Blaize Talagi.
Photo: NRL Photos.
Ithe finalword
’ve read the messages.
Seen the Tweets.
And yet I’m going to dust myself off and go again.
My prediction of Penrith beating Gold Coast by 40 points last Saturday appeared on track at half-time before a bizarre series of events saw Ivan Cleary’s side almost lose the match, culminating with an incredible Golden Point win.
So, Penrith didn’t win by 40. They should have. There is no doubt the second half collapse would concern Cleary, but this wild season is delivering the unexpected everywhere you turn.
Despite my slight red face after my prediction last weekend, I’m foolish enough to believe Penrith will beat Newcastle pretty handsomely on Friday night.
That’s despite what happened in Bathurst back in May, when the Knights downed the Panthers 25-6.
It was supposed to be the final nail in Penrith’s season but it ended up sparking a revival, with Penrith not losing since – a winning run that now extends into eight matches.
That loss in Bathurst was important. It saw some of Penrith’s growing leaders stand taller, determined to correct the course. And it was the wake-up call the defending champions needed.
As boxes have been ticked since, Penrith would have had one eye on this game – the opportunity to get one back on the Knights, who left them embarrassed in front of their regional fans at Carrington Park.
The Knights have been poor over the last month. A 32-14 loss to the Storm, followed by that heartbreaker against the Warriors and then pretty disappointing against Canberra in their last start, losing 44-18.
I’m not sure how motivated the Knights will be over this final period of the competition.
The Finals are gone, Adam O’Brien is likely finished as coach and injuries have had a significant impact on the side’s ability to build any momentum or consistency through the year.
The Knights have been forced to make more tackles than any other side in the competition this year. They just can’t control the momentum, can’t dig into matches and get enough ball to have a decent crack. They spend all their time defending and then have little to offer in attack. And of course, their halves crisis still hasn’t been solved.
Newcastle’s handling errors are right up there with the worst in the competition.
All of this suits Penrith’s style of play perfectly. The opportunity to strangle an opposition. The chance to kick their opponents to death.
All of that while Penrith’s younger rising stars are finding their feet at the right time of the season.
And after a slow start, Blaize Talagi is really finding his combination with Nathan Cleary and is starting to light up the field – just as coach Cleary knew he eventually would, as he stayed patient in that opening period.
And who would have thought that Tom Jenkins would be such a dynamic try scorer this season?
There’s every chance Penrith could be playing for a top four position here, pending other results across the weekend. With so much to play for, Penrith will win and win big.
And so with the risk of more egg being thrown at my face, I’m doubling down – the Panthers will put the cleaners through the Knights in this one, and confirm their threat to this Premiership.
Tip: Panthers by 24.
Casey McLean’s future is so bright that he could become one of the greats if the trajectory continues, and he remains injury-free.
Graphic by Kacey Wilson
TROY DODDS FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 | 6.00PM | MCDONALD JONES STADIUM | REFEREE: WYATT RAYMOND | BUNKER: ASHLEY KLEIN
panther rumblings
TRAINER IN EYE OF THE STORM
! Trainer in hot water: Confusion over an interchange and how Penrith would respond to the Titans taking the lead in their match last Saturday was the catalyst for trainer Corey Bocking’s mishap that has been the talk of
notice. Also of concern is just how some of the information is finding its way to journalists and talking heads, who are then using it as bullets in criticism of Penrith.
! Loudest voices nowhere to be seen: There’s been a lot of criticism of the Panthers this week by high profile veteran journalists. And yet the loudest voices were nowhere to be seen when Ivan Cleary fronted the media on Wednesday, happy to answer questions.
! We’ve been here before: Some of the league journos claiming they’ve never seen an incident like the one involving the Penrith trainer last weekend must have short memories. It was only three years ago that Parramatta were fined $5,000 after a trainer ran in front of the goalposts while Nathan Cleary attempted a sideline conversion at BlueBet Stadium.
! Wedding bells in Cleary household: Congratulations to Indi Cleary, the sister of Panthers champion halfback Nathan, who became engaged to her partner Aden in New Zealand last weekend. The pair have been dating for several years now, and Aden popped the question after a couple of trips to York Jewellers in Penrith to finalise the bling.
! Engagement season: Indi Cleary was not the only Panther-related engagement recently. Former Pantherette and ‘Gogglebox’ star Vestal Delpechitra confirmed her engagement to partner Ben.
! Kacey’s Bunker gaffe: The NRL has admitted the Titans should have been awarded a penalty try when Phillip Sami was hit high by Brian To’o in last Saturday’s match on the Gold Coast. It was actually a much more controversial incident than the trainer debacle but hasn’t got the same headlines. Bunker official Kacey Badger has been dumped for this weekend after somehow missing the hit.
