Extra Time March 11 2022

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James Fisher-Harris. Photo: NRL Images.

DYLANDS R A W D E R E T S PO E D I S IN

home again AFTER TWO YEARS OF LOCKDOWNS, RELOCATIONS AND UNCERTAINTY, THE PANTHERS ARE FINALLY BACK AT BLUEBET STADIUM FOR A NEW SEASON.

LANG ON LEAGUE PETER LANG MAKES HIS FOUR FEARLESS PANTHERS PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2022 SEASON PAGE 32

LOWER GRADES REPORT

CELEBRITY TIPSTERS

OUR NEW AND IMPROVED COVERAGE OF THE NSW CUP AND JERSEY FLEGG COMPETITIONS PAGE 39

CHECK OUT OUR NEW LINE-UP OF TIPSTERS FOR THE SEASON. WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING? PAGES 40-41

Friday, March 11, 2022 « the western weekender

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 11, 2022

match preview

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Jarome Luai will be a key figure in the match. Photo: NRL Photos.

TROY DODDS

A

nd just like that, here we are again.

The start of a new season, with new expectations and a long road to October ahead.

Penrith come into the 2022 season as defending Premiers for the first time in almost two decades, an unfamiliar position as they become the hunted rather than the hunters.

This is also unprecedented territory for coach Ivan Cleary, who has so often developed his pre-seasons around going one better than the previous year, or lifting a rebuilding team from the bottom end of the ladder to safer ground.

Now, he is striving to ensure the 2021 Panthers were no flash in the pan. Backto-back would be nice, obviously, but the first step is to ensure Penrith remains in the

THURSDAY, MARCH 10 | 8.05PM | BLUEBET STADIUM | REFEREE: ADAM GEE conversation with the likes of the Roosters and Storm as the NRL’s elite. Cleary and his side must prove that the 2020 and 2021 seasons were no abnormality; that normal programming when selecting the NRL’s Premiership favourites will always involve Penrith.

This opening game against Manly is intriguing for a variety of reasons – not the least of which is what history says about where this game will likely land.

The Panthers haven’t lost a Premiership match at BlueBet Stadium since the middle of the 2019 season, while you have to go all the way back to June 2018 to find the last time Manly beat Penrith.

The Sea Eagles are also notorious slow starters to a season and have an awful firstup record, while the Panthers have gener-

ally started seasons well in recent years, particularly 2020 and 2021.

The big factor here is obviously Nathan Cleary. While it was hoped the champion halfback would be fit for this game, the club confirmed on Tuesday he’ll miss the opening three rounds of the season as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

Sean O’Sullivan comes into the halfback role with big shoes to fill, but he showed in the trials that he’ll be far from a mediocre replacement. O’Sullivan was brought into the squad as cover for Cleary and the team would have anticipated this occurring at some stage – so it’s no major disruption.

O’Sullivan doesn’t have Cleary’s kicking game or game management skills but with premiership experience under their belt, the likes of Jarome Luai and Dylan Edwards

PANTHERS

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will step up and take more of a leadership role in attack.

The Sea Eagles, who enjoyed an overachieving season in 2021, will again rely on Tom Trbojevic to light up the field – and he’s the obvious danger man in this one.

But Kieran Foran has been very vocal in the off-season about how keen he is to have a big impact this season, and alongside Daly Cherry-Evans will look to form a strong halves combination that takes the Sea Eagles deep into the season.

Even without Cleary, the Panthers at home on their own track – particularly given the weather this week – have the clear advantage. On paper, Penrith’s premiership-winning forward pack should be enough to get the job done.

Tip: Panthers by 8.

