Extra Time August 28 2020 by Western Sydney Publishing Group

Liam Martin. Photo: NRL Images.

MASKED PANTHER Exciting centre poised to sign new deal with Penrith

PAGE 30

DYNAMITE DYLAN Panthers fullback on his return from injury and the club’s scintillating form

PAGE 31

LANG ON LEAGUE Peter Lang explores the new Panthers / Tigers rivalry

PAGE 33

CLINTON MAYNARD Coronavirus pandemic set to put pressure on the NRL’s 2021 season schedule

PAGE 41

CAN’T BE BEATEN! STRUGGLING TIGERS PREPARE FOR PANTHERS JUGGERNAUT MATCH PREVIEW: PAGE 29

Friday, August 28, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

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the final word

v Penrith prop James Fisher-Harris. Photo: NRL Images

TROY DODDS

quick glance at the NRL ladder confirms everything sits in its rightful place at present. The Panthers are three points clear at the top of the table, the pesky Queensland sides are nowhere to be seen and the Wests Tigers are in ninth spot, of course. Ninth spot, nine losses, - 9 in for and against and about a nine in 100 chance of making the Finals you would think. They really love that number, don’t they? It is quite perfect that Penrith have the chance to all but obliterate the Tigers from the Finals race this Saturday night given the new rivalry that has erupted between the two clubs in recent times. It is a rivalry driven by Ivan Cleary’s defection to Penrith in time for the 2019 season – but one in which the Panthers continue to have the last laugh. Cleary’s bus is cruising down the M4,

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 | 7.35PM | PANTHERS STADIUM | REFEREE: BEN CUMMINS likely to stop by ANZ Stadium in late October to pick up a trophy, while the Tigers bus is spluttering along the Hume Highway with COVID- Safe Mad Monday plans being developed by the minute. Driver Michael Maguire is angrily shouting something over the intercom, but nobody is listening. The emotions of this new rivalry spilled out at Bankwest Stadium back in early July when the Panthers produced a 19-12 victory over their rivals, and Cleary blew a few kisses in the process. Tigers fans were incensed. Panthers fans lapped it up. Now, five weeks out from the Finals, the two sides meet again and you can be almost certain there will be fireworks. Just ask Penrith if they still remember Joseph Leilua’s hit on Dylan Edwards. Fireworks yes, tears most definitely.

You’ll be able to hear the whimpers all the way from Campbelltown and Leichhardt when the Panthers are finished with this Tigers side on Saturday night. Despite the absence of rampaging forward Villiame Kikau and dynamite hooker Api Koroisau, the Panthers just look way too good at the moment to be losing to a Tigers side that is mediocre at best. Some would say a loss is inevitable for Penrith and that may be true, but I get the feeling the side already hit its lull when they struggled to put the Cowboys and Titans away in late July. They still managed to get the points in those games but they were far from impressive performances. Since then they’ve absolutely belted Manly and Cronulla, easily put away Canberra and fought hard to beat the Warriors in the

PANTHERS

wet. This is an in-form footy side that just doesn’t know how to lose. More importantly, this is a footy side that very rarely lets its opposition in the game. It has been the key ingredient to success this season – don’t dare give the other side a sniff. It is rare for Panthers fans to be able to sit back and relax so often during a season. Usually I’d throw up a few reasons why the Tigers could cause a boilover here – players to watch, moments to monitor. But I really can’t see Michael Maguire’s men matching the Panthers here. If Penrith employs the same game plan that has worked so well for them all season, they’ll be walking off Panthers Stadium with an eleventh straight win. The Tigers? Let’s hope that bus makes its way back to Campbelltown in one piece. Tip: Panthers by 40.

TIGERS

1 Dylan Edwards

10 Moses Leota

1 Adam Doueihi

2 Josh Mansour

11 Isaah Yeo

2 David Nofoaluma

10 Thomas Mikaele 11 Luke Garner

3 Brent Naden

12 Liam Martin

3 Joseph Leilua

12 Luciano Leilua

4 Stephen Crichton

13 James Fisher-Harris

4 Moses Mbye (c)

13 Alex Twal

5 Brian To’o

14 Tyrone May

5 Tommy Talau

14 Matthew Eisenhuth

6 Jarome Luai

15 Spencer Leniu

6 Luke Brooks

15 Elijah Taylor

7 Nathan Cleary

16 Billy Burns

7 Benji Marshall

16 Jacob Liddle

8 James Tamou (c)

17 Zane Tetevano

8 Josh Aloiai

17 Shawn Blore

9 Mitch Kenny

18 Daine Laurie 19 Kurt Capewell

9 Harry Grant

18 Chris Lawrence 19 Sam McIntyre

Friday, August 28, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

panther rumblings

WITH THE MASKED PANTHER

CRITTER GOING NOWHERE !

