PENRITH WILL FACE SOUTH SYDNEY IN A THURSDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN TO KICK OFF ROUND FOUR OF THE NRL. MATCH PREVIEW: PAGES 34-35
Lindsay Smith. Photo: NRL Photos. JACK COLE
Nathan Cleary’s head knock in the 8th minute of last Thursday’s loss to Melbourne may just be one of the most important moments of the season for the Penrith Panthers.
Cleary will be back, of course.
But it was the side’s response to their playmaker leaving the field that told you all you need to know about the Panthers and their Premiership defence.
Faced with the prospect of playing the remainder of the game without their inspirational leader and at one point down 14-0 to a side that rarely gives up such leads, Penrith forced their way back into the contest – showing the kind of grit, determination and attitude they have built their game on over the past five years. They may not have got the chocolates at the end of the day, but rest assured these Panthers are well and truly bought in for the 2025 season – write them off at your peril.
Any fans worried about Penrith’s 1-2 start to
the season need take a chill pill and relax. The first five or six rounds of the competition are never a true indication of how things are going to pan out during the year.
There’s a lot playing out in that first six weeks. Teams who have had since November to prepare for the year hit the ground running, but will ultimately be tested when injuries hit and the better teams hit their straps.
Those who went deep into the Finals last year and/or had significant international representation have had shortened pre-seasons, and indeed these opening rounds are often used as part of the preparation for the long year ahead.
And so an old adage rings true – one game at a time.
And for Penrith that game comes on Thursday night against South Sydney, who after two wins to start the season went down to Cronulla last weekend in a game that showed the Rabbitohs have plenty of work to do if they plan to be a
the final word
force under Wayne Bennett this season. They weren’t in the same league as the Sharks – they seemed off the pace and lacked energy. And when you consider they only just got home against the Dolphins in the opening round and beat the Dragons by a point a week later, the form line isn’t all that impressive.
But the big factor in this match is obviously no Nathan Cleary. His mandatory exclusion from this game under the NRL’s concussion policy evens the playing field significantly.
The Panthers will rely on Trent Toelau to guide them around the field, a huge call from coach Ivan Cleary given the availability of Brad Schneider. Toelau is being given his chance to shine, and may just take it with both hands.
It is games like this where experience counts.
We need the likes of Moses Leota, Isaah Yeo and Mitch Kenny to step up – they must assert their dominance on the contest.
And it goes without saying Penrith must tighten up their defence, which has probably
been one of the more surprising issues to start the year given how rock solid it has been in recent years. The Panthers have conceded 90 points so far this season – only the Roosters, Cowboys and Eels have posted worse. Perhaps that would be the big thing worrying coach Ivan Cleary at present. He knows how much he has built this side’s success on defence in recent seasons, and if that cornerstone is damaged, the road ahead may be bumpier than expected.
The result in this Round 4 opener will not determine where the Panthers end up this season. As noted earlier, we’re still in the midst of the adjustment period for the new year and Penrith have had a shorter preparation for the year than most. Win or lose, a performance with the enthusiasm and guts of last week’s clash with Melbourne is all you could ask for. If that happens, Cleary’s men should be too good for their 2021 Grand Final opponents.
Tip: Panthers by 8.
Graphi: Zoe Merrick.
panther rumblings
NO CHANCE OF DCE GOING WEST
! No interest in DCE: Let’s not pretend there’s any realistic chance Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans ends up at the foot of the Mountains. Ivan Cleary didn’t totally dismiss it when asked on Tuesday, opting instead to say he was out of the club’s price range. But I doubt Cleary thought the question was all that serious. The Panthers won’t be in the market for Cherry-Evans, even if he does decide to play on elsewhere in the NRL next year. But we can dream about a Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary partnership at club level, can’t we?
! Leota locals: Penrith’s trip to Las Vegas meant that plenty close to front row enforcer Moses Leota got to see him play in person for the first time. Believe it or not, Leota has plenty of family in the United States. “I had family come from here – my sister and cousin,” Leota said. “But most of my family was from over there. My mum’s brother was adopted when he was a baby and he moved over to America with the family that adopted him. He ended up getting my cousins some tickets and they got to come out and see me play live for the first time.”
