MOSES LEOTA POSTER INSIDE
We’ve seen plenty of coach sackings over the years but very few within 48 hours of a game. Yet that is the circumstances Souths found themselves in this week after axing Jason Demetriou on Tuesday.
Contrary to popular belief, that does not make this a danger game. The whole ‘new coach equals a win’ theory is one of the great rugby league myths.
It is incredible to think how quickly the mighty have fallen. It was in this corresponding fixture last year that the Rabbitohs stormed home late to beat Penrith and emerge as Premiership favourites. We all know what happened next – a spectacular fall from Finals contention, and now a horror start to the 2024 season and a coach gone.
The Panthers meantime are sitting pretty in third spot on the ladder after a gritty 26-20 win
over North Queensland last Saturday night.
The final scoreline probably better suited the tightness of the game, with the half-time lead of 18-4 flattering Penrith; the margin bloated by an intercept try against the run of play just before the break.
For Penrith to win the match with just 45 per cent of possession, and a completion rate of 78 per cent, against a desperate home team was something to admire. Indeed, almost every statistic except the one that matters tells you the Cowboys should have won that game. But the Panthers’ Finals-like defence shone through, and it should put to bed any fears that the Panthers aren’t legitimate title hopes again this year.
On paper, it’s hard to go past Penrith in this Round 9 fixture. It’s equally hard to imagine the Rabbitohs coming back from that thumping to the Storm down at AAMI Park on ANZAC Day.
the final word
But one thing that would give Souths hope is that they still scored 20 points and four tries in what is one of the NRL’s toughest road trips. There was a period in the second half that would have had Demetriou equally happy and frustrated, pondering why such a stand couldn’t have happened earlier.
There’s no doubt Penrith’s defence, which has typically conceded two tries a game for much of the premiership run, has been a little easier to penetrate this year, and if the Rabbitohs can get a roll on, they’d fancy themselves a chance of piling on some points.
It should also be noted that the Panthers have had a tough turnaround heading into this Thursday night fixture, travelling from Townsville late on Sunday night back into Sydney and then straight into preparations for their next match. There could well be some weary legs as the 80 minutes rolls on.
The question for Souths is simple: What are you playing for now? Surely, they haven’t given up on the season – and they’re technically only two wins out of the top eight despite sitting in last spot.
It feels like a long way up from where the Rabbitohs sit but every journey must start somewhere, and I don’t think Souths are simply going to surrender this one as they desperately try to save their season.
That said, if Penrith produce the type of grit and determination they did against North Queensland, they’ll be hard to stop.
A few less errors though, especially coming out of trouble, will be needed to ensure another victory.
I’m tipping this one will be a little tighter than many expect, but Penrith should be too classy in the end.
Tip: Panthers by 10.
panther rumblings
TURUVA RESTED AFTER BIG WEEK
! Cleary’s big Turuva call: There’s no question that Ivan Cleary made the right call to leave Sunia Turuva out of the clash with North Queensland last week after an enormous couple of weeks for the youngster in regards to sorting out his future. The Panthers found it a distraction, particularly as the Tigers talk started to emerge during their preparation for the Townsville trip. The final straw may well have came when the Tigers announced Turuva’s three-year deal last Friday, just 24 hours before Penrith’s game against the Cowboys. It wasn’t the most respectful of timing.
! Headache for Venues NSW: It’s a problem they’re happy to have but Venues NSW will certainly have their work cut out for them next year when it comes to hosting NRL matches. The organisation runs CommBank Stadium, Accor Stadium and Allianz Stadium. Next year, on top of the existing teams using their venues, the Panthers will play matches out of CommBank, while the Tigers are now in negotiations to play more home games at either CommBank or Accor.
! All in the family: Brian To’o’s nearest and dearest made the tip to Townsville last week to see the popular winger play his 100th game. And boy did he put on a show – scoring the first try and producing one of his best games in a Penrith jersey.
! Eddy’s Origin woes: I’m told Michael Maguire is a huge Dylan Edwards fan but is still likely to leave him out of the Blues squad for the opening State of Origin game when it’s announced later this month. James Tedesco appears to have done enough to keep the fullback jersey, and there’s apparently little appetite to play Edwards on the wing or off the bench.
Alamoti chasing deal: Paul Alamoti signed a one-year deal with Penrith last September and his games for the club so far have done him no harm when it comes finding his next contract. He’s only 20 and looks like he’s got a strong future ahead of him. While the Panthers are pretty confident in the wingers and centres they have coming through, a new deal for Alamoti certainly wouldn’t surprise anyone.
! Travel itinerary burns: The Panthers weren’t happy with the NRL over the scheduling of their Round 8 and 9 fixtures. The trip to Townsville is a difficult one as direct flights are limited, meaning the team couldn’t fly back to Sydney until Sunday night. In its wisdom, the NRL scheduled Penrith for a Thursday night fixture in Round 9, making it an extremely short turnaround.
