HAPPY HARRY
WE CHAT WITH HARRISON HASSETT ABOUT LIFE, FOOTY AND HIS FIRST GRADE DEBUT SEE PAGE 35
Photo: NRL Photos.
footy
the word
The battle of the west has become something of the battle of the battlers.
The 17th placed Penrith Panthers host the 15th placed Parramatta Eels this Sunday afternoon in a game that should be considered a blockbuster, but is instead a clash of two western Sydney teams not meeting expectations in 2025.
But the interest level in this game still remains high, especially when you consider what is at stake. I’m willing to say that the loser here can’t make the Finals – while the winner will keep their faint hopes of a resurgence in the second half of the season alive.
The other element of note of course is that Nathan Cleary and Mitch Moses will go from being New South Wales halves partners to facing off against each other in the space of just four days.
There will be plenty made of who has the better game.
Penrith fans have every right to be disappointed by the performance against Newcastle last Saturday in Bathurst, but with the amount of cattle missing and the side’s already patchy form this year, it was hardly a surprise (though I admit, I expected the Panthers to win and win handsomely – but the Knights found something they’d been lacking for some time).
Ivan Cleary has named all five of his Origin players to take the field against the Eels on Sunday. He simply doesn’t have the luxury of resting them and if Penrith are to save their season, all five will have to back up regardless of how much of a toll Origin may take on them. And that’s especially the case now that Liam Henry has been suspended for two games, adding to Penrith’s continued headaches and
inability to field a full strength side this year.
Parramatta were impressive against Manly last week and managed to control the momentum of the game and rarely let the Sea Eagles into any good field position.
The Eels will try to implement the same tactic against Penrith, and it’s something other clubs have done well this year. It’s turning Penrith’s asset – their defence – against them, making it almost impossible to gain any respectable territory and then frustrating them into errors.
There are indeed excuses for Penrith at the moment, and one cannot deny that. Anyone who thought winning a fifth straight Premiership was going to be a walk-up task doesn’t know rugby league very well.
But it can also not be denied that there’s things this Penrith team are doing at the moment that are simply unacceptable. The missed tackle
rate in matches is just so uncharacteristic that it borders on laughable at times, and it constantly feels like the Panthers are off the pace.
Like a car on its last legs, the engine only turns over for the Panthers every now and again at the moment. Whether Ivan Cleary can put the right parts together to ensure the vehicle splutters its way to the end of the season in one piece is the big question.
If not, the car is likely headed to the garage nice and early this year for some summer repairs, hopefully to come back bigger and better.
A final prediction? It feels almost fruitless at the moment, given how wild the competition itself is and Penrith’s wayward form. But on paper, it’s hard to go past the Panthers – even if it is without much confidence.
Tip: Panthers by 2.
panther rumblings
FAMILY’S DASH TO BATHURST
! Hassett’s memorable debut: About 50 of Harrison Hassett’s friends and family made the trek to Carrington Park at Bathurst last Saturday to watch the rising star make his NRL debut. Many wore specially printed shirts to mark the occasion. Ivan Cleary told Hassett he would be making his debut early last week, but to keep it on the down-low. Hassett honoured the request, meaning it was a quick turnaround for his friends and family to organise a bus to the game last week. Thankfully they all got there. Hassett will go down as Panther #629, and is a product of Hills Sports High School – who have now produced 227 first grade rugby league players.
! Key off-field loss: Kristy Goodwin, who has spent the last three years working in Penrith’s game day team, has departed the club to join Venues NSW. Goodwin was involved in a whole bunch of operations activities at the club and was well-liked within the organisation.
! NRL ignores Origin: The NRL website was bizarrely not listing Wednesday night’s State of Origin match between the Blues and Maroons on the front page of its website this week. In its list of upcoming games, it jumped straight to tonight’s Women’s Origin and then the weekend of NRL matches. The error, which was in place all of Monday, was finally corrected by the time Tuesday rolled around.
! Spotted: Nathan Cleary carving it up at Blues training during this week – clearly enjoying being injury-free at Origin time.