! For Pete’s next trick: Peter V’landys will use the threat of taking Magic Round away from Brisbane to keep pushing the Queensland Government for an upgrade of Suncorp Stadium. The NRL is keen to keep the Magic Round concept in Brisbane and there’s no doubt the festival of footy up there is something special. But you only have to look at the success of the Las Vegas season launch to know that league fans can take over a city – it doesn’t have to be a traditional rugby league location. You can’t rule out Perth, Adelaide and New Zealand being seriously considered as future Magic Round homes if the Queens-
land Government doesn’t come to the party regarding an upgrade.
! Grand Final stays in Sydney: In a low key announcement last Sunday, the NRL and State Government confirmed this year’s Grand Final would be staying in Sydney. I’m told the
appetite for taking the Grand Final on the road is slowly waning at NRL headquarters. But the uncertainty of where the season decider will be each year is frustrating for fans. Surely Premier Chris Minns can sort out a long-term deal to guarantee Sydney remains the host of the year’s biggest game long-term. At the moment the latest announcement only covers the 2025 season – there is no deal in place for the 2026 Grand Final and beyond.
! Lunch with the stars: The Panthers have lined up Ivan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and club legend Greg Alexander for a luncheon being run in conjunction with Hawkesbury Race Club on May 2. The Sports Luncheon Calcutta at the Western Sydney Conference Centre will also feature Chris Waller and Charlie Duckworth. If you’re interested in a table or tickets, email katie.trokus@ westernsydneyconferencecentre.com.au.
! Rail woes: Commuters were frustrated by the train dramas that caused delays getting to the match against the Roosters at CommBank Stadium a few weeks ago. But at least the travel was free. Spare a thought for the Panthers, who
actually have to subsidise the free travel. They should ask for a refund.
! Spotted: A Panthers fan sporting the Las Vegas jersey in the front row of Jon Pardi’s Sydney concert last Thursday night.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary.
Photo: NRL Photos.
MOSES PRAISES NEXT GENERATION
It’s hard to believe that Moses Leota is playing his 10th season in first grade. It feels like just yesterday that the St Marys product, who hails from Auckland, New Zealand, was making his debut on a cloudy winter’s day against the Manly Sea Eagles.
Now, with more than 175 NRL games and four premierships under his belt, the 29-yearold is Penrith’s main forward leader following the departure of his long-time teammate and good friend James Fisher-Harris.
Speaking with Extra Time on Tuesday afternoon, Leota said it was a little hard at first seeing someone else fill Fisher-Harris’ vacant locker.
“Ice (Isaiah Papali’i) took over his locker,” Leota revealed.
“It’s good now, but when he (Fisher-Harris) first left, it was a bit different, but it’s normal now. I actually caught up with him in Vegas on our last night there and we had a good time.”
With Fisher-Harris enjoying his new life over in New Zealand as the face of the Warriors, the Panthers had to fill more than his vacant locker this season.
The person tasked with taking over his coveted number 10 jumper was none other than Kangaroos forward Lindsay Smith.
The 25-year-old former cricketer has enjoyed a solid start to the year alongside Leota in the Penrith starting pack.
“He’s started on fire this year,” Leota glowingly
said of Smith.
“He’s been going well, playing long minutes and he’s a really talented prop.
“He knows how to do his job very well. He’s talented and skilful.”
Another young star Leota wanted to heap praise on this week was that of Blaize Talagi, who made his club debut in Penrith’s narrow loss to the Storm last Thursday night.
Leota said he was particularly impressed with the “resilience and character” showed by the 20-year-old and his fellow half Jack Cole.
“It was tough losing Nathan [Cleary] early, but I felt like a lot of the young boys stepped up and we almost came away with the win,” he said.
“Blaize’s confidence is super high. He’s a ball of energy. He showed a lot of character last week and I was impressed with his defence. He had big guys coming at him and he led the line speed and took it head on – that’s what I liked about him!”
Penrith will aim to avoid three losses in a row when they travel to Accor Stadium to battle the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Thursday.
The Bunnies have had a mixed start to the year, but incredibly sit higher on the ladder than their opponents heading into tonight’s clash.
Leota said defence has been a big priority at Panthers training this week.
“I think we just need to nail down on our details,” he said.
“We know, as a team, defence wins games and that’s what we are trying to do. Hopefully we can fix it this week. We’ll soon find out.”
