TELL YOUR BOSS YOU NEED TO LEAVE EARLY. THE PANTHERS NEED YOU THIS FRIDAY AT 6PM. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. PANTHERS v COWBOYS COVERAGE INSIDE
DEAR EMPLOYER,
Please excuse __________________ from work on Friday afternoon so he/she can attend the Panthers v Cowboys game. The game kicks off at 6.00pm and _______________ needs time to get to CommBank Stadium. It’s not an easy journey. The Panthers need ____________ there. It’s a desperate situation. There are seats that must be filled and we know ________________ is up to the task.
We appreciate your support in this matter.
More concerning than Penrith’s one win, three loss record to start the season is just how far off the pace Ivan Cleary’s side seems to be.
After a strong win in Las Vegas, the Panthers have collapsed in defence and their energy and enthusiasm has fallen off a cliff.
The good news? There’s plenty of time to fix it.
And some of those fixes will come in the shape of returning players, like Nathan Cleary who is back in the number seven jumper for this Friday night’s clash with the Cowboys.
Cleary is such a dominant player and sees the game so differently to others that when someone has to fill in for him, everything can get clunky really quickly – as we saw when Trent Toelau was tasked with guiding the side around last week against Souths.
It was different when Jarome Luai took control. He understood Cleary’s game.
I’m not one to question Ivan Cleary’s team selections (after all, he’s got it so right over the last five years), but I did find it curious that he went with Toelau over the more experienced Brad Schneider, who was sitting on the bench while the carnage unfolded at Accor Stadium last Thursday, perhaps wondering what he did wrong given he was brought to the club last year as a back-up half to be utilised when one of the key men were unavailable.
So, Nathan Cleary is back – and it won’t be long before Penrith is full strength again. But just being full strength alone may not be enough to get everything ticking along again. The Panthers need to find another level, a new way to defy expectations, new tools with which to climb the mountain.
Because while nobody would question Penrith’s hunger, there are other teams in this competition on the mountain with them – the
the final word
likes of Manly, Brisbane and the Bulldogs, who haven’t eaten as regularly as Penrith in recent times. Their desire to get to the top may just be a little stronger.
The last month has been pretty tough for Penrith fans but it will turn at some point, and we can hope it’s against the Cowboys this Friday.
North Queensland had a slow start to the season but finally got on the board against Canberra in a much improved showing in Townsville last Saturday.
The thing about the Cowboys is that while they don’t seem to have 80-minute performances in them, they can sting you quickly. They scored three tries in eight minutes in the first half last Saturday to completely change the nature of the game and go from behind to a decent lead in the blink of an eye.
And Penrith’s recent defensive leaks put them
at risk of conceding points quickly, so they’ll have to work hard to arrest any momentum the Cowboys get, or it could spell danger.
The eight-day turnaround from the performance against South Sydney would have given Ivan Cleary the opportunity for a mini-reset.
He would have addressed the issues of the last three weeks and will have a game plan to get things back on track.
One thing that has put Penrith in such good stead during their Premiership run is their ability to control the game, to dictate the terms and starve their opposition of opportunity. That simply hasn’t been there enough in the first month of the competition – indeed there was even signs of it in Las Vegas against the Sharks.
Find that spark again, and the Panthers will go a long way to returning to the winner’s circle.
Tip: Panthers by 6.
Graphic: Zoe Merrick.
TROY DODDS FRIDAY, APRIL 4 | 6.00PM | COMMBANK STADIUM | REFEREE: PETER GOUGH | BUNKER: GERARD SUTTON
panther rumblings
WITH THE MASKED PANTHER
BRIAN BACK AFTER EASTER
! To’o sidelined: Panthers winger Brian To’o could be out for around month after suffering a hamstring injury against Souths last Thursday night. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary wouldn’t confirm a timeframe for To’o’s return when asked by reporters on Monday, but I’m told the four week mark is likely.
! Panthers turn it on for Yeo: Penrith will go all-out to pay tribute to Isaah Yeo ahead of his 250th NRL game at CommBank Stadium this Friday night. There will be special video tributes, while Yeo will walk out with his family. The club is also giving away Isaah Yeo footy heads (pictured) with every purchase from the merchandise stands. One thing that won’t be happening is a massive banner for Yeo to run through – the man himself asked for that idea to be canned.