! Poor form from fans: I’ve been critical of Penrith fans who’ve been unfair in their belittlement of referee Belinda Sharpe in recent times. It reached new lows this week when a number of fans pushed a rumour that Sharpe was married to the football manager at the Newcastle Knights. It’s not true, and even the slightest bit of research could have proven it. Panthers fans are doing themselves a great disservice by taking part in ref-bashing. It’s such a bad look.
! Blaize of glory: The popularity of 2025 Panthers recruit Blaize Talagi is only growing. These fans were desperate to meet the fiveeighth at Bathurst last week – even putting out a plea for his boots.
! Henry outed: Penrith’s depth is really being tested during the Origin period and things are going from bad to worse with Liam Henry outed for two matches after being charged for a crusher tackle against the Knights last weekend. Henry was sin-binned for the tackle and it didn’t look good – meaning the club was pretty quick to accept the early guilty plea rather than risk a three match ban if he fought the charge and lost.
! Stadium work rolls on: It’s hard to see our beloved stadium looking this way but real construction is now very much underway at Penrith Park. Fans are getting sneaky pics where they can (like the above) showing the famous red sets strewn across the ground and the grass being town up and overgrown.
! Magazine discount: The Western Weekender has put its commemorative magazine, The Fourth, on sale for just $10 – a saving of some 50 per cent. Its companion
magazine Threepeat sold out long ago. If you haven’t got a copy of The Fourth yet you can grab one at the Weekender office at Suite 2, 4244 Abel Street, Jamisontown during business hours for $10. You can also get one posted for $14.95 by heading to www.westernweekender. com.au/thefourth.
! Spotted: Panthers coach Ivan Cleary making a mad dash from Panthers training on Wednesday to Sydney Airport so he could head to the State of Origin in Brisbane.
CASEY’S STILL ON EDUCATION PATH
It hasn’t yet been the season many predicted for teenage star Casey McLean.
After his four-try heroics in his debut Test match for New Zealand late last year, many pundits had him pegged to be up there amongst the NRL’s leading try scorers this season.
Unfortunately for McLean and the Panthers fanbase, the 19-year-old hasn’t quite lived up to the hype yet.
Speaking with Extra Time about his first eight games this season, the Blacktown product was refreshingly honest in his appraisal.
“I haven’t been playing to the potential I can,” McLean said.
“I had a chat with Coach, and he puts it how it is. It’s been good to be able to talk to him about what needs to be done.
“There’s always room for improvement and Coach gives you that heads up or points you into the right direction… but you’ve still got to do it.
“We all take feedback we receive here in a positive light. Coach sees what we can be, so we don’t want to let him or ourselves down.”
Another positive influence in McLean’s life at present is Panthers hooker and last weekend’s
stand-in captain, Mitch Kenny. Known for his happy-go-lucky attitude off the field, the threetime premiership-winning dummy half has been showing a more serious side of late and has been particularly supportive of McLean in recent months.
“Towards the beginning of the year they had a little bit of an issue with me and I had to sit with those thoughts. Heaps of the boys helped me out, but Mitch Kenny was a big help to me,” McLean revealed.
“He got straight into my ear about it. He kind of saw me a bit down after a bad performance and said, ‘Hey man, that’s the world. You just have to move forward, learn your lessons and keep going’.
“Without the likes of our coaching staff and our players, I feel like our environment here would be a lot different, but they all just drive it home, so you know that everything stays within these four walls. The only real opinions that matter are those closest to you, especially your brothers (teammates) and the coaching staff here.”
Kenny’s words struck a chord with McLean, with the rangy winger/centre backing his fellow teammate for more leadership duties in the future.
“Mitch is probably one of the funniest boys here… he knows when to make the boys
laugh, but I think when business comes to business, he puts his head straight in and his hand straight up saying ‘I’ll do the dirty work’,” McLean said.
“With our captains away, he stepped up taking that role. We didn’t get the result for him last weekend, but he’s been leading the way in the shadows, and I don’t think he gets enough credit.”
