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Extra Time Brian To’o celebrates a try last week. Photo: NRL Photos.

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the western weekender » Thursday, September 17, 2026

FE ATURE

Week off a blessing for Cleary NATHAN TAYLOR

anthers coach Ivan Cleary believes his superstar son, champion halfback Nathan Cleary, will be fit to take his place in Penrith’s Preliminary Final team next weekend. The 28-year-old dual Clive Churchill Medallist will be on light training duties over the next fortnight as he recovers from a stress-related bone issue in his foot sustained in Penrith’s thrilling Qualifying Final win over the Sydney Roosters last Sunday. Nathan suffered the injury late in the match and passed his final goal kick onto fullback Dylan Edwards, but remained on the field to finish the game. Speaking immediately after the win, Ivan confirmed to the media that there was “something wrong” with Nathan’s foot but that it would need further examination. On Monday morning, Nathan underwent a scan of the injury, with the results confirming the stress-related bone issue in his foot. In a statement released on

Monday evening, the club said Nathan “will continue to be assessed and monitored by the Panthers medical team”. Speaking with Greg Alexander and Jimmy Smith on SEN Radio on Tuesday morning, Ivan said his son was still in plenty of discomfort and that the week off was a “godsend”. “Nat’s pretty sore… you probably noticed at the end of the game he was pretty uncomfortable,” Ivan said. “It’s so good to have the week off. I’m looking forward to preparing for the Prelim in a couple of weeks.” This isn’t the first time the Panthers have dealt with a foot injury to one of their major stars. During the 2021 NRL Finals Series, it was later revealed that Dylan Edwards was battling a stress fracture in his foot but battled on. In Nathan’s case, it’s not exactly known what is wrong with his foot but that it’s most likely a result of “overuse” according to his father. “Firstly, the injury is definitely the impact of just overuse and all that kind of stuff,” Ivan told SEN Radio. “He kicks a lot, does a lot,

runs a lot, he does the most metres every game that we play. It all adds up.” Ivan said Nathan would be off his feet for at least the rest of this week as he prepares a little bit differently for next weekend’s Preliminary Final showdown against either the Warriors or Knights. “One thing he’s learned over the years is, I know he prioritises actual kicking time. He spends more time now doing mental reps as well,” Ivan said. “So, I think he’s really going to have to lean on that mental side over the coming weeks because he’s going to have to pull back. It’s good that he’s been preparing that way.” Fellow Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo, who’s also recovering from his own serious injury, said he’s feeling much better after back-to-back hit outs against the Tigers and Roosters to test out his ruptured pec. “So far, it’s given me nothing but confidence,” Yeo said after the Roosters game. “It felt better again today than what it did last week, so ideally, I’d rather not have it but that’s the reality at the moment. I’m really pleased.”

Nathan Cleary was injured last Sunday. Photo: NRL Photos.

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Thursday, September 17, 2026 « the western weekender • extra time

PHOTO SPECIAL

Sunday special: Panthers make it P enrith’s win over the Roosters on Sunday was one for the ages, and the photographers from NRL Photos captured plenty of the magic....

Fans enjoy the day out.

The Pantherettes celebrate a try.

Dads first: Liam Martin and Spencer Leniu.

Getting into the Finals spirit.

Happy Panthers fans celebrate a big moment in the game.

Nine’s Brad Fittler soaks up the atmosphere.

Fans show their love for the Panthers.

the western weekender • extra time » Thursday, September 17, 2026

Nathan Cleary takes a field goal shot.

PHOTO SPECIAL

a day to remember

Fans cheer for the Panthers.

The boys arrive at CommBank Stadium.

Family time for Isaah Yeo post-game.

Scott Sorensen with his family post-game.

Celebrating a crucial try.

Fans, friends and family celebrate.

Nathan Cleary meets with fans.

Thursday, September 17, 2026 « the western weekender • extra time

MATCH PRE VIE W S

Four top teams will become two the competition all the way, but just couldn’t seal their opportunities when it mattered. ROOSTERS V SHARKS Still, this is a Roosters team coming Saturday 7.50pm off four straight losses. To turn that @ Allianz Stadium form around in the most important Week two Finals are always an game of your season is a huge ask. intriguing prospect. You have one Cronulla did enough to get past the team coming off a win and feeling Cowboys last week but to suggest it buoyant, and the other, while a top was impressive would be being too four side, coming off a loss and now generous. It was the worst game of doubting themselves. the weekend and clearly exemplified The Roosters can take a lot out the dodgy form both sides had been of their 19-12 loss to Penrith last in over the final month of the regular Sunday. They took the best team in competition. Still, they did look better with Braydon Trindall back in the halves and he’ll be better for the run, though that shoulder clearly isn’t right. In the end Cronulla’s completion rate got them home last week. At 82 per cent, they were well in front of the Cowboys at 64 per cent and were able to dominate possession enough to get the points. I’m expecting Can the Sharks knock out Easts? Photo: NRL Photos. this to be a

TROY DODDS

high quality game. With seasons on the line, both teams will throw everything at this. In the end, the Roosters should have too much experience here. But it’ll come down to whether Trent Robinson can guide his team out of its mental slump as much as its on-field one. Tip: Roosters by 8. WARRIORS V KNIGHTS Sunday 4.05pm @ Eden Park My big issue with the Warriors over the last six weeks or so has been their ability to play for the full 80 minutes.

