CHEERS!
THE PANTHERETTES HAVE BEEN DANCING UP A STORM DURING THE 2025 SEASON. SPECIAL PHOTO SPREAD: PAGES 34-35
Photo: Penrith Panthers.
TO’O STILL IN FRAME FOR ORIGIN III
Panthers premiership winner Brian To’o is confident he’ll overcome a knee injury to play in next Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider at Accor Stadium.
The Penrith winger suffered a Grade 2 lateral ligament tear in his knee during the club’s thrilling 8-6 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs last Thursday night.
But with To’o scoring a hat-trick of tries and winning the player’s player award in Perth a fortnight ago, NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley wanted to give him every chance to play in the all-important deciding game.
“I think with the injury itself, it takes a little bit of time to get right. If he had to play today, he wouldn’t be playing,” Daley said earlier this week.
“He was our player’s player in game two and he means a lot to the team.”
The Blues have named in-form Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz as 18th man if To’o fails to recover in time for the clash next Wednesday.
“With Bizza in some doubt, the easiest way to have that covered is to have Jacob with us as 18th man,” Daley said.
“You want to give Brian every chance to play in an Origin decider. That’s why we’ve made the decision, so we’ve covered all our bases to make sure that if he doesn’t play, the right replacement is there and ready to go.”
When quizzed about his own fitness leading into Origin III, To’o was saying the right things,
but the decision on his availability will ultimately be left to the Blues medical staff.
“Yeah, I’m all good. Obviously, I’ve got a couple of niggling injuries, but I know that with the great support and great staff members and physios here, they will look after me throughout the week,” he said.
“I always back myself whether I’m injured or not. Whether I’ve got little niggles or not. I always back myself to be ready throughout the week, so I can be ready to perform on game day. But whether they keep me in or not, it’ll be what is best for the team and the team will always come first.”
One Panther certain to play despite his own injury cloud is Blues halfback Nathan Cleary.
Despite a new groin injury that plagued his performance in Perth during Origin II, Cleary was back to his best against the top-of-the-table Bulldogs last week.
“I’m feeling really good at the moment. I had a pretty tough game on Thursday night against the Doggies, but I think that was a good primer for Origin, to be honest,” Cleary said.
“The physio staff here at the Blues and back at Penrith are outstanding and put a lot of time and effort into me and got me right. So, that definitely gives me confidence going through a tough game like that, and I’m feeling good now.”
When asked whether he would resume goal kicking duties in game three, Cleary was rather cagey in his response.
“I’m not too sure yet. It’s probably going to be a call we make pretty early in the week because, since it happened, I haven’t had a goal kick yet.
It’s one of those things you don’t want to try too early and get another setback, so we’ll see,” he said.
Other Panthers selected for next Wednesday
night’s decider at Accor Stadium include Blues skipper Isaah Yeo, fullback Dylan Edwards, back-rower Liam Martin and forward Lindsay Smith (19th man).
Brian To’o had a blockbuster game in Origin II. Photo: NRL Photos.
NATHAN TAYLOR
panther rumblings
PANTHERS HUNT FULLBACK?
! Panthers hunt back-up fullback: I’m told Penrith is in the market for a back-up fullback for 2026, with suggestions Daine Laurie won’t be with the club next year. Laurie, who turns 26 later this month, is off-contract at the end of the season. There’s been some talk around that Penrith could be interested in Tyrell Sloan, who is contracted to the Dragons next year but has been given permission to negotiate with other clubs.
! Brandy drops out: Panthers legend Greg Alexander has bizarrely dropped out of The Daily Telegraph’s list of the top 50 influential people in rugby league. Despite being a Board Member at four-time Premiers Penrith, holding court on a daily sports breakfast radio show and working on Fox League, Brandy couldn’t get a look-in this year. Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary topped the list this year. Another thing that wasn’t a surprise – The Telegraph opted to ignore Sydney’s other daily newspaper and its highly respected journalist Michael Chammas, leaving him off the list. That probably wasn’t a surprise, nor was the exclusion of Danny Weidler whose Sunday column rivals Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield – who managed to get himself to 17th on the list.
! $3.5 million raised: Rugby league fans have joined forces to raise $3.5 million for the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) across an entertaining and action-packed Beanie for Brain Cancer Round. Strong crowds across the round ensured this year’s fundraising efforts topped the $3 million mark for a fifth consecutive season and eclipsed the $3.1 million raised in 2024, with over 130,000 beanies sold. It was great to see so many people getting behind the concept.
! Panthers lose talented Taylah: The wellliked Taylah Murray has departed Penrith’s corporate team. Murray finished up on Tuesday after working extensively with the club’s sponsors over the last four years.
! Book gets refresh: Popular rugby league book The History of Rugby League Clubs is getting a refresh. A third edition will be released, reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of the NRL – including the historic entry of the Dolphins back in 2023. The book is written by Ian Collis and local writer Alan Whiticker. Available for $59.99, via New Holland Publishers.
! Origin decider ahead: Isaah Yeo (pictured), Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards have all retained their spots in the New South Wales State of Origin team for next Wednesday’s decider. Lindsay Smith is also in camp with the Blues, being named on the extended bench. There’s no question that Brian To’o is in doubt for the clash – he’s being closely monitored by the Blues with a final decision to be made this weekend. Jacob Kiraz is on stand-by.
