PENRITH WILL WEAR A 1967 REPLICA JERSEY AS THEY PAY HOMAGE TO PENRITH PARK ON SATURDAY. FULL ROUND 27 COVERAGE INSIDE
the final
Sometimes, the rugby league Gods are just on your side.
Three things needed to happen last weekend for Penrith to be back in the box seat for a home Final, and all three came off –the Panthers beat the Rabbitohs, the Warriors upset the Sharks and the Raiders showed incredible defensive spirit to down the Roosters on a day of carnage at Allianz Stadium.
Even more remarkable was that the results Penrith couldn’t control went down to the final seconds – only some Shaun Johnson magic and a missed Luke Keary conversion saving the day.
The Panthers have managed, in short, to not pay the price for their back-to-back losses to Melbourne and Canberra last month.
A win against the Titans on Saturday night and a home ground advantage in week one is secured.
And win the Panthers should. Gold Coast, despite showing signs of life at different parts
of the season, have had the off-season in their sights for a while now and are staring down the barrel of a fifth straight loss this weekend.
They’ve even sent David Fifita off for surgery, a sign the white flag is up.
It won’t be made any easier by the emotion and tradition that will surround this game.
This will be the final regular season home game for Penrith at their traditional home, rightly re-named Penrith Park for the occasion.
It’s old boys day, with plenty of former Panthers on deck to watch this new championship-winning crop go around. And there’s a heritage jersey to boot.
Plus, James Fisher-Harris’ 200th game.
And of course, now something to play for in the shape of a home Final.
There’s just too much on the line for Penrith to drop a game against a team on the road for a second straight week with the warm weather of the off-season in their grasp.
The Titans weren’t diabolical against Newcastle last Sunday but they just switch off too many times during games, allowing their opposition to go on quick scoring runs. At one point, the Knights scored four tries in the space of 14 minutes – you can’t just expect to win games when you drop your heads for chunks like that.
Penrith were far from brilliant against Souths but they did more than enough to get the two competition points and that’s all Ivan Cleary would have wanted at the moment. As he said post-game, the stop-start nature of the second half meant any chance of absolutely running away with the game disappeared, with neither side able to get any decent momentum.
In the end it was just Penrith’s superior roster and experience that saw them build a strong enough lead to never really be troubled.
While a home Final does beckon next weekend, I still expect this to be something of an emotional ride for a number of players this
different.
Ivan Cleary has named Dylan Edwards at fullback despite speculation he may be rested. Daine Laurie remains on the extended bench, so it’s still a chance of happening.
Should Penrith run away with this I’d expect a couple of key players, including inspirational skipper Isaah Yeo, to be put on ice at the back end of the game – but you’ve got to put yourself into such a position first.
The key is to not get too far ahead of yourself and just tackle the job at hand.
An otherwise forgettable Saturday night fixture at the back end of the season has a special feel about it, and I reckon the boys will deliver for the occasion.
Tip: Panthers by 26.
PENRITH STAR POWER
!
Freddy’s fumble: There was no malice in Brad Fittler’s train wreck interview with the Fox sisters on Channel 9 last Friday night but it was absolutely embarrassing for Nine and Jess and Noemie. I found it odd that Nine defended it – the audience at home would have had no idea about the KIIS Cam promotion that was happening at the ground, and there was no need for the comment. It certainly wasn’t Freddy’s best night. He also refused to sign autographs for fans who asked politely on the evening.
! Star power: Fittler’s bizarre comments certainly didn’t overshadow the great reception Jess and Noemie Fox received at BlueBet Stadium last Friday night. And how’s this photo for some Penrith star power – the sisters caught up briefly with Panthers co-captain Nathan Cleary for the ultimate Penrith selfie.
! Annesley explainer doesn’t add up: I’m a big fan of Graham Annesley’s (pictured) Monday press conference but it’s become more and more defensive as the year has gone on. His explanation of the Brian To’o ‘no try’ against the Rabbitohs last Friday night was rather odd. He essentially admitted it could have gone either way –which is interesting, given it was awarded a try on the field and The Bunker would need strong evidence to overturn it. If there’s doubt, then surely they were wrong to overturn the call? Regardless, when 99 per cent of the rugby league community agrees it should have been a try, it just proves a disconnect between head office and the fans.