Fear not Panthers fans, exciting centre Stephen Crichton won’t be going anywhere. He may not have officially signed on the dotted line yet, but the 19-year-old will be at the club until at least the end of 2024. I’m told there’s a few administrative hold-ups in the back end delaying an official announcement, but Crichton is well and truly locked in at the foot of the Mountains.

Stephen Crichton. Photo: NRL images.

It was no surprise to see Penrith submit a swift early guilty plea to Viliame Kikau’s Dangerous Contact charge stemming out of Friday night’s win over Cronulla. The chance of defending the charge and winning was small, but regardless, the Panthers are quite comfortable with any rest opportunities that emerge for the main squad. It’s an opportunity to give others a run who certainly need some game time should they be required during the Finals. Kikau will be back for next week’s game against the Broncos.

Also likely to be back next week is hooker Api Koroisau, who will miss Saturday’s clash with the Tigers due to a calf injury. However, given the short turnaround (Penrith play next Thursday) don’t be surprised if Cleary gives his star number nine an extra week off.

Scoop confirmed: I’d mentioned a few times this season that the Panthers were close to re-signing Liam Martin. The deal was done last week and the Blues forward- in- waiting has locked away his signature until the end of the 2023 season. “I’m really grateful and excited to know I’ll be at Panthers for the next few years,” Martin said.

A number of journalists out there seem determined to convince Matt Burton that he should be looking elsewhere given he can’t find his way into Penrith’s first grade team. As I reported a few weeks ago, Burton is going nowhere and tabloid headlines won’t change that. The 20-yearold is keen to stay at Penrith to see what eventuates. The club won’t keep him forever if a first grade spot doesn’t eventually arise, but he’s got no intention of a departure any time soon.

Charlie Staines has been given permission to test the open market but he too would prefer to stay at Penrith.

games will continue to be available only to full season ticketed members for the foreseeable future.

Former Panthers coach Anthony Griffin – one of the most successful modern coaches without a job – may finally land himself a gig. He’s said to be the favourite for the vacant coaching position at St George-Illawarra.

The limited ticket allocation for Saturday’s clash against Wests Tigers at Panthers Stadium has been exhausted. All available tickets for the Round 16 fixture were redeemed by Panthers full season members in just eight hours on Monday. Due to government restrictions and member demand, tickets to Panthers home

We’re being encouraged to show our Panther Pride on Friday, September 4 by wearing a jersey around town. Whether it’s to work, the pub or just out and about, make sure you put on your favourite jersey as part of Jersey Day. Hold on to your hats folks – the Penrith Panthers are now 2020 NRL Premiership favourites. The TAB has adjusted its market and the Panthers are now $3.75 favourites to lift the trophy on Grand Final day. It is an extraordinary turnaround considering the club didn’t make the Finals last year and was considered an outside

chance of winning the comp back before a ball was kicked in March. Melbourne and the Roosters are equal second favourites at $4.00.

Current Huddersfield coach and former Canberra Raiders hooker Simon Woolford is being tipped as a possible replacement for Trent Barrett as Penrith’s assistant coach next season.

The Weekender ran on online piece last week calling for a ‘big panther’ to be built in the Penrith CBD. And the concept may have some high profile support, with State Penrith MP Stuart Ayres immediately Tweeting the article, declaring: “I’m liking this Panther statue idea”. Let’s make this happen!

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EDWARDS MOVES ON FROM JOEY HIT strike out wide. We’re expecting a really tough encounter this week.” Edwards was in the thick of the action when the two sides last met in Round 8. The 24- year- old won’t forget the final few minutes of his side’s narrow win at Bankwest after he was ‘coat hangered’ off the ball by Leilua. It resulted in the controversial Tigers centre being suspended for four matches. Edwards said he never heard from or received an apology from Leilua after the sickening hit. “No and I wasn’t expecting to either, it definitely wasn’t that bad,” he said. “That sort of thing happens occasionally on the footy field. I don’t have any angst towards him or anything like that. I’m not really worrying about it.” After a rollercoaster season with injury, Edwards isn’t concerned about Leilua’s antics and is just happy to be back playing some decent footy again. The Bellingen Dorrigo Magpies junior has only appeared in seven of Penrith’s 15 games this year and is hoping his recent