Panthers forward Moses Leota.
Photo: Melinda Jane.
NATHAN TAYLOR
MAKING THE MOST OF HIS SECOND COMING
Thomas Jenkins never wanted to leave Penrith at the end of the 2023 season, but an opportunity that was promised to him at Newcastle was far too good to pass up for the man they call “Milky”.
“You never want to leave a place like this. Penrith’s always felt like home; they gave me my first opportunity,” the 24-year-old said. “I didn’t necessarily want to leave but I probably needed to leave, to go away, chase an opportunity and do it for myself, my own development, my own career.”
Jenkins played six games for the Panthers across the dominant 2022 and 2023 NRL seasons. But with Brian To’o and Sunia Turuva having a stronghold on Penrith’s number ‘2’ and ‘5’ jerseys at the time, Jenkins opted to purse a plum gig in the Hunter after then Knights winger Dom Young decided to head down south to join the Roosters.
“When your path is blocked and a side is going for four-in-a-row, I needed to go away to try and crack it and make my own journey,” Jenkins said.
“Going away and doing that is something that I needed to do.”
Following an honest and open chat with Ivan Cleary, it was quickly decided that the best way forward for the Young Cherrypickers junior would be to pursue a career at the two-time Premiership winners.
“Ivan is always open. No matter how hard the conversation is, he’ll always have it with you
directly no matter what,” Jenkins said.
“Whether it’s what you want to hear or what you need to hear, and that’s something that I admire and respect so much about him.
“He’s a coach that will tell you exactly what you need to know. He was open and honest. I respected that.
“It was sad in a sense to leave because I didn’t want to leave and he knew that I didn’t want to leave, but he said it was something that I needed to do – to chase an opportunity and to experience it.”
Under coach Adam O’Brien, Jenkins played just five games at the Knights before asking for a release from the second and final year of his contract.
Jenkins said he has no bitterness towards the Newcastle club – it was just simply a case of not the right fit for either party.
“My Newcastle experience was really good. There’s a good bunch of boys up there. There wasn’t any bad blood when I left. It was purely based on what I needed as a person,” he said.
“It wasn’t home sickness. I just didn’t feel myself up there. I always felt drawn back to here. Being around family, enjoying my footy.”
With his NRL career in limbo, Jenkins started working for a disability company as a support worker while at the same time, linking up with St Marys, who compete in the Ron Massey Cup.
Hearing he was back in town, Jenkins then received a call from Penrith NSW Cup coach Ben Harden to see if he would be interested in training at the Panthers Academy in the afternoons.
Nothing was promised by Harden, more of a ‘foot in the door’ type situation.
“Nothing was guaranteed,” Ivan Cleary said.
“Tom and I had a chat before Christmas, and he went back to St Marys first and he was in our afternoon squad here.
“He was very humble about it. He went back there, he trained the house down, and he was probably the fittest guy and played really well.”
Jenkins’ first game back in Penrith colours was against Manly in a pre-season trial match while the main squad was getting acquainted with the bright lights of Las Vegas. Jenkins was strong in his return game for the Panthers and, just days later, signed a full-time playing contract with the Panthers.
“He was our best player in Cup over the first two rounds,” Cleary admitted.
“I know that he’s capable; he’s a well and truly capable NRL player.
“We’ve got positions in our team at the moment, which are definitely not a lock. There’s a real opportunity for guys to play well – bit of competitive tension – which is always a good thing and Tom’s a good story out of that.”
Jenkins’ redemption story was officially
deemed complete last week down in Melbourne when he was tapped on the shoulder by coach Cleary to replace injured representative fullback Dylan Edwards.
After so much uncertainty regarding his career, Jenkins would discover on his 24th birthday of all days that he would be returning to first grade for the Panthers.
“Ivan just said, ‘you’re going to play this week’,” Jenkins recalled of his unique birthday present.
“Ivan just told me to go after it and that I wouldn’t be there if he didn’t have confidence in me.”
Despite being in the unfamiliar position of fullback, Jenkins was one of Penrith’s best players against the Storm and has even earned himself another call up for tonight’s game against South Sydney at Accor Stadium.
Jenkins said he’d love nothing more than to play the rest of the season in first grade, but he knows – from past experiences – that nothing is ever guaranteed when it comes to footy.