! Sad loss for Panthers family: The matriarch of the Alexander family, Leonie Alexander, passed away last week. Leonie is Greg Alexander’s mother and Mark Geyer’s motherin-law, so the news has been felt deeply within the wider Panthers community. A funeral service was held yesterday at St Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church on High Street.
! Journos’ wager: Two rugby league journalists have placed a bet – involving Krispy Kreme doughnuts of all things – on how the Panthers will finish this season. One veteran writer believes the Panthers will make it as far as a Preliminary Final this year, the other says Penrith will be done and dusted before then. May the best scribe’s prediction win.
! OAK takes step out: It’s been one of the great jersey sponsorships but OAK will officially bow out from Penrith’s strip from next season. The company had already moved on from its major front of jersey sponsorship after
the 2023 season, but were still featured on the back of the jersey. 2026 will mark the first time in more than a decade that the OAK logo does not feature on the Panthers jersey. None of this would have come as a surprise to Penrith’s corporate team – OAK had indicated some time ago that they were scaling back their sponsorship commitment. The brand will continue to support some of the club’s community initiatives.
! Podcast record: Perhaps an indication of the frustrations many Penrith fans have with the move to CommBank Stadium, a recent special edition of the ‘Tension’s Running High’ podcast focused on the CommBank move and associated issues was the most listened to episode in the show’s history.
! Construction begins: Formal construction of the Penrith Stadium project is now underway, following months of work to relocate sewer lines and prepare for the stadium redevelopment. Interestingly, there was no photo opportunity with Premier Chris Minns and a shovel on Monday. In fact, it was a very low-key start to work – announced by local MP Karen McKeown on her Facebook page.
! Where’s the skipper? The official Australian Kangaroos Facebook account posted an ad last week announcing the return of the
! Multicultural Round: The NRL will celebrate Multicultural Round this weekend, paying tribute to the some 65 nations represented across the NRL and NRLW playing
squads in 2025. Expect to see special branding and acknowledgements at grounds and as part of broadcasts right across the weekend.
! Spotted: Plenty of Panthers fans soaking up country music at the CMC Rocks festival in Queensland last week.
! Spotted: Panthers coach Ivan Cleary enjoying a meal with his family at Wests Leagues on Sunday. They then popped over to Campbelltown Stadium to watch Jett Cleary play for the Warriors in the Jersey Flegg against the Tigers. After leading 20-4 at half-time, the Warriors could only manage a 20-all draw in the end.
! CommBank conundrum: Here’s an interesting one for you – neither Penrith nor North Queensland have a particularly good record at CommBank Stadium. In fact, both have lost the majority of their games there. The Panthers have won 48 per cent of their matches at the Parramatta-based venue, while the Cowboys have won just 29 per cent of their games.
! Spill the tea: I don’t keep secrets but I do protect my sources. If you’ve spotted a Panther out and about, or you want to get some gossip off your chest, email maskedpanther@westernweekender.com.au.
Ashes, with five Australian players pictured in the promo. The problem? No sign of Isaah Yeo. You’d think the current Kangaroos captain would feature on the promo.
Injured: Brian To’o. Photo: NRL Photos.
PRAISE THE LORD! THE PRINCE IS BACK
Nathan Cleary will return to the field this Friday and has issued an ominous warning for his opponents, declaring he is “raring to go”.
Cleary left the field just eight minutes into the Grand Final rematch in Round 2 and was stood down for 11 days as part of mandatory head injury protocols.
Named to play against the Cowboys tomorrow night, Cleary said he feels refreshed to get back into the game.
“I’m feeling really good,” Cleary said with a smile.
“With the head knock straight after the game it was bit sore but from the day after there was no symptoms. I sort of got to last week against the Rabbitohs where I felt like I could play but the protocol is in place for a reason and I’m just raring to go now.”
Having spent the last two games watching from the coach’s box, Cleary said despite the losses his team showed guts in their performances.
“It’s obviously not an ideal situation but I think the important thing is the way we finished both games,” he said.
“[We were] just throwing punches right through to the end. I think that’s
a good show of our culture although that’s certainly not the performance we want.