NATHAN TAYLOR

nother chapter in the rivalry between Penrith and Wests will be written this Saturday night as the competition leaders look to bury the Tigers’ Finals hopes once and for all. Who could forget their last meeting in early July when Joey Leilua was sinbinned for a ‘dog shot’ on Dylan Edwards? How about when a victorious Ivan Cleary showed his rare ‘fun’ side and blew a kiss to upset Tigers fans after the game? Before a ball has even been kicked, you just know that something ‘headline worthy’ is going to come out of tomorrow night’s first v ninth clash. Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards said despite where both teams sit on the ladder, he’s expecting another fiery affair. “The Tigers really got up for us the last time we played them and I expect nothing less in this game,” he said. “They are a very physical side and they’ve got some really good middles and

Joey Leilua’s horrific hit on Dylan Edwards earlier this season. Photo: NRL Images. hamstring injury will be the end of his run of bad luck. “I’m feeling good, hopefully I can stay out there a lot longer this time around,” he said. “I’m still getting used to the pace of it again after a few weeks off.” Since his return in Round 14 against the Warriors, Edwards has been incredible. In his two games back, he’s ran for a total of 422m, broken 18 tackles and even scored a try.

Asked whether he was worried about young guns Charlie Staines and Daine Laurie nipping at his heels, the father of two said he was remaining focused on himself. “I don’t think I should worry, if I start worrying about that then I’m definitely not playing good footy,” he answered honestly. “I just have to focus on my job and if I do my job well then everything will work itself out.”

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PENRITH’S BACKLINE OF BEAUTY NATHAN TAYLOR

enrith will unleash one of the NRL’s most electrifying backlines this Saturday night when popular winger Brian To’o returns to the side after seven weeks on the sidelines. Only two other backlines named to play in the NRL this weekend (St GeorgeIllawarra and Cronulla) have scored more tries than Penrith’s hot five in Dylan Edwards, Josh Mansour, Brent Naden, Stephen Crichton and To’o. 22- year- old To’o hasn’t featured for the Panthers since injuring his ankle in Penrith’s 19- 12 victory over the Wests Tigers in early July. Ironically, To’o first game back from injury comes tomorrow night against Michael Maguire’s men. While the competition leaders will be boosted by the inclusion of To’o, they will be missing two key pieces due to suspension and injury. Wrecking ball Viliame Kikau will miss his second match of the season after being suspended one game for dangerous contact, while fellow Fijian and ‘Buy of the Year’ Apisai Koroisau will rest this weekend due to an injured calf. Speaking with the media on Tuesday,

Penrith stars Brian To’o, Jarome Luai and Stephen Crichton. Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai is confident back-up hooker Mitch Kenny can get the job done. “We have a really good replacement in Mitch Kenny, he did a real job for us play-

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ing 80 minutes a few weeks ago against the Titans,” he said. “We’re really happy for Mitch to get another opportunity and we’ve got a lot of faith in what he brings to the team.”

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While Penrith will be without their main number nine this weekend, the Tigers will be welcoming back their star dummy half after three weeks out with injury. Dally M favourite Harry Grant returns to Wests’ line- up tomorrow night with one clear job on his mind – saving his side’s season from disaster. Luai said they’ll be doing their homework on the star rookie, who is currently on loan from the Melbourne Storm. “He’s in real form every game I watch him play,” Luai said. “He’s really crafty around the ruck, he runs the ball and is a complete player. That’s a big in for them if he’s playing, that’ll be big for the Tigers.” The last time the two sides met there were plenty of fireworks at Bankwest Stadium. With Penrith aiming for an incredible 11 consecutive wins and the Tigers on the brink of elimination, you better lock your dog inside before you leave for the game on Saturday. “The Tigers are a really good team and they compete hard on every play,” Luai said. “We’re building up for a match like last time and we’re going to be prepared. We had a really good training session today, so we’ll be ready for them this weekend.”

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lang on league

with Peter Lang

with the Dogs having all the running, it would have been easy for Todd Payten’s men to turn up their toes and give up for the afternoon. However this team is made of sterner stuff and the character shown by the Warriors was obvious for all to see. What game I’m looking forward to... The Cronulla Sharks take on the North Queensland Cowboys at 5.30pm this Saturday and the men from the Shire really need to win this one to stay comfortably in the Top 8. They never gave up against the Panthers last week despite being well beaten on the scoreboard, and the return of Shaun Johnson is a real bonus. I’m expecting Cronulla to win but they won’t have it all their own way. My tips for the week... Eels, Dragons, Roosters, Knights, Panthers, Sharks, Storm, Raiders.

Panthers versus Tigers is the new Battle of the West. Photo: NRL Images. last week accused me of being a “biased jibberer”. He’s right on both counts... and I make no apologies for it.