SEA EAGLES

1 Dylan Edwards

10 James Fisher-Harris

1 Tom Trbojevic

2 Charlie Staines

11 Viliame Kikau

2 Jason Saab

10 Martin Taupau 11 Haumole Olakau’atu

3 Izack Tago

12 Liam Martin

3 Brad Parker

12 Ethan Bullemor

4 Stephen Crichton

13 Isaah Yeo (c)

4 Morgan Harper

13 Jake Trbojevic

5 Brian To’o

14 Mitch Kenny

5 Reuben Garrick

14 Tolutau Koula

6 Jarome Luai

15 Scott Sorensen

6 Kieran Foran

15 Karl Lawton

7 Sean O’Sullivan

16 Spencer Leniu

7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c)

16 Sean Keppie

8 Moses Leota

17 Matthew Eisenhuth

8 Toafofoa Sipley

17 Saniela Paseka

9 Apisai Koroisau

18 Chris Smith 19. J’Maine Hopgood

9 Lachlan Croker

18 Morgan Boyle 19 Andrew Davey

29

Friday, March 11, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time

panther rumblings

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WITH THE MASKED PANTHER

MEDIA MAN CALLS IT QUITS ! Media Manager departs: Long-time Panthers Media Manager Evan Sieff is departing the club. Thursday night’s game against Manly was his last in charge of the media department after almost seven years with the Panthers. Sieff has played a key role in ensuring Penrith’s communication with the media improved vastly in recent years – and it’s certainly been a busy and unprecedented period managing interviews and commitments during the pandemic. He’s also the man behind the script of those awesome season launch videos.

Sieff’s replacement is former Big League journalist Michael Blok, who joins the Panthers from the Wests Tigers – another one off the bus!

Evan Sieff on the mic.

! Cleary’s cheers: Panthers co-captain Nathan Cleary is keeping things close to home, becoming an investor in Penrithbased beer Drink West. If you’re interested in grabbing a carton of ‘the beer from out here’, head to drinkwest.com.au. ! Launch goes ahead: There were fears that Penrith’s season launch in midFebruary would have to be called off due to COVID rules that are still surrounding NRL squads. The NRL ordered clubs to ensure players didn’t mingle with sponsors, while events had to happen outdoors. Thankfully the Panthers had already planned to have the event in The Backyard, an outdoor area at Panthers Leagues Club, so the launch was able to proceed with strict rules. ! NRL pulls the plug: One launch that didn’t go ahead was the NRL’s planned extravaganza at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. It would have been the first time the NRL had launched the season in Penrith, but head office opted to cancel the event given the flood situation in northern New South Wales. The NRL has created a $500,000 Flood Relief Fund to assist grassroots clubs get back on their feet. ! All above Board: It was interesting to note during the recent Panthers Board Elections that one journalist in particular continued the obsession with Directors of the club also having earned income from Panthers via their companies – all for legitimate work and all declared, mind

you. If we’re going to say that Directors can’t have commercial involvement with the club, we’re going to miss out on some very astute Board candidates in the future.

One thing that has to change at Panthers is the rule that prevents those running from the Board from engaging with the media. As we saw, it doesn’t stop journalists writing about the election and candidates anyway – so why not let them run a media campaign if they wish?

! Sponsor dials in: Panthers has announced that Motorola Mobility has signed on as the club’s official smartphone partner. Panthers is the first Australian sporting franchise to team up with the global telecommunications company, which already enjoys successful partnerships with iconic NBA franchises Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers in the United States.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Motorola to the Panthers corporate network,” Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher said. “It is a fantastic endorsement of our club to have

! Tip with the stars: Some of the Penrith business community’s biggest names are back in the Weekender’s Celebrity Tipping competition this year (see pages 40 and 41). Among the new entrants this year is Indi Cleary, Nathan’s sister and Ivan’s daughter. Indi has recently joined Property Central in Penrith in its sales team.

the support of a globally recognised and respected brand like Motorola.”

! Luke signs on: Penrith last week confirmed the signing of hooker Soni Luke on a two-year deal. The 26-year-old completed the NRL pre-season on a train-andtrial contract after spending the last five seasons in the NSW Cup competition. “To be part of an NRL squad like this has been a goal of mine for a long time so I’m stoked to finally have this opportunity,” Luke said. “I felt like this pre-season was my last chance to make it happen so I put my head down and I’m so grateful Ivan (Cleary) has given me a shot. Growing up in Mt Druitt and coming through the grades, this club has always been home and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

! Panthers Zoom in: The Penrith Panthers held their weekly media session with the players via Zoom on Tuesday due to the rain and hazardous conditions.

