Ivan Cleary.
Photo: NRL Photos.
the finalword
Back in late April, with his Panthers struggling and the season bordering on crisis, Ivan Cleary declared “the ladder doesn’t really matter until July”.
Turns out he was right.
Just days out from July, and with perfect timing, Cleary has guided his side from the bottom of the table to a spot in the top eight.
The mission now is to stay there.
And it starts with what is a massive Thursday night showdown against Canterbury at CommBank Stadium.
There was already enough interest surrounding this game with so many former Panthers now bedded down at Belmore, but Penrith’s resurgence to win three straight games and Canterbury’s position atop the NRL ladder makes this one even more intriguing.
Not many people, me included, tipped the Panthers to topple the in-form Warriors last Saturday. But Mitch Kenny’s comments afterwards – that this group was keen to make
amends from the disaster against Newcastle in Bathurst – made plenty of sense.
And so the Panthers turned up with plenty of character, rediscovering that next man up mentality the last five years have been built on and produced one of their best wins of the season.
All of a sudden, other teams are looking over their shoulder at the Panthers and the rugby league world is pondering the unthinkable: could Penrith win a fifth title?
With Penrith’s Origin stars returning for this one, including Nathan Cleary who appears to have overcome whatever injury was hampering him in State of Origin, the stage is set for what should be one of the games of the year.
Ivan Cleary and Cameron Ciraldo know each other well – they’ll know exactly how the other will prepare their side for this one, and they’ll know which players will feed into the rivalry these two sides have developed over the last couple of years.
We may be beyond the half-way point of the competition and while Canterbury have been at the top of the table for much of the year, the jury remains out on what they can achieve this year.
There is plenty of energy, enthusiasm and support but when the whips get cracking, do the Bulldogs have the halves that are going to guide you to a premiership? And how much will the recruitment of Lachlan Galvin ultimately impact the team – both positively and negatively?
With Galvin named on the bench again for this game, it appears the Bulldogs still haven’t quite worked out their final line-up for an assault on the title.
So many unanswered questions about Canterbury, not so many about Penrith.
We know what the Panthers can do and what they are capable of. We know the next batch of stars can deliver on their day, while the experienced heads have done it all before.
The only real unanswered question is whether it will all gel enough for Penrith to go on a run and secure a Finals finish. From there, anything could happen.
This match really comes down to the kicking game of Matt Burton and Nathan Cleary. The pair will likely kick themselves to death. The player who manages to get the advantage in this space and therefore starts to win the field position battle will go a long way to guiding their team to victory.
I can’t see this one being a blowout. The Bulldogs have improved too much to be destroyed by Penrith while the Panthers have tightened up their defence in recent weeks, but still haven’t quite got there in their attack.
For Penrith, this is the chance to silence some more doubters. For Canterbury, the chance to prove they’re the real deal.
Expect fireworks – this one is going to be explosive.
Tip: Panthers by 4.
Graphic by: Zoe Merrick.
panther rumblings
OLD GRANDSTAND NOW HISTORY
! Iconic grandstand gone: The Western Grandstand at Penrith Park is officially no more. The final stages were demolished over the last week as the refurbishment of the stadium continues. It’s quite a shock to see it gone. While it’s been updated and changed over the years, it has existed in some way since the 1960s – and some of the original foundations were still there.
! Cleary the cover star: Nathan Cleary is set to appear on the cover of the upcoming rugby league video game, to be released on PlayStation and Xbox in July. There was surely no other choice given Cleary’s status in the game and his position as a four-time Premiership winner. The game will have plenty of new features, but something not changing is the lead commentator – Andrew Voss from Fox Sports has got the job again. Some of his commentary in previous league games is iconic.
! Garner rumours emerge: I’ve got nothing to add to the recent rumours surrounding Luke Garner’s future at the club, other than to say that often where there’s smoke, there’s fire in these situations. Garner is off-contract at the end of the 2026 season, which means he’s free to negotiate with other clubs from November 1 for the 2027 season. While he could well be on Perth’s radar for 2027, which would keep him at Penrith next year, if he managed to sign a longer term deal elsewhere you do wonder if Penrith would let him go early. With rumours surrounding Scott Sorensen’s future still floating around too, it does appear the Panthers are working on some roster and salary cap management for next year.
! Spotted: Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary grabbing breakfast at Laughin’ Boy – sporting a Real Madrid jersey.
! Editor’s red face: As you know, Troy Dodds writes the main Panthers preview in Extra Time and has done so for years. He rarely tips against Penrith – but has done so twice this year. On both occasions the Panthers
have proved him wrong and got up. Can he tip against them for the rest of the year?
! MG’s honour: Mark Geyer was given the honour of delivering the match ball for State of Origin II at Optus Stadium last Wednesday night. Geyer is of course one of the few rugby
league identities known in Perth given his previous high profile stint with the Western Reds. Geyer only found out about the honour shortly before the game – it wasn’t the primary reason he travelled to Perth for the match.
