JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
FARM TO THE FOOTY FIELD COREY HARAWIRA-NAERA & JAMES FISHER-HARRIS
JOIN US THIS AUSTRALIA DAY
GUS
TALKS SEASON 2018
YOU COULD WIN A $15,000 EUROPEAN CRUISE
PANTHERS.COM. AU
* Limit applies of one entry per person per day. See staff for full terms and conditions. Promotion commences on 01/12/17 and closes for purchases on 26/01/18. To enter, be a member and purchase any Iron Jack product from the Participating Venue during the Promotional Period to receive an entry task receipt. Place Entry Task Receipt in the specially marked container at the Participating Venue by 17.00 EDT (New South Wales time) on 26/01/18. Limits apply of one entry per person per day. A draw will take place at Panthers North Richmond, 33 Beaumont Ave, North Richmond NSW 2754 on 19:00 EDT on 26/01/18. The first valid entry drawn from all combined entries from Panthers Wallacia, Pathers Glenbrook and Panthers North Richmond will receive a prize. Prize consists of a Black Series Extreme Commando Camper Trailer. The prize includes: Large powder coated kitchen; 80L stainless steel water tank; Large toolbox; Large stoneguard; Bike rack support; Boat racks; Toilet and Storage cover. Total RRP value of prize = $6,500.00. All taxes (excluding GST) which may be payable as a consequence of receiving a prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. Winners are responsible for the collection of the prize from the Participating Venue. The Promoter is not responsible for delivering prizes to winners. Entry is open to residents of New South Wales aged 18 years and over. The Promoter is Penrith Rugby League Club Ltd (ABN 57 000 578 398) of 123 Mulgoa Road, Penrith, NSW 2750. The Prize Supplier is Lion Beer, Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd (ABN 13 008 596 370) of Level 7, 68 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Authorised under NSW Permit No LTPS-17-18807.
Footy Gods Guiding Journey From the Farm to the Footy Field The ‘Footy Gods’ often have much to answer for to the average punter who witnesses their team cruelled by bad decisions, injury to key players or the bounce of the ball not going their way. But for two happy-go-lucky countrysiders from the rural wilderness of New Zealand, those same footballing deities are playing a part in their meteoric rise in to the limelight of the National Rugby League. Heralding from the northern outskirts of Auckland, James Fisher-Harris and Corey Harawira-Naera weren’t meant to make it to the pinnacle of the Rugby League world. Their towns were so remote that everyone knew each other and they passed time by fishing, swimming or being on the farm. They found Rugby League in their teenage years and, after both impressing in their local representative side, they got paid a visit by their current manager who orchestrated their move to Penrith. “My manager came up to my house and no one really comes all the way to my house,” Fisher-Harris said with a wry grin. “It (the opportunity) is pretty big for guys like us from where we’re from.” With their family’s blessings, both packed their bags and traded the Hokianga Harbour for the Nepean River. But the transition for two freshfaced teens who left their loved ones was difficult. “We’re both pretty family-oriented. Mum did everything for me and ‘Fish’ so we had to start being adults. But we always got advice from our mums whenever we made decisions,” said Harawira-Naera.
Enter the Footy Gods. Their sacrifices were validated when they tasted success with the Panthers under 20’s side in 2015. That resulted in an NRL debut for Fisher-Harris in the opening round of 2016. His compatriot followed suit just over a year later. Fisher-Harris recalled the mixture of emotions as he discovered the moment he worked for was finally about to happen. “The club rang mum and told them and organised for them to come over (from New Zealand). I was just stressing out. I took too much pre-workout and was on the sideline for ages and went out [on the field] and didn’t know what I was doing!” For Harawira-Naera it was a similar story. “The family came over and it was pretty special. Pop (grandad) and mum were probably the most proud. It’s everything you’ve been working for so you don’t want to stuff it up.” His debut was extra special given it fell on his mother’s birthday. With her name etched on his wrist as a source of inspiration, he gave her the perfect present by scoring in a 40-0 win over Newcastle. “It was another moment where you think it’s fate. There were a few tears [afterwards]. It was a really special occasion.” “She’s everything to me. Everyone’s got that one person that’s done more than what everyone else has. I remember on my 8th birthday my wish was for her to quit smoking and she’s done that ever since.” “I just want to start looking after her now that I’ve got a bit of money in my pocket.”
The Footy Gods weren’t done there. They both made the NRL team together for the first time against their hometown team – the Warriors. However, an injury to Fisher-Harris would deny them the opportunity to take the field together at the same time. That moment would instead arrive months later. Again against the Warriors. This time in Auckland surrounded by their loved ones. And rather than running around on the paddocks of their country towns, they were on the hallowed turf of Mt Smart Stadium. “That was like another Footy Gods kind of thing,” said Harawira-Naera. “It was special because we both got to see our families. We needed a lot of tickets.” Now both fully-fledged members of the Panthers squad and having had a taste of the Finals, the next step for the pair from Ngāpuhi is to hoist the NRL trophy aloft. And you wouldn’t bet against it. The Footy Gods will be watching over them.