! Spotted: Penrith winger Taylan May
having a jab at ‘NRL 360’ host Paul Kent on Instagram. Kent has been stood down by Fox Sports and The Daily Telegraph for a second consecutive year, this time over a street fight in Rozelle last weekend.
! Got some goss? I don’t keep secrets, but I do protect my sources. If you’ve got some goss from Pantherland or you’ve spotted a player out and about, email maskedpanther@ westernweekender.com.au.
Sunia Turuva.feature
LINDSAY PRAISES DEPARTING MENTOR
Premiership-winning Penrith prop Lindsay Smith has relished his opportunities to start matches this year, but he isn’t looking too far ahead when it comes to filling that position on a permanent basis.
Following James Fisher-Harris’ shock announcement that he’d be moving on from the five-time Premiers at the conclusion of the season, a spot in Penrith’s front row will soon be up for grabs.
24-year-old Smith has started in more than half of Penrith’s games in 2024, filling in for Fisher-Harris and his bash brother Moses Leota on four occasions already.
Speaking with Extra Time on Tuesday, the St Marys junior said it’s been an “honour” to run out on the field for the opening kickoff.
“It’s always an honour to start a game especially with the side that
we have,” Smith said.
“I’m excited whenever I get the chance to start and I’m happy to do my role whenever I’m on the bench as well.
“Like I said, it’s super exciting to start a few games this year already, but I can’t wait to do my role whatever it may be.”
It’s still early to tell how the Panthers will fill the huge gaping hole left by Fisher-Harris next year, but all signs point to Smith getting the gig if his form so far this season is anything to go by.
Smith is enjoying his best season to date as a first grader and right now he’d be the odds-on favourite to replace the departing Kiwi captain.
“I haven’t thought too far ahead, to be honest,” Smith said.
“My focus is just on this year and how we can get to where we want to. I haven’t thought about next year at all, and that’s something I probably won’t think about until the end of the season.
“Each week you try and go out and do your best for the team and
I know that good performances always come with rewards, but I’m not focused on any of that at the moment.”
After watching Fisher-Harris on television growing up and then playing alongside him in a Grand Final, it will be an emotional time for Smith when his mentor moves back home.
Smith couldn’t speak highly of the New Zealand captain when asked about his impact on him personally.
“He’s probably one of the best front rowers to play the game. He’s been unreal to learn under and in the public eye he may not speak too much, but personally he’s been unreal teaching me the ins and outs of the game and I’m super stoked to learn under him,” Smith said.
“When you’re out on the field he leads by his actions – he’s one of the best front rowers to ever play the game. Of course he’ll be sadly missed, but I can’t wait to see what he does next year.”
THE WORRYING STATS FOR PENRITH
If you’re wondering why Penrith have done a lot of defending this season and they’re leaking a few more tries than usual, it all comes down to their discipline.
Handling errors, penalties, set restarts and ineffective tackles are the reason the Panthers don’t have the number one defence in the competition unlike in previous seasons.
Yes, it could be blamed on new players added into the mix, but stats don’t lie, and the usually rock-solid Panthers are putting themselves under pressure week in, week out with poor discipline.
After eight rounds, the Panthers on average are first in the competition for ineffective tackles; first for penalties conceded; fifth for handling errors; and seventh for errors.
In comparison in 2023 overall, the Panthers were 12th in the competition for ineffective tackles; 15th for penalties conceded; 17th for handling errors; and 17th for errors.
Last weekend in humid Townsville, the Panthers racked up 13 errors, six penalties, four ruck infringements, and two inside 10 metres set restarts.
They were lucky to get away with the narrow win.
“It was humid up there, you felt the sweat and the ball was slippery than usual,” forward Matt Eisenhuth told Extra Time on Tuesday.
“We made a lot of errors… I know I made one myself that I wouldn’t usually make – it just
happens in footy sometimes.
“As a team we made more errors than we would’ve liked to, and it made us have to tackle a lot more as well, which made it a lot harder.”
Eisenhuth, who has racked up five games already this season, says the team is aware of their poor discipline which, in turn, is making it a lot harder to win games of late.
“Everyone does know the system and does know their role. We are just making ourselves do too much of it through errors and all that – it takes its toll,” he said.
“We trust our system and we work well as a unit, but we are making ourselves do too much at the moment. I think that’s been a consistent thing – penalties, set restarts– we want to limit them, so we don’t have to do as much work.”
Meanwhile the 31-year-old, who is off-contract at season’s end, has opened up about his future in the game. After recently notching up his 50th match in Panthers colours, Eisenhuth isn’t sure what’s ahead for him as he shoots for what is likely his final NRL contract.
“I’d love to stay at Penrith but, at the end of the day, I know there’s lots of young kids coming up here, so if the club want me to hang around and stay, I’m open to that,” Eisenhuth said.
“I’m getting to… not the end of my career but I’m a lot older… so security for my family will probably play a big part in my decision.