“We’re not up to scratch but we’re not rolling over and giving up, which is important.”
The Panthers plan to stick to their process and trust that they can get back on top with Cleary saying it is important
not to get too caught up in needing to win.
“You can lean on the past and use
we want to we will compete with the best teams on any day,” Cleary told Extra Time
“It’s about us getting the best out of ourselves at the moment and just trying to not be so tense and wound up about [needing to win].
“Sometimes that can be counterintuitive and it’s more so just to focus on the process and put in a good performance and just one play at a time, as cliché as it is, but just stacking up those little wins and ultimately then getting the win on the scoreboard.”
Cleary’s co-captain Isaah Yeo will celebrate his 250th game this Friday night, something Cleary said is giving the team extra motivation to get another two points.
“He is the heart and soul of this team,” Cleary said.
“I’ve said it a few times but he’s almost like a dad figure as well, everyone looks to him whenever they need anything, need a bit of advice or need picking up. He is always saying the right thing at the right time and that’s him off the field as well, he’s such a great person.
“On the field he’s an absolute freak of a player with the amount of work he gets through week in, week out, with the consistency and the high level he plays at… it’s quite incredible!”
Nathan Cleary
night against the Cowboys.
Photo: Melinda Jane.
YEO TO MAKE PANTHERS HISTORY
At 6pm on Friday, Isaah Yeo will do something no other Panther has done before him – play 250 NRL games for the club.
Just six months after being crowned the most capped Panther of all time, the humble father of three will notch up yet another incredible milestone when Penrith do battle with North Queensland.
With his family and friends in the stands at CommBank Stadium watching on, the Panthers co-captain said it will be a moment to savour.
“I was speaking with Ivan (Cleary) earlier and he said it was pretty special. Obviously, no one at the club has done it before and I think I’ve just been very lucky,” Yeo said on Monday.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be durable over a long period of time. I’ve also played in some big games, which means your season goes longer and then, all of a sudden, you get a milestone like this.
“Playing the game at home will be nice as well. I’ll have my kids there and my partner. I’ll have a bit of family too. My 200th game was down in Canberra and there wasn’t many travelling there for that, so it’ll be nice to be able to share it with them. I’m really lucky.”
The 30-year-old made his NRL debut on March 8, 2014, against the Newcastle Knights. During his decade in the game, Yeo has played in multiple positions from centre to second row and then to lock where he’s had the most success.
Yeo credited all the coaches he’s had during that period for turning him into the world-class player he is today.
“I’ve had some wonderful coaches that have given me a lot of opportunities and then, off the back of that, it’s elevated my game a lot too,” he said.
“Ivan is a big part of that, moving me to lock full-time. But Trent Barrett was our attack coach when I first moved into that position, and he helped me a tremendous amount with passing and reading the game better.
“I’ve felt the coaches I’ve had have given me so much confidence.”
Ivan Cleary handed Yeo his debut 11 years ago, probably not knowing at the time that this skinny kid from Dubbo would be arguably Penrith’s greatest.
“He’s unbelievably reliable, a team-first guy and he’s consistently excellent… I could go on all day,” Cleary said.
“250 games in the NRL is an incredible milestone and there’s not too many who have actually done it. To do it for the one club when he’s still in career-best form is exciting for the
future as well.
“I’m really proud of him and no one deserves what he’s achieved and is still achieving,
more than him. We’re very lucky to have him.”
The Kangaroos captain and four-time premiership winner
is signed with Penrith until the end of the 2027 season, which means Panthers fans will get to enjoy the brilliance of Yeo week in, week out for many years to come.
While he’s done pretty much everything in the game, including winning the prestigious Golden Boot award late last year, Yeo said he has another big milestone in mind before it’s all said and done.
“I’ve always had a career goal that I’d love to hit 300 for Penrith… touch wood,” he revealed.
“I’m signed here for a few more years but that would be nice, but that’s probably looking too far down the track.”
The club will hand out 2,000 commemorative Isaah Yeo posters to the first fans through Gates A or B at CommBank Stadium on Friday afternoon, with 250 exclusive Isaah Yeo Sports Heads also available to any fans who purchase merchandise at the game.
The milestone man said he hopes there’s a big crowd in attendance to watch his side bounce back, but he understands the difficulties of getting to the game on a Friday afternoon.