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18 N W Y 20 A D R UA R N JA
Win a European Cruise valued at $15,000! For your chance to win this amazing holiday for two, simply swipe your member’s card and purchase $20 or above from flavours café or $10 or above from the bar or any of the special advertise dishes will receive a Task Receipt to place in the marked barrel. Purchase one of our 4 special dishes at the café and receive a bonus ticket for your chance to win this amazing holiday for two. Prize includes flights and accommodation. Finalists are drawn every Saturday from 7:30pm. All weekly finalists will win a bonus venue voucher. We are bringing the colours and flavours of Europe to Panthers North Richmond from 6 November 2017 to 8 January 2018 See reception for full terms and conditions. LTPS/17/19046
MEMBERS OFFERS JANUARY 2018
KIDS EAT FREE
2 FOR 1 MAIN MEAL
$3.50 SWINDLER SCHOONER
Kids eat FREE with every main meal purchase from The Grill every Wednesday and Thursday.
One main meal from The Blackboard on Thursday and receive the second FREE (same price or lower).
Purchase a schooner of Swindler for $3.50.
SAVE $12.50
SAVE $20
SAVE $3
FEBRUARY 2018
$4.00 HAHN SCHOONER
KIDS EAT FREE
FREE GARLIC BREAD
Purchase a schooner of Hahn Super Dry 3.5 for $4.00.
Kids eat FREE with every main meal purchase from The Grill every Saturday.
FREE Garlic Bread with every main meal purchase from The Grill.
SAVE $1.70
SAVE $12.50
SAVE $5.50
Terms and Conditions: Each offer Valid 1 per member for January & February. Not valid with any other offer. Must present 2018 Membership Card to receive offer. Trading hours may vary please check website. Correct at time of printing & Subject to availability. RSA laws and conditions apply
PANTHERS.COM.AU 5
live music Every Friday & Saturday JA NUARY
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Panthers
Includes LUNCH
29 JAN 2018
6 #PANTHERPRIDE
LUCKY STARR Show starts 11am • $25
Panthers Ready to Pounce 2018 Season Preview Phil Gould AM
Pictured: James Maloney in the Red, Yellow and Green stripes.
Preparations are well underway for the 2018 season and we are very excited at the prospects at a successful year.
of the future. It was also a welcome return to the Australian team for Josh Mansour. Dean Whare and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak have come through their NZ Kiwis campaign unscathed and are looking forward to the new season.
The pre-Christmas training period was good, albeit restricted with a number of players undergoing injury rehab and our representative stars playing in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC).
Sione Katoa played a big role in the emergence of Tonga as a strong force in the international game and the experience gained will be invaluable for the upcoming season.
From an injury perspective players like Corey Harawira-Naera, Dylan Edwards, Tyrone May, Waqa Blake, Jed Cartwright and Bryce Cartwright all played the back part of the 2017 season with injury and have had to undergo surgery or extensive rehabilitation prior to Christmas. I can report they are on track and should be available for the start of the season, with Tyrone May the only exception. He is targeting a return sometime in April. We are extremely pleased with the performances of our players in the 2017 RLWC. Reagan Campbell-Gillard performed outstandingly in the green and gold and stamped himself as a long-term representative player
been a success for several clubs in the NRL and at the highest levels of representative football sides. He brings a wealth of playing experience, but more importantly a wealth of successful experience. We welcome Jim and his family to the club.
Over the past couple of months we have announced several contract extensions for some of our younger players. Our fullback Dylan Edwards thoroughly deserved an upgrade and extension to his existing deal. Tyrone May has esYoung Jarome Luai performed tablished himself as an NRL player admirably for Samoa against top of the future and has also extended quality opposition. That experience his contract until 2020. We are will further aid his development also very pleased to announce that at this stage of his career and has the reliable Isaah Yeo has agreed already returned to training with to extend his contract until season the top squad. 2021. Still only 23 years old, Isaah has already played over 80 NRL The big news coming out of the games and we view him as a long2017 RLWC was the performances term leader at our club. of Viliame Kikau, who starred for Fiji in their run to the semi-finals. At the moment the coaches and ‘Billy’ is now injury-free and we players are well into their pre-seaall saw how well he performed at son preparations and looking the back end of the season in our forward to a successful season premiership-winning ISP side. He ahead. carried that through to the World Cup and earned the accolade of We again thank the Board and selection in the RLWC Team of the Management of Panthers Group Tournament. for their generous and unwavering support of the Panthers Rugby Without doubt the biggest news League program and the Penrith for Panthers this year has been the District Junior Rugby League. signing of James Maloney. Jim has PANTHERS.COM.AU 7
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a i l a r t s u A DAY ENTERTAINMENT FROM 2PM
WIN AN EXTREME COMMANDO CAMPER TRAILER VALUED AT $10,000 WITH EXTRAS MEAT & VEG RAFFLES ON SALE FROM 5.30PM BADGE DRAW 7PM, 8PM & 9PM AUTHORISED UNDER NSW PERMIT NO LTPS-17-18807.