What caught my eye last week... The five- star performance of the New Zealand Warriors last Sunday against the last- placed Bulldogs. At 10- 0 down and

The final word... Panthers supporters shouldn’t be angry at club officials if teenage flyer Charlie Staines takes up a more lucrative offer elsewhere. I hear they offered the youngster an upgrade on his contract next year with a sizeable monetary increase for the following two years. It’s more than a fair deal for a talented kid who has played around 100 minutes of first grade football.

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here’s a new rivalry which is brewing nicely in Sydney’s west and it’s bringing new interest to a clash which only a few years ago not many people really took much notice of. Now Penrith taking on the Wests Tigers is starting to rival the traditional Eels v Panthers clash. It’s not so much the battle of the big cats but the battle to beat Ivan Cleary. Ever since Ivan left the Tigers midcontract at the end of 2018 to take up a five year deal to coach his son Nathan and the Panthers, the rivalry has taken on a life of its own. I know several Tigers supporters who hate Penrith because Ivan coaches them but the anger isn’t just isolated to Wests Tigers supporters. High profile Fox Sports journo James Hooper, a noted black, white and orange fan, still blames the side’s woes on a roster which Ivan left incoming coach Madge Maguire. Yeah let’s not blame Maguire for the Tigers’ current situation, it’s all the fault of a bloke who left 18 months ago. The same bloke who also inherited a roster which he didn’t assemble but instead of let it hinder him, moved players on he didn’t want and promoted juniors he thought could play the style of footy that could win a comp. I have nothing against Wests Tigers supporters, they are entitled to feel however they like. A reader of this column

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Friday, August 28, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

nrl ladder & fixtures CLUB

Panthers

388

206 +182 27

Storm

374

182

+192 24

Eels

312

176

+136 24

Roosters

15 10

392

214

+178 20

Raiders

15 10

304

229

+75

Knights

317

232

+85

Rabbitohs

365

272

+93

Sharks

374

344

+30

W. Tigers

330

339

-9

10 Dragons

290

314

-24

253

343

-90

12 Warriors

221

352

-131

13 Titans

218

403

-185

14 Cowboys

269

386

-117

15 Broncos

210

465

-255

Sea Eagles

16 Bulldogs

202

362

+/-

-160

PTS

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ROUND 16 V

Thursday, August 27 7.50pm Bankwest Stadium

Friday, August 28 6.00pm Kogarah Oval

Friday, August 28 7.55pm SCG

Saturday, August 29 3.00pm Scully Park

Saturday, August 29 5.30pm Kogarah Oval

Saturday, August 29 7.35pm Panthers Stadium

Sunday, August 30 4.05pm Sunshine Coast Stadium

Sunday, August 30 6.30pm GIO Stadium

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tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funny how some things stick in your head. As clear as a bell, I can see former Gold Coast front rower Matt White using his body weight to come down on the back of the head and neck of Penrith fullback Lachlan Coote at Panthers Stadium in an early example of the crusher tackle. It was at the height of an NRL crackdown on a dangerous new technique â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yet another wrestling move â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that had seeped its way into the game, but the one thing I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember was when it happened. My guess was maybe six or seven years ago, so it was quite a surprise when the computer screen flashed up 2009 as the season in which that tackled occurred. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right. We were talking about the NRL getting tough on crusher tackles for the first time 11 long years ago. White was hit with a three week suspension, other players served time on the sidelines as well, and the clampdown had the desired effect. So how is it that here we are all these seasons later â&#x20AC;&#x201C; more than a decade down the track â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and one of the biggest topics in the game suddenly is a tackling style that the NRL thought it had removed from the game in 2009. As always, any of these manoeuvres that find their way crossing over from the martial arts world to the rugby league

Referees are again clamping down on crusher tackles. field are trained into the players as a way of controlling the ruck and the speed of the play the ball that follows. Watch what happens in any of these current crusher tackles and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll quickly

notice that on too many occasions the defender makes contact with the ballcarrierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head as a result of trying to pin the attackerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upper body to the ground, crowding him as he hits the turf back-first.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the modern defensive mantra of getting numbers in tackles, wrapping up the ballcarrier and not allowing him to use an arm to spin over and play the ball as quickly as possible. All of that is fine, but not if you make contact with the head in trying to control the ruck. It happens so often at the moment that watchers of the game just shrug their shoulders and say that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always happened that way. Except it hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. The way defenders approach their work is always evolving, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to forget that there was a time in the game when the crusher tackle didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist. Defenders donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a right to control the tackle by any means possible, but as is often the case, the match review committee can take some time in catching up to the defensive trends that continue to emerge in the NRL. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the case now, however, and while thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be more debate about players rightly or wrongly penalised or attackers who are perceived to be trying to milk a penalty by staying down, the current crackdown on this 11- year- old technique has to continue. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too much at stake for the player on the receiving end for anything other than a game- wide stance that says this tactic will end right here.