! Sorensen suspended: Penrith’s bad luck with the judiciary this year has continued, with Scott Sorensen (right) suspended for two matches after pleading guilty to a dangerous contact charge out of the Warriors game last weekend.
! Beanies for Brain Cancer: This weekend is Beanies for Brain Cancer Round, which has become a well supported initiative in the rugby league world in recent years. You can support the concept by buying a beanie at CommBank Stadium tonight when the Panthers play the Bulldogs.
! Got some goss? If you’ve spotted a player out and about or you have some gossip, we want to hear about it! Email maskedpanther@ westernweekender.com.au.
EDWARDS WARY OF BURTO BOMBS
EMILY CHATE
With players returning from representative duty and a win from an undermanned side that everybody had written off, the Panthers look primed to make a statement tonight as they face the top of the table Bulldogs.
The side named against the Warriors last week was without five of its star players, including fullback Dylan Edwards, who were unable to make it to New Zealand in time, instead watching the game like any other fan – at home.
“I’m not really good as a spectator but I’m definitely pleased with how the boys played and the result, it made me happy,” Edwards said.
“I thought our energy and the way we competed from the start was really good. It was important to start well over there against a red-hot Warriors side.
“It wasn’t always perfect, but we stuck up for each other, dug in at times and propelled forward, which was important.”
With players returning it’s vital for the side to keep their winner’s mentality as they face the first placed Bulldogs at makeshift home ground Commbank, bolstered by the inclu-
sion of halfback Nathan Cleary who has been named to play despite a groin complaint.
“It’s important that we play well now, that’s for sure!” Edwards said.
“I’m seeing how well those guys played to help us as a club to get those two points, so we definitely want to come back and play well as well.”
The Bulldogs are littered with former Panthers from club captain Stephen Crichton to coach Cameron Ciraldo and Edwards knows it will take an 80-minute mentality to get the two points over the Dogs.
“Definitely excited to get out there. They are a quality opposition with Kiks, Burto and Critta, they are all key pillars in the Bulldogs side,” Edwards said.
“We spent a few years with those guys here and it’s always a chal lenge going up against them because of the quality they bring to the side.
“I won’t talk to them too much before the game but after I’ll catch up with them.”
One former Panther who might challenge Edwards is five eighth Matt Burton, known for his ‘Burto bombs’ that terrorise opposition fullbacks.
“He puts them up well and sometimes they’re really tricky to handle,” Edwards said
comes along with their kick chase and how they compete for the footy as well, but he’s got one of the biggest boots in the game I’ve
ever seen.
“It’s not ideal for us if he gets them right but we’ll be trying to prevent him from doing that.”
Breakfast with Ron Wilson 5:30am - 9am
Chris Smith Across Australia 9am - 12 Noon
Dylan Edwards. Photo: Melinda Jane.
FRIENDS FOREVER, BUT RIVALS FOR 80
For 80 minutes you are not friends – those are the chilling words Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo said ahead of tonight’s battle against the in-form Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are a side built of former Panthers including the likes of Viliame Kikau, Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton and even coach Cameron Ciraldo.
While Yeo is looking forward to catching up with his former teammates, for the 80 minutes before the full-time siren there will be no love lost between the players.
“I am looking forward to it!” Yeo told Extra Time
“It’s more because of the battle with the whole side, they are the benchmark of the competition at the moment and rightly so. I just look forward to these challenges.
“We are sort of in and around the mix there where every win is important.
“I was at my daughter’s swimming lesson and Kik’s [Kikau] son does swim lessons in the same class, so that was the first time I caught up with him for a while but it’s nice to come against them.
“We understand there is a real challenge ahead and for 80 minutes, you aren’t friends, but you get to go and give each other a cuddle after. They’re the top side
and they’re the team to beat at the moment.”
In a side that looks a lot like the Panthers from the past four years, Yeo said he has been impressed with the Dogs’ commitment to the little things in the game.
“[I’ve been impressed by their] line speed, their ability to stay in the fight and to just be fitter than teams,” Yeo said.
“They out compete teams and then get results off the back of that.
“They run off at the end because the other team is wilting a little bit just because of their pressure they’re putting on you.”
Last weekend Yeo got to experience the Panthers game like everyone else, riding each set through the screen of their TV.
“I found watching the game a bit easier because they just played so well. I was pretty nervous before hand,” Yeo said.
“We sort of left them in the trenches with the Origin boys out but just logistically that was sort of taken out of our hands, but you certainly do feel guilty.
“You’d rather feel like you can actually do something about the result, but they were all outstanding and had a really good win over there, a much-needed win!
“I was super proud of them. I thought they took the result after the Bathurst game against the Knights really personally and I thought they were outstanding, everyone.”
Teammate Lindsay Smith made the trek from Blues camp to New Zealand to play the in-form Warriors, taking on the lock
position in Yeo’s absence.