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hen Sean O’Sullivan left his initial stint at the Panthers at age 17, he always envisioned returning home someday.

Stuck behind – now Premiership-winning halves – Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai in the pecking order, the teenager linked up with the Sydney Roosters in 2018 where he’d go on to make his NRL debut.

12 months later circumstances took the talented half to Brisbane to play with the Broncos before he arrived at the Australianbased New Zealand Warriors last season, playing a dozen first grade games.

With the defending Premiers’ backup halves in Matt Burton and Tyrone May leaving the club in the recent off-season, Penrith decided to call upon a familiar face to return to where it all started.

“I always hoped I’d be back one day,” O’Sullivan admitted to Extra Time.

“When I left I was 17, you don’t really expect anything but you always hoped to be able to come back and play with your mates again. I didn’t think it would actually happen, but it was so good when I got that call [from Penrith] about coming home… I was ‘all in’ straight away.”

The decision to bring the now 23-yearold back to the foot of the Mountains is proving to be a masterstroke by Panthers management, with Clive Churchill Medallist and co-skipper Nathan Cleary set to be sidelined until at least Round 4.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 11, 2022

feature

Sean O’Sullivan in action for Penrith during the pre-season. Photo: NRL Images.

O’Sullivan said the decision to return home after five years away was one of the best choices – both personally and professionally – he’s ever made.

“It’s amazing being back in Penrith and in this community, so much has changed since I left. The other day Mitch [Kenny], Nath [Cleary] and I had a feed

Sean O’Sullivan in action for Penrith during the pre-season. Photo: NRL Images.

down at the river and that’s all changed too… it’s so good being back home,” he said.

“But my biggest reason for wanting to return here was so that I could learn from both Nath and Jarome, plus the system that they are building here is invaluable experience, really. Learning off those two players was definitely the main drawcard.”

It’s widely regarded that Penrith embraces their local juniors like no other club, and O’Sullivan says that’s been evident since he’s thrown on the Panthers kit again.

The Glenmore Park Brumbies junior said the transition to his fourth club in four years has been “smoother” than previous moves because of that familiarity with the local area and his teammates.

“At lot of us went to school at St Patties together, so it’s funny seeing Izack Tago and some of the others because when I was in Year 11 and 12, they were in Year 8… it’s crazy seeing them all progress,” O’Sullivan said.

“I just feel a lot more comfortable here because I played with a lot of these guys when we were kids in the SG Ball competition.

“I’ve been mates with them since we were young and it just makes you feel that little bit more comfortable.”

With O’Sullivan set to wear the famous Panthers number seven jumper for at least the next three weeks, he said he’s prepared to do whatever he can to channel his ‘inner Nathan Cleary’ while also improving his own playmaking game.

“Nath’s been teaching me how to do his bombs, and it’s just been cool to pick his brain,” O’Sullivan said.

“I wouldn’t say I’m trying to copy Nath because Nath is Nath – he’s the best halfback in the world. But our attacking coach Andrew Webster has been a massive help to me also, trying to assist me in areas where he thinks I can improve and where Nath’s very good at.”

With O’Sullivan’s teammates and coach backing him to do the job whilst Cleary is away, it’s now down to the man himself to show Panthers supporters what he’s got.

“I definitely back myself to be ready and do my job for the team, that’s what I’m here for,” O’Sullivan said.

“I’m confident in the pre-season that I’ve had and Ivan always says ‘you can’t get back your pre-season’, so that really resonated with me to knuckle down and give it my all.”

31

Friday, March 11, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time

MY FOUR FEARLESS PANTHERS PREDICTIONS AHEAD OF 2022 W

lang on league with Peter Lang

ell it’s time for the real games to begin. Forget the trials, forget the pre-season interviews, commercials and hype, the NRL season 2022 is about to get underway.

For the Panthers, well they’re the Premiers, so they’ve now gone from the hunters to the hunted. This means each game they play they’ll have a target on their back and teams will go in harder against them in an effort to topple the champions.

OK, no more stuffing around, here are my four fearless predictions for Penrith in 2022.

Where will they finish after 25 rounds?