! Spotted: Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny and centre Izack Tago at the pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge last Sunday.
Delivered through an Intensive Zoom and Practical Workshop model, the program gives athletes the flexibility to complete their qualifications during the season or in the off-season – an invaluable option for players planning their future beyond the game.
! Titans Together: It was great to see the Panthers so willing to support Gold Coast’s ‘Titans Together’ community initiative at last Saturday’s game. ‘Titans Together’ actively support local schools, clubs, charities and community organisations through various programs, appearances and donations. The Panthers were more than happy to do their bit as part of various game day activations, including the run-out.
! TV increase: More people are watching the Panthers on TV this year than last. Gross Panthers viewership is up 18 per cent year-onyear. Two extra free-to-air matches have driven the uplift.
! Not just footy: Jack Cole, Liam Henry, Billy Scott and Harry Hassett have officially graduated with their Certificate III in Fitness through One Wellbeing & One Training.
! Sydney blackout: The NRL is facing the prospect of only having one Finals match in Sydney on the opening weekend of the Finals – and there’s the possibility of no games at all depending on how the ladder works out. As it stands Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane would all host Finals games in week one, with Penrith the only Sydney team to host a match. As it stands only three Sydney teams are in the top eight, so Sydney will likely host only a couple of games in September.
! Spill the tea: Got some news? Heard some goss? Spotted a player out and about? I don’t keep secrets but I do protect my sources. Email maskedpanther@westernweekender.com.au.
Corey Bocking.
DISTRACTION NOT AN ISSUE FOR PANTHERS THIS WEEK
Panthers forward Luke Garner says he hasn’t let the dramas of the past week affect him.
With Penrith being smashed from pillar to post by the media and public following the Corey Bocking / Jayden Campbell incident last Saturday, the two-time Premiership winner says he’s able to block out all that outside noise and continue to focus on the job at hand.
“I guess it doesn’t directly affect me. I wasn’t the person in the incident, and I don’t have to pay the fine or serve the ban,” Garner told Extra Time
“Obviously, I don’t agree with it. It was an honest mistake from ‘Bockers’, which is sad because it’s not the type of person he is, but life moves on.”
While other players might struggle to handle the negative attention surrounding the club, Garner – a 120 NRL game veteran – said it’s water off a duck’s back for him these days.
“That stuff doesn’t affect me to be honest. Maybe when I was younger it might have affected me, but I don’t really care anymore,” he said.
“Unfortunately, that’s just the way the media does things, so I know what it’s like, and it’s water off a duck’s back, really.”
Garner was in the headlines himself in recent weeks after reports emerged he was looking to get out of his final year of his contract at Penrith to secure his longterm future elsewhere.
However, those rumours were put to bed late last month when it was confirmed by the club that the former Tiger would see out his deal, which expires at the end of 2026.
“I’m here at least for next year,” Garner confirmed.
“I’m glad that’s all done. I never wanted it to be out there and in the media. I hate all that speculation and I’m glad it’s done
now. It’s been enjoyable here and I look forward to hopefully this year and next year win another couple of Grand Finals.”
The Panthers could land in the top four by the end of Round 23 if they manage to beat the Newcastle Knights on Friday at McDonald Jones Stadium and other results go their way.
The 29-year-old said, like the dangerous Titans in last Saturday’s second half, he’s wary of the Knights and what they can do to teams that aren’t switched on for 80 minutes.
“The Knights always turn up against us. Every team turns up against us, but especially the Knights,” Garner said.
“They’re a great team too and have some really good, classy, world calibre players. It won’t be an easy game again. We’re aware of that and hopefully the Titans’ second half gave us the kick up the ass that we needed.”
Luke Garner in Penrith’s Indigenous jersey this week.
Luke Garner chats to Nathan Taylor.
NATHAN TAYLOR
CLEARY OPENS UP ON TRAINER DEBACLE
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has thrown his support behind embattled trainer Corey Bocking following last weekend’s well-publicised incident involving Gold Coast Titans goal-kicker Jayden Campbell.
On Monday, the NRL came down hard on the Panthers – fining the club a whopping $50,000 while Bocking received a five-match suspension for running in front of Campbell as he lined up a sideline conversion attempt.
Speaking for the first time since last Saturday afternoon’s thrilling win on the Gold Coast, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said the NRL’s sanctions were “harsh” and that Bocking had been struggling mentally with the recent attention.
“I think the punishment is pretty heavy, particularly for Corey. I think his suspension is the biggest of anyone in the NRL this year. I think it’s harsh... his penalty is based on some other things (previous club trainer indiscretions) – there’s no justice system in the world that does that… I think it’s a little harsh,” Cleary said.