! Friday night lights: If the Panthers do play the Roosters in the opening weekend of the Finals, expect the game to be on Friday, September 13. While Melbourne would be in the box seat to play on the Friday night to open the Finals, their likely opponent is Cronulla –who play on Sunday afternoon in Round 27. The NRL would be unlikely to force them into a five-day turnaround. With three top eight sides playing on the final day of the regular season, there will be some shuffling of the
schedule to ensure decent preparation times. It’ll likely land with Penrith on the Friday night.
! 2GB heads to Penrith Park: 2GB’s top-rating Continuous Call Team will broad cast live from Panthers Leagues Club on Saturday afternoon, before calling the action of the Panthers v Titans at Penrith Park. 2GB will be in The Backyard from 1pm, where a major pre-game party is happening – includ ing Panthers-themed cocktails, face painting and a jumping castle.
! Yeo misses out: Jake Trbojevic is one of the most likeable players in rugby league and he deserves plenty of praise for his role in NSW’s Origin success this year. But how Isaah Yeo didn’t get the True Blue Award at the Brad Fittler Medal on Monday night is beyond me. Trbojevic spent limited minutes on the field across the series, leaving Yeo to step up significantly. I was surprised it wasn’t recognised formally.
! Two-horse race: The competition is down to Melbourne and Penrith if you believe the bookies. The Roosters have blown out to $6.50 in the Premiership market following the loss of halfback Sam Walker, and a host of other players. Melbourne remain Premiership favourites with the TAB at $2.60, with Penrith on the second line of betting at $3.10.
! No Finals tee this year: The Panthers won’t be releasing a Finals t-shirt this year. That doesn’t mean there won’t be shirts released through other suppliers, but nothing through the club officially.
! Ticketing complaint still not fixed: Members still won’t be able to buy their own seats for a Panthers home Final next weekend. It’s extraordinary that the NRL and Ticketek still hasn’t fixed this gripe for its most loyal supporters. And to add salt to the wound, there’s still no pre-sale window for Penrith fans only. Panthers supporters will be able to buy tickets at exactly the same time as opposition fans.
! Story waiting to be told: Dylan Edwards’ toughness will become one of the big stories of the back end of the season and the Finals once all is said and done. His knee is bothering him significantly – and it’s not fully recovered from the injury he suffered in State of Origin. There was talk he’d be rested against the Rabbitohs and there’s speculation again he’ll skip Saturday’s clash against the Titans. Edwards is determined to march on but I’m told playing in the Pacific Championship at the end of the season is extremely unlikely.
PATIOMAN PATIOMAN
UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY FOR POPULAR ALAMOTI
Ayear ago, Paul Alamoti was at the Bulldogs planning his off-season getaway. Now, he’s preparing to feature in his firstever NRL Finals.
After successfully returning to first grade last week following surgery for a broken arm, the 20-year-old centre is almost bursting at the seams with excitement when he thinks about what lies ahead.
“They’re the reasons you play the game for moments like Finals and winning Premierships,” Alamoti told Extra Time on Tuesday.
“It will be my first Finals, and I can’t tell you how excited I am.
“It’s a dream come true. This is where I want to be.”
After arriving from Canterbury last November, Alamoti worked his way into the NRL team in Round 7 and virtually remained there until he broke his arm in Penrith’s thrilling Golden Point win over the Dolphins in Round 20.
Alamoti said getting settled into his new club was a “challenge” at first, but he’s been making the most of his opportunities.
“It was a long pre-season, and I started in Cup and had to work my way into the team,” he said.
“When I got my opportunity, I wanted to make it count – that was the biggest thing. I’m just grateful to be here.”
Another tough period was just recently when Alamoti spent five weeks on the sidelines through injury.
During that time, 18-year-old rookie
Casey McLean was starting to make a name for himself, which understandably made Alamoti a little concerned about where he fit moving forward.