! Waiting game: Could it be that Panthers coach Ivan Cleary and co-captain Nathan Cleary are sitting back to see how next year’s Board election unfolds before committing to the club long-term? There’s significant management shake-ups ahead at Penrith, with a new Group CEO to be appointed and talk that there will be plenty of hands up for Board positions early next year. Spooked from his frosty period with Phil Gould, Ivan Cleary in particular puts importance on the club’s administration being in order. Both Clearys are locked in until the end of 2027, but if we go into a new year without a fresh contract, their futures could emerge as the biggest story in rugby league next year.
! Women’s campaign begins: The NSW Women’s Premiership kicks off this weekend with Penrith making their debut in the competition. The Panthers head to Woy Woy Oval to take on the Central Coast Roosters on Sunday at 12.15pm. Penrith’s first home game comes against the Rabbitohs on Sunday, July 13 at Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub in Rooty Hill.
! Rolling up their sleeves: Panthers staff
this week took part in the Battle of the West Lifeblood Challenge, donating blood as part of an important initiative. The Battle of the West blood drive sees a point added to either the Panthers or Eels tally every time someone donates blood as part of the initiative. Head to www.lifeblood.com.au to lock in a donation booking.
! Podcast: Don’t forget the weekly Tension’s Running High podcast, hosted by Troy Dodds and Nathan Taylor. Search Western Weekender wherever you listen to podcasts, or head to www.westernweekender.com.au/ podcast.
Photo: NRL Photos.
BACKING THE PANTHERS ALL THE WAY
IN SEASON 2025
WIN A
BEHIND THE SCENES PANTHERS EXPERIENCE
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Tries: D Laurie 2, A Kepaoa 2, M Eisenhuth, N Murphy, B Schneider Goals: P Alamoti 4/7 Tries: H Armstrong 3, J Liddiard 2, Z Clarke, J Tuaoi Goals: Z Clarke 7/7
panther memories
There is nothing better than a sideline conversion to win a game, and that’s how things unfolded at Penrith Stadium on Saturday, March 22 in 2014.
The round three clash with the Bulldogs was a thriller – with Penrith leading 10-6 at the break but the Bulldogs scoring two late second half tries to take a 16-12 lead into the final minutes of the match.
With a strong home crowd behind them, the Panthers had one last roll of the dice and Kevin Naiqama went over in the corner, leaving Matt Moylan to land a sideline conversion to win the game.
The kick was a beauty – and Penrith won 18-16, sending players and fans alike into raptures.
(Photo thanks to NRL Photos)
WHAT WERE WE THINKING?
lang on league
with Peter Lang
Every club in the NRL at one point or another has bought a player with the best of intentions, hoping they have a long and positive impact on their team.
No club buys a player thinking, yep in a year’s time we’re going to look back and say; “What were we thinking?”.
Supporters also look at the player hoping he will work out and become a fan favourite.
This week I’m going to look at some players the Penrith Panthers have bought, but for whatever reason, after they left, had club officials and supporters alike all saying collectively; “What were we thinking?”.
Looking back over the years there are some obvious candidates.
Top of the list would have to be Arana Taumata who came to the club on a one-year deal in 2011after having already been let go by the Broncos, Roosters, Bulldogs, Storm and Cowboys.
Now that’s quite an exit resume.
In the end Taumata played two first grade games for Penrith before being dropped to feeder club St Marys and finally being let go in 2012 after numerous opportunities afforded to him.
Over the years Taumata has had several run-ins with the law and will always be looked at as a wasted prodigious football talent.
Daine Laurie (2010) – not the current player – and Yileen Gordon (2011) were both signed by Penrith because they showed enormous potential at their previous clubs. Potential the Panthers hoped would be realised at the foot of the Mountains.
Unfortunately, both departed after 12 months, playing a combined total of only six first grade games between them. Laurie was released due to disciplinary reasons.
However, it must be pointed out that not every player has failed due to the club being a ‘last chance saloon’ destination. An expression which means the player is on their final opportunity after a series of failures, to achieve success.
Penrith had high hopes when they signed hugely talented rugby league and rugby union star
Timana Tahu in 2011 after he had been released by the Parramatta Eels the previous season.
Tahu was viewed by many as a marquee signing for the club but instead, he struggled with multiple injuries and played unconvincingly in a variety of positions including lock for a total of only seven games before leaving the club at the end of the 2011 season.
I don’t know what anyone was thinking with this next signing though.
Announced at a Panthers supporters forum as a ‘major signing’ in 2012, Wes Naiqama was anything but. By then Naiqama was well past his best and this was reflected in the fact that Newcastle released him from the final two years of his contract to play with Penrith. Naiqama, well he just struggled and was then released by the Panthers at the end of the 2013 season having played only eight first grade games for the club.
Finally let’s finish with one of the biggest head-scratching signings of the decade when UK Super League sensation Zac Hardaker Penrith with much fanfare for a brief 11 game stint in 2016. Hardaker struggled to make any impact, scoring just one try. To this day he was so awful each week that I’m convinced he had it written in his contract that he had to play first grade.
supporters alike, look back on all these player signings with a wry smile.
It’s only now, years later, that we can finally say “What were
With the passing of time, we can all now, club and
Daine Laurie. Photo: NRL Images,
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