“In saying that, I’d love to be here if the club want me, but I know there’s probably a few bigger pieces to the puzzle they want to get ready and solved first and when the time comes for me to start that conversation then we’ll start it.”
MOSES
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Aformer Penrith Panthers player who, for many years, never had management was approached by a high-profile player manager before his last contract was set to expire.
“Let me handle your negotiations and I promise I’ll set you and your family up for life,” the manager said.
He’s now playing for another NRL side on huge money after signing the biggest contract of his short career.
His monetary future secure... forever.
Any chance Penrith had of re-signing him… gone!
Not because Panthers management don’t know how to deal with managers or that the player was greedy, but it’s hard to think straight when you’ve got someone in your ear constantly talking about how much you’re really worth and how, with that extra money, you’ll be able to look after not only yourself but your family as well.
WHY PENRITH LET TURUVA WALK lang on league analysis
Bit hard to walk away from that kind of security, especially if it can help your family who have spent their whole life helping you.
Lang
More often than not, when a player signs a huge contract, they may go out and buy themselves a little present, but most of the time the money goes towards either securing their own family’s or their parents’ future in some way.
The career of an average football player is not a long one.
Players know this and so do their managers.
It’s easy to blame the club when a player doesn’t re-sign with them but chooses to go to another club for more cash.
Let’s look at Sunia Turuva’s decision last week to join the Tigers for more money than Penrith could offer as an example.
My first reaction was... “C’mon
Panthers, give him an extra $50,000 a season... we’ve just lost Fish… he’s worth it!”
When Penrith wouldn’t increase their offer I was perplexed! Even a bit angry.
Then I decided to look at the situation from the club’s perspective and it made perfect sense.
Panthers Chief Executive Officer
Matt Cameron also has a family to look after. It’s made up of hundreds of players under his
watch from 14-year-old juniors to NRL megastar Nathan Cleary. Cameron’s family also extends to all the other staff who work in the Penrith system. It includes Panthers supporters and sponsors, which all demand a certain level of success every year.
If players’ salaries aren’t juggled properly then the whole house of cards will fall and the long-term success of the club will be compromised.
Cameron and his team have to be extremely disciplined with the salary cap. They only have a certain amount of money to spend for each position and that’s it. No ifs ands or Player managers know this and exploit it.
After all they don’t operate under a salary cap and therein lies their real power.
For them the more they can make for their client – the better.
To them, the sky’s the limit.
To Matt Cameron his limit is $11.4 million, the total amount he has to spend on his Top 30 squad. That’s the salary cap for 2025. And he has a lot of mouths to feed under that figure.
I don’t know how he does it, but he does it well.
rating for the best Panthers players from each Penrith game. The player with the most votes at the end of
Panthers Chief Executive Officer Matt Cameron. Photo: Melinda Jane. with Peterpanther memories
Penrith played Finals football for the first time in 1985.
The Panthers got their 1985 campaign off to a great start with a 26-14 win over Manly. However consecutive losses to Balmain, St George and Illawarra set Penrith back on their heels.
Fortunately a season defining 38-8 win over Canberra in Round 5 put the Panthers back on track and they would go on to win their next four matches.
With one preliminary round remaining, Penrith needed to beat Easts away from home to secure a playoff for fifth place.
The Panthers cooked the Chooks 38-6, which would set up a date against the Sea Eagles for a place in the Finals.
The playoff match against Manly at the SCG was a tough battle, with scores level at 6-all at full-time. Following 20 gruelling minutes of extra time, Penrith came out on top 10-7.
Finally, Penrith had made the Finals.
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2-8 MAY
WesternSydney GigGuid e
If you have a gig or event you would like to promote please contact Megan on 0433 241 737
RABBITOHS VS PANTHERS
THU 2
choof w/ carnal viscera, maggot cave + durry 8pm- $20
sydney truckfest
9am - 9pm
sydneytruckfest.com.au/ hawkesbury showground
drag bingo in chopstix or fork 7:30pm- $5
https://penrith.panthers.com. au/whats-on/club-activities/ drag-bingo/ panthers
raise your glassaustralian pink show
7:30pm- Tickets $35
https://smithfieldrsl.com.au/event/ australian-pink-show/
the divine miss bette 7:30pm tickets $59.90
blue mountains theatre bluemountainstheatre.com.au
punk in penriff: tantichrist + spilt Milk + the shenanigans 7pm- Tickets $17.19 elton chong eventbrite.com.au/e/punk-in-penritantichrist-spilt-milk-the-shenaniganstickets-881178728297
national poker leagueevery tuesday
cinco de mayomariachi band and bottomless margs
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june 1st- worlds collide chechos.com.au/
chechos An evening of Pop and Rock tunes from the last 50 years
7:50pm kick o accorstadium.com.au/event/2024/05/ nrl-round-9-rabbitohs-v-panthers/ accor stadium THU 2 FRI 3 FRI 3 SAT 4
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joan sutherland performing arts centre thejoan.com.au/events/worldscollide/
can me to check out these events! o