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Friday, August 28, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

clinton maynard I

t’s remarkable given the world is still in the grip of a deadly pandemic, but the NRL is likely to play 20 rounds, a Finals series, Grand Final and State of Origin this year. I sat in the press conference when Peter V’landys announced the competition was stopping after the first two rounds. As a league lover it was genuinely scary. Up until that point Mr V’landys, with his ‘can do’ attitude, was talking up league’s ability to continue through the pandemic, but suddenly he’d been given bad news, he called the competition off and warned if and when it resumed, it was unlikely to look the same. I asked him would clubs be in jeopardy? He was blunt, yes they were. Given that situation it is amazing league was one of the first professional sports anywhere in the world to return and, touch wood, teams will play only four fewer matches than originally scheduled. However thought now needs to be given to what 2021 looks like. The reality is we will still be living with COVID-19 next year. The best case scenario is a vaccine will be introduced at some point in 2021, but even so the entire population won’t have the jab straight away. So that means all the current rules of players living in bubbles, tiny crowds and social distancing will remain. Players in a bubble is a good thing, how

Peter V’landys has some more tough calls to make. Photo: NRL Images. many nightclub incidents have we seen this year? Players have been remarkably well behaved other than visiting bikie

barber shops, shooting a few guns on the mid North Coast and enjoying a bit of TikTok action.

Wayne Bennett is probably the worst offender, going off to have some pasta for lunch. So the bubble stays, maybe make it permanent. When will the 2021 season start? The Grand Final won’t be until the end of October and Origin is in November. Given players need a break under their collective bargaining agreement, it’s hard to see season 2021 kicking off in early March. Why not delay it until April? This year’s injury toll is horrific and while some are blaming the speed of the game caused by ‘six again’, it’s more likely the disrupted start to the year and then the enforced break is behind the issue. So it’s crucial players have a break and there’s a proper pre-season. If that means we have two or three fewer games next year so be it, is anyone really complaining that this season only features 20 NRL rounds? Let’s aim for 22 rather than the standard 25. The biggest questions surround the New Zealand Warriors and Melbourne. The Storm can remain on the Sunshine Coast, they’re all Queenslanders anyway, who’d really miss Melbourne? However it’s hard to see travel across the Tasman being unrestricted even in six months’ time. Is it acceptable for the Warriors players to live overseas for another season? That is probably the greatest challenge the game has to confront ahead of the 2021 season.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, August 28, 2020

Big questions emerge over how the NRL looks in 2021

extra minutes !

Anthony Seibold fronted the media on Wednesday to confirm his immediate departure as coach of the Brisbane Broncos. Seibold said the crazy events at the Broncos over the past two years haven’t dampened his enthusiasm for coaching. He said he would spend some time reflecting for the next few weeks, and was grateful for his time at Brisbane.

Sydney Roosters Club Captain Mitchell Aubusson has announced that he will retire from rugby league at the end of the 2020 NRL season. 32-year-old Aubusson, currently the second mostcapped player in the foundation club’s history with 301 games to date, said that after 13 seasons of top- grade football, the time was right to move on to the next chapter of his life. “This is a decision I’ve thought long and hard about. I’m still really enjoying my footy and love being around the team we have here at the Roosters, but I have no doubt that it’s the right time to make this call,” he said.

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says something more about them than it does the people that they’re talking about.”

With Tigerair no longer operating due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the airline confirmed as never to return, the Melbourne Storm have moved to thank their partner of eight years. “Our Club – the Board, Staff and Players – appreciate the important part Tigerair have played over these eight years in giving us the opportunity to perform on and off the field,” the Storm said in a statement.

North Queensland Cowboys forward Jason Taumalolo will be missing for up to four weeks after suffering a calf tear against the Knights last weekend. Hooker Reece Robson will miss the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring tear at training.

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! Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys has made it clear the NRL will support any campaign to stamp out online bullying. Speaking on 2GB last weekend, V’landys said he was behind the likes of Erin Molan who had spoken out about online trolls in recent weeks. “I’m 100 per cent with Erin, I think everything she said is so true and so accurate and the NRL will certainly get behind any campaign that stops this type of behaviour because it’s un- Australian, it’s inhumane,” he said. “People that try to hurt people online, it

Mitchell Aubusson. Photo: NRL Images.

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