“He plays a bit of a different role when I’m on the field, but it shows he’s got the classiness about him in terms of passing and reading a game,” Yeo said.
“I was really proud of him particu larly with the way he had to do it. He was the 19th man in the Origin game, so I think he was in a cab at 4.30 in the morning over in Perth on Thursday morning and went to Melbourne and then on to New Zealand.
“He’s a bit like me, a bit of a box ticker and likes having his routine and that was well and truly thrown out the window.
“I think with being in the Origin environment you get a lot of confidence out of that too and I thought he showed that on the weekend. He played really well.”
Isaah Yeo is looking forward to taking on the Bulldogs. Photo: Melinda Jane.
IT WAS A VICTORY FOR THE AGES
lang on league
“
C’mon boys let’s keep it going!”
You could hear young Panthers prop Liam Henry urging the troops on after veteran Scott Sorensen leapt in the air to catch a cross-field bomb launched by halfback Brad Schneider.
Sorensen caught the ball then twisted his body and planted it right next to the uprights, to take the Panthers to a 14-12 lead over the Warriors following an easy conversion by Paul Alamoti.
Sorensen could then be seen laying down the law to some of his less experienced teammates as they huddled around following his try.
Yep, that’s right, this was a real backs-to-the-wall team effort.
Both the young bull and the experienced campaigner could smell that an upset was on the cards.
they had to make sure everything went their way – it didn’t! They had to make sure they made no mistakes – they made mistakes! But they didn’t let any of this rattle them.
They had to defend their goal line like their life depended on it – and they did!
On this night several players came of age.
Luron Patea made three tackle breaks and off-loaded the ball twice in traffic, meanwhile Casey McLean set up a try and ran 118 metres, and Blaize Talagi scored a try, set up another and made three tackle-breaks.
No-one gave Penrith a hope that day either. Not against a Sea Eagles side stacked with champions like Geoff Toovey, Cliff Lyons and Des Hasler.
That day before a small but vocal crowd the Panthers young brigade and a few senior players like John Cartwright, Ryan Girdler and Carl MacNamara all dug deep and played like men possessed to repel wave after wave of maroon and white attack.
Penrith’s goal line defence was back. It repelled wave after wave of Warriors attack. In the first half of the season, the Panthers were so out-of-sync they couldn’t defend a
But against the Warriors it was like the Penrith of old.
It reminded me of a game way back in Round 20, 1996, when an injury decimated Panthers side rolled out three 18-year-olds named Craig Gower, Fred Petersen and Ned Catic and then went on to defeat the defending Premiers Manly 18-14 at Penrith Stadium.
Like the game last Saturday, it was a win for the ages.
Nearly 30 years later, I got to see a similar game and result. Wins like this just don’t happen every day. Regardless of the result against the top-of-the table Bulldogs, this game was a watershed moment for the team.
A game which will be looked at in years to come as the match which marked a sharp turning point for a club, which lifted itself off the canvas and back into contention.
Veteran prop Moses Leota and several experienced players talked about how embarrassed they were at how they performed against the Knights only a few weeks earlier with the club also missing five Origin players.
He learned the hard way that you don’t always have to stand tall. But you always have to stand up.
The Panthers celebrate beating the Warriors. Photo: NRL Images.
panthers poster
Missed last week’s results? Here’s a rundown of what happened in key Penrith Panthers games...
Tries: S Sorensen 2, T Jenkins B Talagi, P Alamoti Goals: P Alamoti 4/6
Tries: J Ford, J Laban, M Graham-Taufa Goals: A Pompey 2, L Metcalf 1
Tries: E Kosi 2, C Putoko 2, G Doyle, T Boyd Goals: T Boyd 4/6
Tries: L Sommerton, D Fale Goals: Z Lamont 2/2
Tries: J Attard 3, J Liddiard, S Faeamani, T Patea, C Purcell
Goals: Z Clarke 6/7
B Norris, P Sikuvea, J Ratcliffe Goals: J Cleary 1/3
Tries:
player of the year
LAST
panther memories
June 21 marked 33 years since Ben Alexander was tragically killed in a car crash at Colyton, tearing apart both the Panthers club and the community itself.
On this day (June 26) 33 years ago, the Weekender’s front page read ‘Penrith mourns’, with the rising star’s funeral held the previous day.
“Penrith came to a virtual standstill yesterday when thousands flocked to St Nicholas Church to bid farewell to Ben Alexander,” the Weekender reported.
“Nearly 700 people crammed into St Nicholas for the Requiem Mass while an estimated 4000 others spilled out of the church grounds onto High Street to listen to the mass by loud speakers”.
The Weekender reported that moving eulogies to Ben were read by Joe Zarb, Royce Simmons, Greg Alexander and Ron Mulock.
Around this time every year, we remember the short career of Ben Alexander, and that fateful night in 1992 that claimed his life.
His name will never, ever be forgotten in the history of the Penrith Panthers or Penrith as a city.
PANTHERS
PANTHERS
PANTHERS