I’ve given this a lot of thought, studied the form guides, looked at the draw and believe after 25 rounds the Panthers will finish third on the NRL competition ladder.

I think both the Roosters and Storm will finish ahead of them with the Eels coming in a close fourth.

The Panthers’ draw is not too bad at the start of the season but a lot will depend on how soon Nathan Cleary returns from injury. If we lose him for any length of time during the year, I think Penrith will finish outside the Top Four.

Who will be the Player of the Year?

I’ve got a feeling that Isaah Yeo will emerge as the Panthers’ most important player this year. The work he does in the middle of the ruck, how he cleans up missed tackles, inspires the forwards around him and his back up and passing game are second to

Is this the Year of Yeo?

none. Isaah is a real leader both on and off the field. This is the Year of Yeo, mark my words.

Who will be the Rookie of the Year?

I picked him last year as the next ‘big thing’ and in the one game I saw him play, he didn’t disappoint. Mavrik Geyer showed the league world in the trial against the Sharks why Craig Bellamy wanted him so badly. He’s a big body but he’s extremely mobile and more importantly, he’s a real footballer not just a one-trick pony. When, not if, he gets his chance, you’ll see how special this kid really is.

Who needs to improve?

There’s no doubt Stephen Crichton helped deliver the Panthers their third premiership with that wonderful intercept in the Grand Final. Apart from that though, he had a quiet 2021 and during the trial against the Eels he was a ghost. In 2022 he’ll have his centre spot back so there will be no excuses.

My final eight 1. Sydney Roosters 2. Melbourne Storm 3. Penrith Panthers 4. Parramatta Eels 5.

Manly Sea-Eagles 6. South Sydney Rabbitohs 7. Cronulla Sharks 8. New Zealand Warriors.

It’s going to be a big year for the Panthers, they’ve lost a lot of experience from last year’s side but there are some wonderful young players waiting in the wings for their chance to shine.

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 11, 2022

feature

EDWARDS BACKS NEW HALFBACK TO PERFORM NATHAN TAYLOR

G

rand Final hero Dylan Edwards says the defending Premiers are not a one-man team and halfback Nathan Cleary’s absence during the opening three rounds is just another challenge his side will have to take on.

Still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, the Panthers co-captain and 2021 Clive Churchill Medallist isn’t expected to return to the line-up until Penrith’s Grand Final rematch against South Sydney in Round 4.

Speaking with the media via Zoom on Tuesday, Edwards said the loss of Cleary to start the season was a blow but one – as a group – they were prepared for.

“Nath’s a key part of our team and a key part of our success, but we’ve got a really good back-up in Sean

O’Sullivan ready to go and he’ll run the team around and do a good job for us, I’m sure,” he said.

“We’re not a one-man side or anything like that. We will all do our jobs and we’ve all got to perform well to get the job done.

“Sully (O’Sullivan) is a genuine halfback that can steer the team around and kick well. He’s got a good temperament and he’s talking and performing well at training.

“We’ve done it before without Nathan – it doesn’t make it easier missing someone of his calibre – but we’re good to go.”

With injury, suspension and now COVID infections a big part of the rugby league landscape, clubs will need to be resilient and ready for whatever gets thrown at them this season.

Edwards said the best and most prepared clubs will be the ones leading the way when adversity strikes “You’ve got to be able to handle

setbacks in this game, especially this year considering all the COVID restrictions and that sort of thing,” he said.

“It’s something to work on and something we’ve got to be able to do if we are to succeed this year.”

After bravely playing the entire NRL Finals Series last year with a broken foot, Edwards confirmed he’s ready to “rock and roll” after a “good little break” during the recent off-season. The 26-year-old said he can’t wait to play footy again after missing the hugely disappointing Battle of the West trial due to illness.

“We definitely addressed some areas that we missed that game and that you can’t afford to miss when you’re playing NRL… it’s something we don’t want to replicate again,” Edwards said of the 36-0 drubbing to the Eels.

“Personally, I’m pumped to be playing footy again after a short but very intense pre-season.”

Dylan Edwards playing in last year’s NRL Grand Final.