“I do like to look forward and I do have goals, and the goal is to play first grade but that’s also the goal of 36 boys in here,” he said.
“I just know that if I play good footy every week, it puts me in good stead to have that opportunity again.”
Tom Jenkins made his first grade return last week against Melbourne. Photo: NRL Images.
Tom Jenkins is happy to be back in Penrith. Photo: Melinda Jane.
NATHAN TAYLOR
footy club
footy club
panthers poster
Tries: G Anderson, E Katoa, X Coates, T Wishart, R Papenhuyzen Goals: N Meaney 3, R Papenhuyzen 2
Tries: B Schneider 2, J Edgar, M Geyer, A Kepaoa Goals: B Schneider 3/5
Tries: B Moran, J Liddiard, N Murphy, J Tuaoi, H Armstrong, D Wigmore, S Faeamani, A Leilua, P Hotere-Papalii
Goals: Z Clarke 7/9
Tries: P Alamoti 2, B To’o 2, C McLean Goals: P Alamoti 2/5
Tries: T Thompson, T Annan Goals: W Pryce 2/2
Tries: H Walker, J Galemoe, C Mellon Goals: C Gray 3/3
Many famous broadcasters graced the Penrith Park broadcast box over the years – from Ray Warren to Ray Hadley, Andrew Voss, Warren Smith, David Morrow and so many more. Among the most iconic is Frank Ley. Ley was among the principal broadcasters on 2KA, calling Penrith Panthers games from the mid-1970s through to 1989. He became the voice of the Panthers during their emerging years, and in the era before pay television, he was often the eyes and ears of fans who couldn’t make it to the game. Frank Ley passed away in 1995.
IS 2025 OUR RETOOLING YEAR?
lang on league
with Peter Lang
We’re only three games into the season and there are already plenty of rugby league experts writing Penrith off after one win and two losses.
So this week, I’m going to look at the questions, whether 2025 is a ‘retooling’ year for the club? And can the team win a fifth premiership in a row?
Just to clarify, the term ‘retooling’ means to ‘change something in order to improve it’.
Now there are plenty of reasons why Penrith narrowly lost to Melbourne last Thursday. The best player in the game, Nathan Cleary, went down with a ‘category one’ head injury after just eight minutes.
This then forced a reshuffle which saw two inexperienced twenty-
year-olds in Jack Cole (21) and Blaize Talagi (20), who had never played in a game together, to form a scrum base duo against arguably the best spine in the competition.
In the end, the strong culture embedded in the club came to the fore and against all odds the team almost came away with a stunning come-from behind victory.
The truth is, the team is still trying to find a five-eighth who can form a potent and permanent combination with Nathan Cleary.
There are plenty of options but for now, it looks like the club will run with Jack Cole at five-eighth with a hungry and talented Blaize Talagi hot on his heels.
The other big problem coach Cleary must address is the side’s awful defence, which is by far the worst it has been since 2019. It has already leaked 90 points in three-rounds at an average of 30 points per game. Again, there are reasons why the defence is poor but I’m tired of excuses which leads us back to the question; Is 2025 a ‘retooling’ year for the club and can it still win a fifth consecutive title?
My answer to both questions is, yes, but not if the current trajectory of the team continues.
I know I’m sitting on the fence here but the sample size of three games is just too small to make a definitive statement.
In my opinion, it is a ‘retooling’ year but that’s not a negative thing, and it certainly doesn’t mean the team is in for a bad season.
On the contrary, I believe the club will still make the top four but unless the team can find a permanent five-eighth and patch up its leaky defence, it will not get to the big dance, let alone win it.
After the loss to the Storm, coach Ivan Cleary admitted that the back-up players in key positions were young this year but watching them grinding it out and performing like they did against the Storm will only strengthen the likes of Cole and Talagi for the future.
There is so much talent in both Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup this year, which is developing nicely. This is the season where more than a few young players will mature and gain valuable first grade experience while Ivan and the coaching staff figure out the side’s best combinations moving forward.
The culture at Panthers is too strong for the team to stay down for too long and give up hope of winning another premiership this early on in the season.
It’s simply not the Penrith way.
Blaize Talagi and Jack Cole after last week’s loss. Photo: NRL Images.