The defensive lapses have been a big issue, and at times against the Dolphins last week their minds just appeared to be elsewhere. Newcastle come into this game on the back of an upset win over South Sydney that again defied expectations and showed just how tough and resilient this team has been under Justin Holbrook. The Knights have faced so much adversity in the back end of the year and have still turned up every week and played above themselves. They’ll rate themselves a big chance here given they took the War r iors all the

way just a month ago and had 12 men for much of the contest. While the Knights deserve so much praise for what they’ve achieved so far, I’m struggling to find a path to victory for them here. In front of what will be another huge crowd at Eden Park, I can’t see the Warriors going out in straight sets – even though I don’t think they’ll get past Penrith in a Preliminary Final. The big question mark over Andrew Webster’s side is if it has run its race. After a long, successful and at times arduous season, are they running out of puff? Tip: Warriors by 10.

The Warriors went down to the Dolphins last week. Photo: NRL Photos.

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PANTHER RUMBLINGS

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Members tradition axed Fuelling Edwards: We know where Dylan Edwards is getting all that endless energy from. We spotted the Panthers fullback at El Jannah, Guzman y Gomez and Lewers Cafe within the space of three days last week. Clearly the cuisines of Penrith are keeping him going. Corporate view: Sponsors of the Panthers got their first look at 2027 hospitality packages last week, with a special function organised by the club at the Western Sydney Conference Centre. There’s no less than seven corporate spaces available next year, ranging from suites to lounges and terrace areas. It’s a far cry from the old Penrith Park where corporate options were generally pretty limited. Despite the hefty price tag, hospitality options at Helloworld Stadium are expected to be extremely popular.

Cards get the flick: I’m getting plenty of feedback from Panthers members unhappy at the club’s decision to not have traditional members cards next season, instead offering a digital card. It’s a small issue in the big scheme of things but the disappointment is understandable. Many fans have collected their cards for years, and see it as an important part of membership. Apparently it’s about offering a more sustainable option. But I’d ask one thing: who did the club consult with before making the call? Or did they make the decision on members’ behalf? The membership packs for 2027 are pretty lacklustre overall. There’s very little to proudly show you’re a member. No card and lanyard, no members cap. Other clubs still produce members caps and cards, along with other specific membership merch.

Commbank farewell: It came with little fanfare or acknowledgement, but Penrith’s time at CommBank Stadium came to an end with Sunday’s win over the Roosters. The club’s Preliminary Final will be played at Accor Stadium and the side will be back in Penrith for the start of next season. The club is working with the NRL towards having an opening round blockbuster at the new Helloworld Stadium. It’s not talked about enough, but for Penrith to win the Minor Premiership and reach back-to-back Preliminary Finals while playing away from home has been an extraordinary achievement. Kudos to the fans who made the trek to Parramatta for the last two years – it hasn’t always been easy.

Sip of success: Panthers Leagues Club has launched a range of footy-themed cocktails available on game days. There’s the Long Island Iced To’o, the Blue Cleary, the Edwards Express, the Golden Yeo and the Casey’s Corner Post. The delicious concoctions are available from Squires, The Basement and Lakeview.

Mr Popularity: Nobody is more popular in the Penrith team than Nathan Cleary, as evidenced by the swarm of kids (and adults) wanting his autograph post-game on Sunday. Clearly spent plenty of time taking selfies, signing autographs and chatting with fans.

footy club

Cleary injury worry: The Panthers were unsurprisingly playing their cards close to their chest on Nathan Cleary’s foot injury this week. They’ve said he’s suffering a “stress-related bone issue”, careful not to use the word ‘fracture’ and give too much away. While Cleary is expected to play in the Preliminary Final next week, I’m told he’ll do so with plenty of pain. He’ll need a moon boot in the lead-up and his training will be

extremely limited. It’s not ideal, but Penrith have experience with this – it’s similar to the Dylan Edwards injury back in 2021. Lower grade deciders: Penrith have qualified for the Grand Final in both the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg. Both sides will have the week off this week while they await their opponent. The Cup side beat the Knights 44-20 at Leichhardt Oval last week, while the Jersey Flegg side won a crazy encounter 32-28.