The Milperra Colts junior said a conversation with coach Ivan Cleary put his mind at ease.
“Ivan told me about a week before I was due to return that he would put me back in, but he wanted me to have a game in Cup first to get the rust out of me,” Alamoti said.
“I remember going home, I was just grateful for the opportunity. I could tell straight away that Ivan has a lot
of faith in me and to put me straight back in was pretty special.”
With a dozen tries to his name already this season, Alamoti is looking forward to repaying that faith as soon as this Saturday night when the Panthers clash with the Titans in a must-win final round blockbuster.
A win over Gold Coast will ensure Penrith play one last game at Penrith Park in the opening weekend of the Finals.
“We definitely need a win again this week to put a few good games together heading into Finals,” Alamoti said.
“You want to be hitting form at this time of year because you are what you are in the Finals.
“We want to make sure that our performance on the weekend will put us in good stead heading into September.”
TURUVA THANKFUL AHEAD OF PANTHERS EXIT
Long before he became a star and a premiership winner with the Panthers, Sunia Turuva’s first memory of Penrith Park was visiting as a kid to watch his older cousin run around.
“My first memory here… I came to watch Api (Koroisau) when he was playing for Manly,” Turuva told Extra Time this week.
Now the 22-year-old will be a part of some unique history himself when he plays in the Panthers’ final ever home game at Penrith Park this Saturday night.
While it will be an emotional occasion for the thousands of Panthers supporters in the stands and on the hills, the players on the field will be soaking it all in as well.
“We love our hometown. We love Penrith. The boys love playing at home,” Turuva said.
“It had been playing on the boys’ minds whether we’d be playing at home during the first week of Finals. Hopefully we get the win this weekend and play there again next week.”
The Footy Gods were well and truly smiling on the defending Premiers last weekend.
The Panthers entered Round 26 in the unfamiliar position of fourth before rounding out the weekend in second place.
Penrith’s mission on Saturday is to knock-off the lowly Gold Coast Titans and, if they do so as expected, they’ll return to the stadium the following week to take on either the Sydney Roosters or Cronulla.
Turuva said he was following the NRL’s wild weekend of results with close interest.
“I was thinking when the Raiders beat us, that they’d beat us and then end up losing [to the Roosters] but they ended up beating the Roosters as well,” he said.
“Once I saw we were back in second, I was cheering.”
The Fijian speedster, who will join his cousin at the Wests Tigers next year, returned to Penrith’s line-up last Friday night against the Rabbitohs after being dropped to NSW Cup the week prior.
coach Ivan Cleary throughout the year.
“Nah it didn’t take me by surprise [being dropped],” he said.
“I’ve leaked a few too many tries this year and my defence wasn’t up to scratch the last six to eight weeks, so going back to Cup was good for me as it allowed me to refresh and reset.
“We’ve had a few tough convos this year, me and Iv. He’s been telling me that I haven’t been up to the standard that I know that I am capable of. So, he told me to go back to Cup, work on my game and it was good to see it come out on Friday.”
Turuva said he knew the writing
Turuva’s lightning speed, strong carries and ability to finish off tries will be a huge asset to the Panthers and their four-peat aspirations. The 2023 Dally M Rookie of the Year is hoping he can deliver Penrith one last premiership before his time here is up.
“Penrith has been home for the last four to five years,” Turuva said.
“What this club has done for me, I can’t thank them enough. Even when I leave, this place will hold a special place in my heart.
“What they’ve been able to do for me in the past with family stuff, I can’t thank them enough.”
PANTHERS ARE FINALS BOUND
Penrith’s NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg teams will be in action in Finals matches this weekend.
The lower grade competitions start their Finals Series a week earlier than the NRL.
Penrith’s teams will be in action as part of a full day of Finals action at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.
In the Jersey Flegg, the second placed Panthers will take on the third placed Bulldogs on Saturday, September 7 at 11am at Leichhardt Oval.
The fifth placed Panthers will take on the fourth placed Warriors in the NSW Cup on Saturday, September 7 at 1pm at Leichhardt Oval.