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Friday, March 11, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 11, 2022

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Friday, March 11, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time

WHY PENRITH IS STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT THIS SEASON

warren T smith

Now the Panthers have climbed the Mountain, is the hunger there to do it again?

Brought to you by

he party was probably over when the heat and humidity of the first pre-season training run hit home, but if there were any lingering thoughts of champagne corks and big nights that became long days for the Panthers players, the arrival of Round 1 of the new season would probably snap them back to reality.

Going back-to-back in the NRL has proven to be harder than getting the washing dry on a summer’s day in Sydney, and it’s reasonable to suggest that there’s been more than a few Grand Final-winning teams who have struggled to shake-off a Premiership hangover.

Occasionally, the view from the top of the mountain isn’t what some thought it would be. Having done it once can be enough for others.

Even if the competitive fire burns just as brightly as the year before, the champs find that they’ve gone from the hunter to the hunted. There’s nothing like playing the reigning Premiers to inspire an opponent into finding that little bit extra within.

The good news for the Panthers is that while they have lost some personnel who played an important role in the 2021 Premiership, they still have the key ingredients needed for a team to be successful.

The spine of the team that won it all the hard way is still intact. Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary and Api Koroisau are as good as any combination of fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker in the game, and far better than most.

Edwards was inspirational in playing through the Finals Series with a serious foot injury, while Cleary defied the odds to make it through the season with a shoulder injury that required a reconstruction in the days after the victory lap at Suncorp Stadium.

They’re talented footballers, but beyond that, they’re tough.

Those two, along with Jarome Luai, are contracted to the Panthers until the end of the 2024 season, with Dylan Edwards having extended his current deal by two years at the end of January.

For Koroisau, however, this will be his final season as a Panther after agreeing to terms to move to the Tigers in 2023. Is there extra motivation knowing that this will be his last campaign with the players he carried the trophy with?

It’s not like he needs further incentive – you only have to watch him play, putting his body on the line as he makes tackle after tackle, going low on the biggest men in the NRL, to realise he isn’t cut from the same cloth as most.

There’s a resilience among that core group that should make the Panthers the team to beat again in 2022.

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PD

W

D

L

B

F

A

+/-

PTS

1

Panthers

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

00

00

2

Bulldogs

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

00

00

3

Cowboys

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0

0

0

00

00

4

Dragons

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

00

00

5

W. Tigers

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0

0

0

0

0

0

00

00

6

Knights

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

00

00

7

Broncos

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

00

00

8

Rabbitohs

0

0

0

0

0

0

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00

00

9

Raiders

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

00

00

10 Roosters

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0

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0

0

0

0

00

00

11

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

00

00

12 Sharks

0

0

0

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0

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13 Storm

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00

00

Sea Eagles

14 Titans 15 Warriors 16 Eels

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0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0

00 00 00

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ROUND 1 V

Thursday, March 10 8.05pm BlueBet Stadium

V

Friday, March 11 6.00pm GIO Stadium

V

Friday, March 11 8.05pm Suncorp Stadium

V

Saturday, March 12 3.00pm Sydney Cricket Ground

V

Saturday, March 12 5.30pm Sunshine Coast Stadium

V

Saturday, March 12 7.35pm CommBank Stadium

V

Sunday, March 13 4.05pm Commbank Stadium C

Face In Th e Crowd

IS THIS YOU? ?

Is this you at a recent Penrith Panthers game? If it is, you’ve won a Hoyts Family Movie Pass to use at any Hoyts Cinema in Australia! To collect your prize, visit the Weekender office at 2/42-44 Abel Street, Jamisontown and ask for Nathan Taylor.