The Panthers went down 25-6 to the Knights in Bathurst, but despite the result, the game held plenty of importance for McLean and his older brother Jesse, as they finally got to play in the NRL with each other for the first time.
“That was a cool experience,” he said.
“Playing with him kind of felt like I was playing little kids footy again. It was a surreal experience.”
Casey McLean admits it hasn’t been the easiest season. Photo: Melinda Jane.
NATHAN TAYLOR
HARRISON’S SLOG PAYS OFF
Recent Panthers debutant Harrison Hassett has admitted he had his doubts on whether he’d ever get to play in the NRL with Penrith.
With the Panthers stacked with premiership-winning talent – especially in his position of back-row – the 21-year-old thought his day on the big stage may never come.
A few NRL clubs were eying off the local junior, but Hassett remained solid – knowing hard work and persistence would eventually pay off.
“Of course you have those doubts,” Hassett admitted to Extra Time on Wednesday.
“But I knew if I kept sticking to my craft and kept working away every day, the day would come. I just had to stay patient.”
Hassett was told he was making his first grade debut last Tuesday in the lead up to Penrith’s Round 12 fixture against the Knights in Bathurst. While he wasn’t originally listed in the 17 for the match, the Hills Sports High graduate knew well in advance that he would be running out onto the Carrington Park surface.
“After the training session on Tuesday last week, Ivan called me into his office and he told me. It was the best feeling, and then he told all the other boys in our next team meeting,” Hassett said.
“Iv told me to keep the news on the down-low, so I told Mum and Dad not to tell everyone, but I think they got a bit excited and told the whole family.”
Despite his request to keep it quiet, the news travelled fast and before Hassett knew it he had 45 of his nearest and dearest travelling from the Hawkesbury out to Bathurst for the special occasion.
“We had about 45 tickets and they all got a bus up from the Hawkesbury to Bathurst. It was the best support crew!” Hassett said.
Making the debut even more memorable for Hassett was his first-ever NRL try, in which he scored not too long after entering the field in the second half.
It was Penrith’s only try that evening against Newcastle, who were too good for the depleted Panthers 25-6.
“To score in front of my friends and family who were in that corner made it so much more special – it was such a good feeling,” Hassett said.
“The whole experience was a dream come true. It still doesn’t feel real. I keep thinking about the game, the try, how it all happened!
“Of course it was disappointing not to get the result, but I’m sure we’ll be better for the run.”
Hassett, a former Australian Schoolboy and Penrith SG Ball Player of the Year, has been in the Panthers system for several years. He grew up playing with both the Windsor Wolves and St Marys before he went full-
Following his stand-out debut last weekend, Ivan Cleary has once again named Hassett for this Sunday’s Battle of the West against Parramatta at CommBank Stadium.
With Penrith’s Origin contingent due to return for the blockbuster clash, Hassett said he can’t wait to play with some of his idols for the first time.
“You bloody train every day here looking up to those boys, so to run out with them on Sunday will be very cool,” he said.
“I grew up watching all the Battle of the West games, so I really can’t wait to be out there.”
Hassett is off contract at season’s end but said he would “love” to remain part of the Panthers’ future.
He’ll leave the contract talk for others to sort out.
“My manager is dealing with that,” he said.
“I’d love to stay here, it’s my home.
“I just have to see what happens!”
A little bit of master and apprentice. Photo: NRL Photos.
Harrison Hassett celebrates with friends and family. Photo: NRL Photos.
Harrison Hassett. Photo: Melinda Jane.
panthers poster
Missed last week’s results? Here’s a rundown of what happened in key
Tries: D Lucas 3, F Sharpe Goals: D Gagai 4/4 Field Goals: J Cogger
Panthers games... NRL NSW CUP
Tries: H Hassett Goals: P Alamoti 1/1
Tries: W De Courcey 2, R Jones, C Hopwood, J McEwan, S Latu Goals: C Votano 6/7
Tries: P Hotere-Papalii 2, R Wake Goals: T Toelau 2/3
Tries: S Hoad 2, A Gow, C Gray Goals: C Gray 4/5
Tries: C Black, H Armstrong B Moran, S Hansen Goals: J Liddiard 3/4
Penrith
LAST WEEK’S POINTS: PANTHERS VS KNIGHTS
panther memories
As far as rough seasons go, they don’t get much worse than 2007 for the Penrith Panthers.