“We understand Friday at 6pm isn’t the greatest timeslot for people to be jetting over to Parramatta but you’d love to get as many fans there as possible,” Yeo told Extra Time
“The reality is, CommBank is our home ground now and the more fans we have cheering us at home is important and a big part of why we’ve had so much success.
“We’d love to have them out there, but I understand that time may not be great.”
Isaah Yeo speaking with the media on Monday. Photo: Melinda Jane.
Isaah Yeo will play game 250 on Friday. Photo: NRL Images.
Isaah Yeo back in 2015. Photo: NRL Images.
Missed last week’s results? Here’s a rundown of what happened in key Penrith Panthers games...
Tries: K Koloamatangi 2, J Gray, A Johnston, D Moale Goals: J Humphreys 4/6
Tries: L Martin, B Schneider, J Cole Goals: P Alamoti 3/3
Tries: B Talagi, H Hassett, A Kepaoa, D Fale, M Eisenhuth Goals: B Talagi 3/5
Tries: F Myers, C Kaho, D Towns, A Ward Goals: A Ward 3/4
Tries: N Murphy 2, B Moran, H Armstong, P Hotere-Papalii
Goals: Z Clarke 5/5
3/5
Tries: R Frame 2, S Taylor, D Waqa, N Quinn Goals: N Quinn
player of the year
panther memories
Penrith Stadium faced significant redevelopment in the 1980s, becoming a rectangular ground better suited to rugby league.
The Eastern Grandstand was constructed, leaving the stadium with two hills at the northern and southern end, and two grandstands.
This photograph shows the grandstand in its original form, with a grassed area along the bottom, preserved. The shot was taken on August 18, 1988. Seating came later, replacing the grassed seating area.
(Photo thanks to Penrith City Library)
GENERATION NEXT analysis
Penrith supporters do you know who Jaxen Edgar, Jack Attard, Harry Armstrong and Billy Scott are?
Whether your answer was yes or no it doesn’t matter because soon you’ll know who this talented quartet is.
The club is currently undefeated in Jersey Flegg (Under 21) after four rounds while NSW Cup has won three games-in-a-row.
In contrast the first-grade team is struggling for the first time in five years and everyone wants to know which players are ready to step up to first grade over the next couple of seasons.
In fact, some of these kids are so good I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of them get a run in the top grade as early as next year.
The club has built its huge recent success on churning out first grade players from their renowned Panthers Pathways system and the odd external signing as well.
Unfortunately, the club has lost so many topline players over the last five years, a few youngsters have been called up earlier than expected.
It won’t be long however before the next group of players are ready to step off the production line and into first grade ready to make their mark.
If you think I’m just full of hyperbole, then file this column away and read it again in three years’ time. You’ll see how right I am especially with the four names listed in the opening paragraph but more on those players later.
There seems to have been a shift in philosophy when it comes to the Panthers selection process for kids aged between 17 and 19 playing Harold Matthews and SG Ball.
Over the last couple of years the club seem to be picking a certain number of players in each squad who are a year younger than the maximum age allowed. They then see which are resilient enough to play against older opponents’ week-in, week-out despite the result on the scoreboard.
It seems to be working already.
Fullback Jaxen Edgar is only 19-years-old and playing NSW Cup against men five to 10 years older. Edgar is already being touted as Dylan Edwards’ successor after Edwards hangs up his boots. Big shoes to fill but if anyone can, early indications are, Edgar can.
Edgar won’t have it all his own way however as another outstanding young prospect, 18-year-old Jack Attard is already nipping at his heels. Attard is currently playing fullback in the
unbeaten Jersey Flegg side and turning plenty of heads with his explosive play.
Another player turning heads is 20-year-old second rower
Harry Armstrong who is also in the Jersey Flegg team. Penrith got under the guard of many teams including the Brisbane Broncos and signed him.
Finally, 21-yearold hooker Billy Scott is already a regular in the NSW Cup team and will next year be elevated to the club’s Top 30 roster. There are plenty of good judges who believe he could take over from Mitch Kenny in years to come.
The talent is there in the lower grades and it only needs time to develop. What’s that song again, oh yeah!
“The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades”. Billy Scott.