Luke Priddis Medal: The Western Weekender has re-named its Extra Time Player of the Year award the Luke Priddis Medal. It’s in honour of Priddis being Penrith’s first ever Clive Churchill Medal winner, and his ongoing commitment and passion for the club. Priddis is also on the voting panel of the award alongside Weekender journalists. Nathan Cleary currently leads the race for the honour this year, with Dylan Edwards close behind. You can see past winners and more details at www.panthersnews.com.au. Spotted: We noticed the big screen being carried into Helloworld Stadium earlier this week, while seating has started being installed.

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ANALYS IS

Blaize of glory: Never say die T Lang on

League

He ran down and celebrated with his teammates who embraced him. Talagi was back where he belonged, in first grade. Now I have to declare that no one officially at Panthers ever said that Talagi was not going to be at Penrith next year. But the drums were beating that he had run his race, especially when Jack Cole, who is off to the Perth Bears in 2027, was picked ahead of him at five-eighth. Coach Ivan Cleary, who had dropped Talagi six weeks earlier, couldn’t wipe the smile off his face in the post-match media conference. “I’ve got to rap Blaize,” he said. “He never put his head down, he kept turning up each day with a good attitude and he’s someone who just attacks the game. “He always has and ultimately, he came up with a huge defensive play on Hugo (Savala) forcing the drop the ball and allowing ‘Bizza’ to score the winning try.” Even co-captain Isaah Yeo gave a subtle nod of respect when a journalist praised Talagi’s performance during the game. With Jett Cleary coming to the club next season and Jack Cogger still on the books, many wondered where Talagi would fit in.

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with Peter Lang

hey say there are moments in life which can make or break you. Not an hour, a day or a week but a moment, a second. For Blaize Talagi, his moment came with just three minutes and six seconds left on the clock against the Roosters on Sunday. That’s when Talagi chose to sprint out of the line and put pressure on Chooks five-eighth Hugo Savala who was about to throw a pass. Seeing Talagi run at him, instead of looking at who he was going to pass the ball to, Savala looked at Talagi and rushed the pass. With three minutes and four seconds left on the clock once Talagi made contact with Savala, the game was over for the Roosters, and the man who had been dropped for his defensive deficiencies, had pulled off a game-winning play for the Panthers. In two seconds, Talagi made a tackle that not only won Penrith the game but probably saved his career at the Panthers. Two seconds. That’s all it took. By the time Brian To’o scooped up the ball which was fumbled by Billy Smith and scored under the posts to make it 17-12 for Penrith, Talagi had got to his feet and was cheering.

NORMAN’S

Blaize Talagi was strong against the Roosters. Photo: NRL Images.

Coach Cleary may have given a hint when he revealed that since he was dropped, Talagi had been doing a lot of training at centre but that the 21 year-old also didn’t mind where he played. So, what did Talagi say to Cleary when he was told he would be back in first grade, playing centre in a

Qualifying Final after being out of the team for so long? “Blaize kind of looked at me as if to say, ‘what took you so long?’,” Cleary revealed. Six weeks out of the first grade is a long time. Especially, if you count it in seconds.

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Thursday, September 17, 2026 « the western weekender

THE Y S AID IT. . . “My own take was that it was a penalty and wasn’t a sin bin at all. We can’t take the contest out of the game and naturally, under high pressure there’s going to be accidents that happen. Unfortunately it has become so complicated with the terminology over different rules in the game... for mine it’s a penalty, it’s not a sin bin.” Andrew Johns on the Nathan Cleary incident

“I think they should play three games of footy there a year.” Phil Rothfield on Shark Park’s future

“The Panthers are the definition of whatever it takes defensively. The amount of times they have someone in the picture to make a desperation tackle or a try-saving tackle is insane.” Chad Townsend

“It feels really good. It was a bloody tough game and the Roosters are a great outfit. Still got two to go...” Nathan Cleary on the win over the Roosters

“I’ve got to rap Blaize. He’s never put his head down. He’s kept turning up each day with a good attitude and he just attacks the game, he always has.” Ivan Cleary on Blaize Talagi’s return

“It was a good contest. Both teams were in there fighting.” Roosters coach Trent Robinson

“I think the Cronulla players gave their fans an excuse to stay home.”

“I’ve never seen a bloke with that much energy. He is just unbelievable.” Steve Roach on Dylan Edwards

Gorden Tallis

SCOREBOARD Missed last week’s results? Here’s a rundown of what happened in key Penrith Panthers games...