That was the last time Penrith ‘won’ the wooden spoon – almost 20 years ago.
Penrith’s season may have started with an 18-0 loss to Cronulla, but wins over the Bulldogs and Broncos in the following weeks gave fans some hope.
But the Panthers would lose five consecutive matches twice during the season, and won just eight games overall.
A 24-20 loss to the Warriors in the final game of the season confirmed their fate –last place on the ladder.
The Panthers finished on 18 competition points, two short of the Dragons, Raiders and Knights.
(Photo thanks to NRL Photos)
WHY PENRITH SHOULD GET TOBY analysis
lang on league
with Peter Lang
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that there needs to be some changes made to the Panthers roster for 2026. The most obvious one is to sign a new back-up half who can lead the team whenever Nathan Cleary is unavailable.
As solid a player as Brad Schneider is, he’s simply not up to the task of running the team whenever key players are missing.
It’s time to face facts and admit the Brad Schneider experiment hasn’t worked.
It’s time for Penrith to go into the market and buy another half for 2026 and beyond.
The best halves currently available on the market which would suit the Panthers are Toby Sexton and Sean O’Sullivan. Two players who can both fit into the Panthers team and make a difference.
Neither player is on a million-dollar contract and both can rotate and play five-eighth if needed as well.
At the top of my shopping list would be Toby Sexton, currently playing halfback for the Bulldogs. With Lachlan Galvin headed to the Dogs their whole spine is going to change.
I’m not going to bang on about what affect that will have on Canterbury because I don’t care.
I do care about the Panthers however and that’s why I think Sexton is definitely worth considering.
He could also start at five-eighth alongside Cleary and if Blaize Talagi also wants that position then he can compete for it.
Sexton could take charge of the side at half when needed and his upside is considerable given he would also not cost the earth.
just needs to come back to Penrith to kickstart his career again. The other halves worth looking at are Jake Clifford and even Jonah Pezet from the Melbourne Storm. Pezet has a clause in his contract which allows him to walk if current half Jahrome Hughes re-signs on a multi-year deal.
Granted Pezet would be more expensive than Clifford but who says any of the halves mentioned must wait until Cleary is out before they play first grade?
Another tempting carrot would be to play five-eighth alongside the greatest halfback in
Now not for a second am I suggesting that Blaize isn’t the man to play alongside ‘Clez’ but Talagi can also play in the centres or even the wing if necessary.
Competition for spots is never a bad thing. I really think Penrith have to mix it up, go into the player market and buy an established half. There are several good young playmakers coming up through the Panthers system but except for Trent Toelau, all the other players are at least two years away from being ready for a first-grade spot.
Sean O’Sullivan is a no-brainer. His pathway is currently blocked at the Dolphins with the emergence of crafty former Penrith junior Isaiya Katoa.
I’ve previously discussed the value of bringing O’Sullivan back so I won’t go over old ground.
Everyone knows what O’Sullivan can do and he
Granted Sexton wouldn’t come cheap but he’d be well worth the investment. Hell, the Dogs have already done most of the work developing him to this point.
The bottom line is that all the players listed are first grade ready and based on what I’ve seen this year, the Panthers need a quality first grade half who can jump in and run the show. It’s no doubt a big investment but one which could end up paying dividends for the team in the long term.
Toby Sexton. Photo: NRL Photos.
DRAGONS STORM COWBOYS BRONCOS
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DRAGONS STORM TIGERS BRONCOS
DRAGONS
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DRAGONS
KNIGHTS
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DRAGONS STORM COWBOYS BRONCOS WARRIORS PANTHERS ROOSTERS
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DRAGONS