The Sydney Shield saw Wentworthville
United book their place in the Grand Final and earn a week off after beating Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 38-22 on Saturday.
The Hawks now face Brothers Penrith in a Preliminary Final to secure their spot in the decider.
It was a case of double celebrations for Wentworthville with the Magpies also securing their spot in the Grand Final for the Ron Massey Cup after upsetting St Marys Saints 32-10 on Saturday.
St Marys have a second chance to secure their place in the decider when they face Glebe Dirty Reds in a Preliminary Final. Both Preliminary Finals for the Sydney Shield and Ron Massey Cup will be played at St Marys Leagues Stadium on Saturday, September 7.
GOODBYE, YOU BEAUTIFUL THING
lang on league analysis
with Peter Lang
They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Well, this Saturday night Penrith Park’s journey as the home of the mighty Penrith Panthers comes to an end.
Since the beginning of the season, all Penrith players and supporters have known that BlueBet Stadium will cease to exist in its current form at the end of 2024.
It will be torn down shortly after the final siren sounds and be replaced by new grandstands and facilities which will bring it well and truly into the 21st Century.
It will take two years before it’s ready to reopen to the Panthers faithful. A place we can all gather again and cheer on our mighty football team.
I’ve been attending Penrith Park since 1991. I remember the first time I walked in and felt the butterflies of excitement in my stomach. It felt comfortable to be there. It felt like home.
I pulled out my fold-up chair and sat with my friends just on the concourse near the old Panthers scoreboard end of the field. I was in rugby league heaven.
I also remember the strong smell of Dencorub as I walked by the old ‘away dressing sheds’ on the side of the Western Grandstand while watching the kids slide down the hill on bits of broken cardboard.
A year later I remember watching a talented youngster by the name of Luke Goodwin play in all three grades for Penrith.
He started the day in Jersey Flegg, played some time in Reserve grade then he made his first grade debut after Greg Alexander sustained a knee injury midway through the first grade match against the Illawarra Steelers.
Since that day, I remember a lot of things about
Penrith Park. Sitting in the media box before there was air-conditioning and helping set up the media room right next to where the players got dressed.
I remember some wonderful victories as well.
Everything from beating the Wests Tigers in 2000 after being behind 31-8 with less than 20 on the clock to watching Paul Franze score the match winning try against the Brisbane Broncos in 2005.
I remember the losses too. The wooden spoon days. The half-empty stadiums. I wouldn’t trade those days for anything. They make you appreciate the good times even more.
I’ve thought long and hard about how to express in words what Penrith Park has meant to
me and how much I’ll miss it over the next two years. Sometimes you just can’t write something better than what’s already been written.
So, I’d like to finish my final thoughts and feelings on Penrith Park by borrowing just some of the words spoken by coach Ivan Cleary and the players during ‘The Last Ride’ video.
Since our inception in 1967 there’s a place we’ve all been called to.
A place where all who don our colours belong.
A place where our community unites. Call it what you like.
A stadium. A field. A jungle. A Fortress And there’s one more thing it will always be to me.
My home.
The Western Weekender Penrith Panthers Player of the Year competition runs throughout the season, with our four experts delivering a 3, 2, 1 rating for the best Panthers players from each
game. The player with the most votes at the end of the season is crowned our Player of the Year.
panther memories
Penrith’s terrific 1990 season, which saw them reach the Grand Final for the first time, saw a number of players rewarded with Kangaroos jerseys.
John Cartwright, Brad Fittler, Greg Alexander and Mark Geyer were all handed green and gold jumpers for the Kangaroo Tour of 1990.
The news filtered through following the Grand Final loss to Canberra, making it a night of mixed emotions.
It was a successful tour for Australia and Greg Alexander finished it as the leading point scorer – 156 points from 14 tries and 50 goals.
A highlight game for the Penrith boys was the 60-4 thumping of France, in which Alexander scored three tries and kicked seven goals for a personal haul of 24 points.
It was also big MG’s only Test on the tour, coming off the bench.
The legendary Bob Fulton coached Australia on the Kangaroo Tour that year.
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