“He’s (Corey) struggling and has been right from the time it happened. We kind of try to temper that with banter, which he takes in good nature, but he’s struggling.
“He cares about his job and understands that he made a mistake, and it’s become a big deal. The last thing he would want is any excess attention. You can see clearly that he was embarrassed and apologised. I think it’s a bit unfair on him.”
Following last Saturday’s game, Cleary admitted to the media that he never saw the Bocking incident when it happened but took full blame for how it transpired.
“The last time I spoke publicly was after the game where I hadn’t seen the incident and since I’ve seen it, it hasn’t changed my view, it was clearly a mistake,” Cleary said.
“It was the first time in four years that Corey has run that line because his job is to stay with the team after the goal has been kicked or missed.
“The only reason he ran that line was because I changed a sub. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. That’s the truth.”
The entire rugby league community has been divided over the incident, with the story still making headlines five days after it occurred.
Cleary said he can’t control how the public view things, but that his focus is on the wellbeing of Bocking who won’t be part of game day until week one of the NRL Finals.
“I can’t control what people say, I just care about Corey and where he stands in all of this. I stand up for all of our staff. They are just out there doing their best just like players, officials,
referees – we all make mistakes,” Cleary said.
“[On game day] he can’t go in the sheds, he can’t be on the bench – anything. He’s effectively ostracised from the team. He can be at training, but game day nothing. He can sit in the stands, I think.”
Meanwhile, the Bocking incident wasn’t the
only drama Cleary has had to deal with this week. During the first half of the Titans clash, Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo suffered a shoulder subluxation, which will see him miss this Friday night’s match against Newcastle.
While Cleary said the injury isn’t overly bad, he will give Yeo plenty of time to recover ahead of another busy Finals period.
“He’s alright. There’s a little bit of concern with the shoulder, but we’ll give him as much time as he needs and we’re very confident he’ll be back, but I don’t know when,” Cleary said.
“It was a sublux, so it didn’t come right out. The fact that he could keep playing was a really good sign. He pulled up a little bit sore at halftime and after the game. He won’t be playing this week, and we’ll take it as it comes.”
The last time the Panthers faced the Knights, they were clobbered in Bathurst. More than two months later, the Premiers are chasing win number nine on the trot and a spot in the coveted top four.
Cleary said his side has taken plenty of lessons out of last weekend’s second half collapse against the Titans and he doesn’t expect any complacency to creep in this Friday.
“It doesn’t take much to lose your way,” he told Extra Time
“I don’t know whether it was complacency in the second half, we were just sloppy coming out after halftime. Maybe we thought we were going better than we were.
“The Titans were definitely playing well and then they just got the jump on us and one thing led to another. There will be no dramas with complacency this week.”
Trainer Corey Bocking. Photo: NRL Photos.
Isaah Yeo is out this week due to a shoulder problem. Photo: NRL Photos.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
footy club
Missed last week’s results? Here’s a rundown of what happened in key
Panthers games . . .
Tries: B Talagi 2, T Jenkins, D Edwards, C McLean
Goals: N Cleary 4/4, 1 2pt FG
Tries: P Sami 2, J Campbell, B Kelly, S Verrills Goals: J Campbell 3/5
Tries: Z Lamont 2, H Armstrong, B Moran, T Patea, T Bunting, H Bell, Z Clarke, S Faeamani, J Liddiard.
Goals: 5/10
Tries: Goals:
Tries: P Knapp 2, J Lenaz, E Carlisle, K Takairangi, T Amiatu, C Peadon.
Goals: E Carlisle 2/7
Tries: J Tui Goals:
Penrith
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 Penrith game. The player with the most votes at the end of the season is crowned our Player of the Year.
BYE: TIGERS
panther memories
John Peard played almost 200 first grade games and represented both NSW and Australia, so his arrival as coach of Penrith in 1982 was seen as a pivotal moment in the club’s history.
Peard was a fitness fanatic, and he spent plenty of time whipping what was at times an errant Panthers side into shape.
After finding his feet in 1982, the 1983 season started promising but would eventually fall into a heap – largely around injuries, in particular to key playmakers. Penrith’s defensive record was shocking.
Peard would not survive, cut at the end of the 1983 season. He would not coach in first grade again, though did coach NSW Country and the Blues in 1988.
Wrong timing likely impacted Peard’s success at the club. He was a couple of years too early – especially given an emerging talent by the name of Greg Alexander would explode onto the scene in the years that followed his tenure.
In the end, Peard coached Penrith 52 times for 16 wins, 35 losses and a draw.