NRL PANTHERS

Tries: L Martin, D Edwards, B To’o Goals: N Cleary 3/3, 1 FG

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Tries: M Nawaqanitawase, R Toia Goals: H Savala 2/3

KNIGHTS

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Tries: C Kanaan 2, H Loza, H Wald, L Latu, D Feltham Goals: K Raven 3, H Bell 1

DRAGONS

Tries: T Rumble 2, K Andrews, B Carmichael, C Heidke Goals: M McClaren 4/5

BEHIND THE GAME

Calm, collected and focused on tomorrow Emily Chate with

EO of Football at the Penrith Panthers we had scored or not. I struggle to live in the Matt Cameron gets home from each moment, even when watching the game, I’m game and rewatches it on TV. sitting there thinking after the game, I’m going His game day will usually start over to do this or tomorrow I’ve got to do that.” at the Northern Beaches before he heads into Throughout the week, the CEO spends a lot of CommBank Stadium. his time looking into where the club will be in “It’s actually an enjoyable day for me because a few years’ time, leaving a lot of the day-to-day if we do everything right there shouldn’t be any business to others. running around like a lunatic on game day. “If I said to you there were 10 things on my It should be very controlled,” Cameron told desk as I look at it now, nine of them have nothBehind the Game. ing to do with this year,” Cameron said. “I get to the game two hours before kick-off, “It’s all about the stadium, next year’s roster, I go upstairs and check the Board’s box just to budgets for next year, staffing hires for next make sure that everything is good there and year, or projects that we are trying to undertake then usually I do a walk through the corporate for next year. areas just to make sure that everyone’s signs are “I have this saying that I use – the coach is up and all that sort of stuff. about today, the General Manager is about “On a game day, I’ve usually got to take some today 12 months from now, and my job is about corporate partners, fans, special guests and today three years from now.” that sort of thing down onto the field for the Cameron ended up at the Panthers after NRL warm-up. Then I’m back up and sit in the beginning his career as an NRL Assistant Coach Board’s box to watch the game. at the Parramatta Eels. “I don’t go down to the sheds at half-time, but “My background is in coaching, I coached a I usually go down to the field and congratulate the boys at full-time. I’ll very briefly stick my head in the dressing room and sometimes go to the press conference with ‘Blokky’ (Panthers Media Manager Michael Blok) depending on if there is anything contentious that has gone on in the game.” After dinner with his wife and friends, Cameron heads home and will rewatch the game on TV. “It’s because you’ve got people talking to you while you’re at the footy, which is great… but you sort of tend to be distracted,” he explained. “I’ll always go home and watch it there. It’s very different what you see at the game to what you see on TV with the expert commentary.” When watching the game, you wouldn’t know Cameron is so involved in the side – he is often perceived as calm and completely collected. “Because of the coaching background you become quite analytic. You go, ‘why did he do that?’ Or, ‘he missed that tackle’. You don’t watch it as a spectator,” Cameron said. “I must admit if you were sitting next to me at the football and you couldn’t see the game you wouldn’t know whether Penrith Panthers CEO Matt Cameron.

Penrith Panthers CEO Matt Cameron. Photo: Melinda Jane.

lot of lower grade football and eventually I was the NRL Assistant Coach at the Eels from 2006 until 2012,” Cameron began. “Then, I came to Panthers in a more administrative role looking after pathways like player development and that sort of stuff. Then that sort of morphed into the GM of Football role… Brian [Fletcher] was the Group CEO when we were building the hotel and all that other stuff, his attention was very club and hotel centric, so I then was offered the role of just looking after football, the CEO of Football. It’s a lot of being in the right place at the right time.” As for the side’s star halfback Nathan Cleary, who injured his foot in the most recent game against the Roosters, Cameron says he is looking good to be fit for the upcoming Preliminary Final. “He was in today having a bit of physio,” Cameron said. “I think he is alright, he’s walking on it. I think it’s sore… 10 days from now I think he’ll be fine.”

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Favourite movie: ‘Big Wednesday’

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Who did you support growing up? South Sydney Rabbitohs Pet peeve: Inefficiency and timewasters

LOCAL NEWS YOU CAN TRUST Thursday, September 17, 2026 « the western weekender • extra time

PANTHER MEMORIES

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The Penrith Panthers were ‘back in black’ for the 2000 season, introducing a brand new jersey that totally re-shaped the club’s brand. The Panthers had moved away from their traditional jersey and colours in 1997 when they joined Super League. For the 1997, 1998 and 1999 seasons the team stuck with a black, white and red jersey that had little love from fans. In 2000 they launched a ‘back in black’ campaign and released an almost entirely black playing strip, with red, white and teal stripes. The club did not have a major sponsor for the 2000 season, so the jersey was particularly striking with no branding across the front. By the time 2001 arrived, the Sanyo logo was displayed across the front. While there’s been plenty of new jerseys, colour shifts and changes since 2000, the Panthers have largely stuck with black being their primary colour and theme ever since.

the western weekender • extra time » Thursday, September 17, 2026

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the western weekender » Thursday, September 17, 2026