Extra Time Issue Number 2022-001

00 00

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 11, 2022

nrl ladder & fixtures

V

Sunday, March 13 6.15pm QLD Country Bank Stadium

PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au WRITERS Nathan Taylor, Peter Lang, Warren Smith, Lachlan Jeffery SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi / 4722 2998 chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au

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Ph: 4731 5444 • 218 Great Western Hwy Kingswood

www.countrybrewer.com.au

37

AIR CONDITIONING

4735 6411

DIAMOND DEALER

SPLIT SYSTEMS

Reverse Cycle Inverters FULLY INSTALLED 2.5kW $1800 3.5kW $1980 5kW $2420 7kW $2810 8kW $3250

SPLIT SYSTEMS

Reverse Cycle Inverters FULLY INSTALLED 2.5kW $1650 3.5kW $1770 0 5kW $2100 0 WIFI 7kW $2370 0 INCLUDED 8kW $3170 0

ALL PRICES INCLUDE GST • 5 YEAR WARRANTY

ALL PRICES INCLUDE GST • 5 YEAR WARRANTY ARRANTY

SPLIT SYSTEMS

SPLIT SYSTEMS

Based on a back-to-back install, single storey

Based on a back-to-back install, single storey

Reverse Cycle Inverters FULLY INSTALLED 2.5kW $1730 3.5kW $1950 5kW $2370 7kW $2760 8kW $3330

Reverse Cycle Inverters FULLY INSTALLED 2.5kW $1890 3.5kW $2120 5kW $2600 7kW $3050 8.5kW $3590

ALL PRICES INCLUDE GST • 5 YEAR WARRANTY

ALL PRICES INCLUDE GST • 5 YEAR WARRANTY

Based on a back-to-back install, single storey

Based on a back-to-back install, single storey

HEATING & COOLING SPECIALISTS WW43588

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Friday, March 11, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time

Lower Mountains

A

lower grades report with Lachlan Jeffery @LachlanJeffery

fter two straight seasons called off due to COVID-19, the Penrith Panthers will be looking forward to a complete season in the Knock-On Effect (KOE) NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup competitions in 2022.

For many players, the Panthers pre-season trials marked the first time since the NSWRL suspended its competitions in July last year that they have had any game time.

The Panthers will field a relatively new-look squad in the KOE Cup this year, with several players moving on, but coach Peter Wallace has already been impressed by what he’s seen in the preseason.

“I’m really happy with the last trial, even the first one to be fair, the first one we played against Mounties we just did a lot of defence, which was probably good for us,” Wallace said.

“Then the last one against Parramatta at BlueBet Stadium. They had a pretty good pack to start the game.

Penrith’s NSW Cup coach, Peter Wallace. Photo: NRL Images.

“We went with them early and then we were down at half-time and came back to win the game too which is a good sign.”

There will be plenty of up and coming players to watch this year, with the likes of Lindsay Smith and Kurt Falls primed to have big seasons according to Wallace.

A number of players also played with the first grade squad during their trial against Cronulla, which Wallace also believed would help their cause.

The Jersey Flegg squad features seven players who were part of the 2021 team, with the majority of the rest coming from the SG Ball Cup squad.

The Panthers were sitting in the top four prior to the season being abandoned and will be looking to pick that form up again in 2022.

The Panthers begin their KOE Cup and Jersey Flegg seasons this Saturday against the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at BlueBet Stadium in Penrith.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 11, 2022

DEPTH ON SHOW AS NSW CUP, FLEGG TEAMS RETURN IN 2022

my panther memories

NAME: JACOB SHEPPARD | SUBURB: PENRITH when Te Maire Martin kicked the game winning field goal in the dying embers of the game, I took great pleasure in making sure the Broncos fans behind me would have a taste of their own medicine. Their mighty Broncos had just lost to our little old Panthers. All it took was one game and this pom was stood on his seat, slapping the badge and shouting his voice away.

Why was this memory so important to you?

It was the moment I fell in love with the community, the sport and this team. It’s been a passion and love that I’ve been able to share with my partner ever since.

Your Macca’s® favourites now delivered straight to your door.

How long have you been supporting the Panthers? Seven years.

SUBMIT YOUR MEMORY – EMAIL INFO@WESTERNWEEKENDER.COM.AU

WW43970

What is your greatest Penrith Panthers memory?

I moved to Australia from the UK in 2015 with my Panthers-mad Aussie girlfriend. My first game was the Round 3 clash against Brisbane the following year.