Peard would suffer a stroke in 2002, but recover well. He is 80-years-old.
footy
CLEARY NOT GAME’S ONLY HERO
with Peter Lang
With the clock ticking down and Penrith behind by two points with 90 seconds to go,
Nathan Cleary, with ice in his veins, received a long pass from hooker
Mitch Kenny to nail a 42-metre two-point field goal which tied the game up at 26-all.
“Nat’s (Nathan Cleary) field goal was unbelievable,” said Panthers coach Ivan Cleary after the team’s 30-26 victory over the Titans.
“But that was a great pass by Mitch Kenny,” he added.
“I think when he looked up, he didn’t realise how far away [Nathan] was and it was just a great call on the spot.”
Nathan also complimented the 20-metre pass from Kenny.
“I thought should I be doing this,” said Cleary.
“Then I called out to Kenny and he threw a good pass to me, luckily, I struck it pretty well.”
While Cleary has been lauded for his ice-cool two-point field goal, and rightly so, Mitch Kenny’s ability to also remain composed under pressure and throw the ball so sweetly to his co-captain also deserves plenty of praise.
It’s no secret that Penrith are a better football team when Mitch Kenny is in the side.
He is well respected by not only his teammates but players and
coaches from other teams as well.
He has come such a long way since his first-grade debut against the Parramatta Eels in Round 11 of the 2019 season.
In 2020 he had to bide his time as an understudy for Api Koroisau. He played in only six games that year and no one could’ve predicted that he would one day captain the team and turn into a bloody good player in the process.
He would bide his time behind Koroisau for a further two seasons before becoming the club’s
number one hooker in 2023 following Koroisau’s defection to the Wests Tigers.
Many supporters used to grumble when he was named in the side back then, now only three years later, a wave of panic sweeps through Panthers supporters when his name is not in the side.
Like earlier in the year when he accepted a guilty plea to a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact charge. He missed the next two games against the Sea Eagles and Broncos and his absence was obvious.
Kenny has grown so much as a player that during last year’s offseason he was even being discussed as a possible emerging NSW Origin player.
Not only that but Ivan Cleary has even appointed Kenny as captain whenever Nathan Cleary or Isaah Yeo are unavailable for selection. Even when both co-captains are in the side, you can see Kenny taking a senior role, often barking instructions and words of inspiration to his teammates during breaks in
He was particularly disappointed with the side’s 25-6 loss to Newcastle in Round 12, a match he captained with the club missing five Origin players.
He sat in the post-match press conference, arms crossed, steam coming out of his ears.
“Yeah there was a lack of resilience there in the first half,” said Kenny when asked to comment on the loss.
“Our defence was ordinary and we just couldn’t stop the bleeding until we were 24-0 down and by then it was too late.”
Reports emerged later that Kenny had a huge say when he addressed the team after the loss and in the week at training after that match. It’s funny you know, the Panthers haven’t lost a game since.
Nathan Cleary about to take his field goal shot. Photo: NRL Photos.
PANTHERS
SHARKS
STORM PANTHERS
BRONCOS PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS
EELS
ROOSTERS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
WARRIORS TITANS EELS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS DOLPHINS BULLDOGS RABBITOHS EELS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS ROOSTERS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS DRAGONS ROOSTERS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
BRONCOS PANTHERS SEA EAGLES DRAGONS ROOSTERS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS DOLPHINS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS
DOLPHINS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS ROOSTERS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS DRAGONS
DOLPHINS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
BRONCOS PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS ROOSTERS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS
DOLPHINS BULLDOGS RABBITOHS COWBOYS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS DRAGONS ROOSTERS WARRIORS TITANS EELS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS DOLPHINS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
BRONCOS PANTHERS SEA EAGLES SHARKS ROOSTERS WARRIORS RABBITOHS COWBOYS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS DRAGONS DOLPHINS BULLDOGS RABBITOHS EELS
BRONCOS PANTHERS
SEA EAGLES SHARKS ROOSTERS WARRIORS RABBITOHS COWBOYS
BRONCOS PANTHERS SEA EAGLES SHARKS ROOSTERS WARRIORS RABBITOHS COWBOYS
STORM PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS ROOSTERS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
BRONCOS PANTHERS RAIDERS SHARKS DOLPHINS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
BRONCOS PANTHERS RAIDERS DRAGONS ROOSTERS BULLDOGS TITANS EELS
BRONCOS PANTHERS SEA EAGLES SHARKS ROOSTERS WARRIORS RABBITOHS COWBOYS
BRONCOS PANTHERS SEA EAGLES SHARKS ROOSTERS WARRIORS RABBITOHS COWBOYS
