they stop when there’s no more music in them,” said singer and trumpet player Louis Armstrong.

Well, that ‘Boom Box’ that Luai carries everywhere with him will be belting out music around Panthers players at training for many more years to come.

Even if it won’t be the dulcet tones of the great ‘Satchmo’. Ahhh, what a wonderful world.

Mitch Kenny is becoming a fan favourite.

Photo: NRL Images.

with Peter Lang

I’ve just spent another week with him as part of the Professional Darts Corporation’s annual World Series visit to Australia.

He comes to call darts, but contorts himself to get to the NRL. This year he made Parramatta against St George-Illawarra, Manly at home to Penrith and Newcastle’s win against Canterbury.

Pykey watches carefully, takes mental notes, asks the occasional question, and throws up even more occasional observations.

Last week as half-time drew near at McDonald Jones Stadium, as he gazed out onto the field, nothing moved except his lips. “It looks like Canterbury don’t train. It looks like they’ve just met each other.”

It was as if he was thinking out loud. Just a travelling Englishman lost in the moment.

It was 30-nil to Newcastle and the game was over as a contest before the break.

At half-time he asked how many people live in western Sydney. I guessed three million-plus and he swung his head in shock.

“No! And they’ve only got one decent footy team.”

He wasn’t JUST referring to Canterbury’s first half, Parramatta

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tuart Pyke is a UK sports broadcaster who likes his darts but has a passion for rugby league.The Bulldogs looking dejected last weekend. Photo: NRL Images.

being beaten 54-10 and last placed Wests Tigers tumbling to a 10th straight loss.

This will be the Bulldogs’ seventh straight season without Finals footy. And in that run, they haven’t finished higher than 11th. The Eels are famously still chasing their first Premiership since 1986. The poor Tigers are about to miss Finals for a 12th consecutive season and will underline that by taking consecutive wooden spoons.

“Lucky western Sydney has Penrith,” mused my English mate.

The Panthers look better each time they play and will take some stopping in their quest for a third

straight title. Still, Stuart Pyke is right, western Sydney is big enough – and only getting bigger - to have more NRL success than it’s had over the last decade.

Pykey lives in St Helens and supports its Super League team with fervour.

(Ask him about the hotel television smashed by a flying remote when a contentious call went against his Saints… and the darts’ executive who had to pick up the tab!)

He can rattle off all their stars, run through their classic games, and talk about their multiple titles all day. In Pykey’s mind the win

against Penrith earlier this year is akin with the moon landing!

“And all from a City of 180,000,” he beams. (I can hear the voice of darts Russ Bray screeching 180!)

So, from Pykey to the Eels, Bulldogs and Tigers – pull your finger out! Give the population what you should! Oh, and be glad you don’t live near a beach!

When I invited my broadcast buddy for a Wollongong swim on a warm, sunny, still day, I should have known the response.

“The sand is too soft, the water is too cold and there’s too many sharks. Plus it’s bad for my ears.” Whinging bloody Poms.

1. I had two stints at the Panthers in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

2. I’m a Queenslander.

3. I was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2020.

4. I once coached the Brisbane Broncos.

5. I had a job on radio at 2KA in Penrith.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWER: Ryan Girdler.

CAN YOU SEEK OUT

THE HIDDEN

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CUP BACK WITHIN FINALS REACH lower grades

A28-18 win over the Blacktown Workers

Sea Eagles has seen the Penrith Panthers climb back to within one point of the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup top five.

The hard-fought win at Parker Street Reserve on Friday night saw the Panthers sneak ahead of Blacktown on the ladder with two rounds to play.

Penrith were on the back foot for much of the first half, however back-to-back tries to Eddie Blacker and Preston Riki midway through the half saw them take a 12-0 lead to half-time.

Liam Henry continued the trend of middle forwards scoring when Trent Toelau sent him over on the last tackle in the 53rd minute before Kurt Falls further extended the lead eight minutes later with a solo effort.

lower grades report

The Sea Eagles struck back almost immediately from the kick-off through Jackson Ferris, however that try was quickly cancelled out when Matt Stimson went over with 10 minutes remaining.

Two tries in the final five minutes, the second of which was an eight-point try after late contact by Daeon Amituanai, cost the Panthers potentially valuable points on for-and-against, however the 28-18 win was just enough for them to jump ahead of the Sea Eagles on the ladder.

Meanwhile, a disappointing second half at 4 Pines Park on Thursday evening has left the Panthers clinging to third in Jersey Flegg, going down to Manly 16-14.

Lehi Hopoate got the hosts off to a fast start, scoring in the sixth minute, before Blake Moore put the Panthers in front in the 15th when he stepped inside the sliding Sea Eagles defence.

A pinpoint kick by Liam Ison bounced perfectly for Timothy Sielaff-Burns to extend the

Panthers’ lead to 10-4 on the half-time siren.

The Panthers started the second half on the right note, with Wilson de Courcey scoring a try on debut.

Two quick Manly tries followed to snatch

the lead 16-14 and that was where the score remained at full-time.

In Round 24, NSW Cup is away to minor premiers North Sydney on Sunday, while Jersey Flegg travels to Melbourne to face the Storm.

Penrith lost to Manly in Jersey Flegg last week. Photo: NRL Images.

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