Coming from England, where soccer fans are segregated at games, I was confused and almost disgusted that the fans of the away team were allowed to sit pretty much wherever they wanted to, we had the unpleasant misfortune of having an entire row of rowdy Broncos fans sit behind us. Broncos raced out to a two try lead within 12 minutes and all I could hear was the cocky comments from behind me, “we’re gonna put 50 on these lot”, “the ref should call the game off now, put them out of their misery.” I can assure you that

39

Friday, March 11, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time

celebrity tipsters troy dodds THE WESTERN WEEKENDER | 4722 2998

kim riley CATHOLIC CEMETERIES | 9826 2273

donna hildon SUPREMACY FUNERALS | 4721 2020

keiran mcgarity RAINE & HORNE COMMERCIAL | 0417 228 504

lee banister TRESAMI COMPUTER ENGINEERING | 1300 318 444

jeff lemon KHP CIVIL | 4773 9275

ken hale KEN HALE PLUMBING | 4773 9275

lee waterhouse PROPERTY CENTRAL | 0410 338 040

matt keen KEEN AIR SOLUTIONS | 8002 1822

corey phillips LEISURE POOLS | 0415 699 086

terry hansen PROFESSIONALS OUTER WESTERN SYDNEY | 0418 245 683

jason sproh GENESIS AIR CONDITIONING | 0405 445 484

joseph vella AGENT4U REALTY/ VM REALTY GROUP | 0403 183 638

luke belotti MACQUARIE COMMERCIAL | 0402 896 906

richard emerson EMERSON’S ENVIROCARE | 0419 972 399

cameron faico PROPERTY CENTRAL | 0434 400 225

nathan taylor THE WESTERN WEEKENDER | 4722 2998

ian garton MCDONALD’S GARTON GROUP | 4721 2992

david collins STANTON & TAYLOR REAL ESTATE | 0437 436 933

gizzelle powell 40

REMAX/LIFESTYLE MARKETING | 0428 934 618

PANTHERS SHARKS

BRONCOS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

SEA EAGLES RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

SEA EAGLES SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

BRONCOS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

SEA EAGLES SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

BRONCOS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

SEA EAGLES SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

BRONCOS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

SEA EAGLES SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS KNIGHTS

DRAGONS STORM

TITANS BULLDOGS

000

CC TYRES | 4731 4822

victor glanville VICS MAXI TRANSPORT | 4732 2195

chris gross VISION PERSONAL TRAINING | 4745 5079

charbel geagea KELLY PARTNERS | 4726 9666

derry o’donovan O’DONOVANS | 0414 254 074

ross fowler ROSS FOWLER & CO | 0419 738 484

indi cleary PROPERTY CENTRAL | 0439 547 367

james shillito HERTZ | 47316 344

dee barlow COUNTRY BREWER | 4731 5444

alex mckenzie FUTURE FINANCIAL SERVICES | 0414 330 651

ben carter CARTERS TAX ADVISORY | 4708 3088

hans bor VISION PAINTING | 0404 459 600

keith wilson IRRESISTABLE POOLS & SPAS | 4776 1118

asha dooley GRACE FUNERALS | 4735 6900

chris ayling ARUM ADVISORY | 8302 3677

garth butler PENRITH TOYOTA | 8805 9500

david thomas C A HILL | 4736 6066

leigh hartog JK WILLIAMS | 4725 3400

mark stevenson BELL PARTNERS | 9249 7600

shanaka de silva SYNERGY ACCOUNTING | 4732 6555

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

SEA EAGLES RAIDERS

BRONCOS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

BRONCOS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

SEA EAGLES SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

BRONCOS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

SEA EAGLES SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

PANTHERS RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

BRONCOS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS BULLDOGS

000

PANTHERS SHARKS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

DRAGONS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

SEA EAGLES RAIDERS

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS

WARRIORS STORM

EELS COWBOYS

000

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, March 11, 2022

michael ashton

41

Friday, March 11, 2022 « the western weekender

DAG@5 ͽ @AD? BDAH2@ FD;3GF6

NETSTRATA JUBILEE STADIUM FRIDAY 18TH MARCH | 6:00PM TICKETS AVAILABLE VIA TICKETEK

42

WW47535