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Friday, April 21, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

PANTHER RUMBLINGS

with the Masked Panther

RUMOURS PERSIST » The speculation surrounding Matt

Moylan’s captaincy at Penrith is unlikely to go away any time soon. While it would most likely be buried if the Panthers strung a few wins together, those close to Moylan are worried about his ability to handle the captaincy of such a young and inexperienced side. The recent situation in Melbourne, which led to him being dropped to reserve grade for a week, certainly wasn’t the start of the talk about Moylan’s captaincy credentials – it just highlighted the issue publicly. The preseason hype about Penrith didn’t help either. I’d expect the 25-year-old to hold on to the captaincy at least in the short term, but I’m tipping both Moylan and the club will do some soul searching in the next off-season and we may potentially see a change for 2018. There’s still many who believe that change may come sooner rather than later.

» Talking of Moylan, he was certainly

hurting after the loss to Cronulla but put on a brave face at the post-match function back at the Leagues Club, smiling for photos with fans and signing autographs. He also had to put up with a few jabs from unhappy fans, including one who, while smiling proudly getting a photo next to the Panthers skipper, told him that a few more line breaks would help next week. A decent crowd was on hand to meet the players post-match, a good sign that the loyal Members are sticking by their under-pressure squad.

» I reported last week that Viliame Kikau was close to re-signing with Penrith and on Sunday the club announced a new two-year deal for the exciting forward. The contract extension means the 22-year-old Fijian international will remain with the Panthers until at least the end of the 2019 season. “I’m really excited to re-commit to the club and I’m very thankful for the Panthers giving me this opportunity,” Kikau said. “I know there are challenges ahead but I am looking forward to them.” Kikau made his debut for the Panthers in round two.

» Cronulla captain Paul Gallen has

blasted Penrith officials after wives and girlfriends of the Sharks players were only given general admission tickets to last Sunday’s game at Pepper Stadium. Gallen is apparently horrified that the players’ partners had to put up with sitting on the hill on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Penrith, mixing it with the people who pay their hard earned to see people like Gallen play. “Our wives and partners sat on the hill. They are supposed to get seats,” Gallen fumed to the Sydney Morning Herald. “That was another thing that was extra motivation for us, too. I thought that was pretty ordinary, too. I don’t know what the situation is here with seats but I know every seat wasn’t full.” Before he shot his mouth off, Gallen should probably have been made aware that general admission seating at Penrith also includes fairly extensive parts of the seated terrace areas. The Panthers have since admitted they sent the Sharks the wrong tickets by accident. Let’s accidentally do the same thing next year.

» Phil Gould generally handles the poten-

tial conflict between his dual roles at Penrith and in the media pretty well, but his comments earlier this year about Cronulla winning a “soft competition” in 2016 certainly came back to haunt him last Sunday (although, they were taken out of context). It probably wasn’t highlighted enough just how much Cronulla took those comments to heart, and used it as motivation for last weekend’s match. After humiliating Penrith, the words “three cheers for Gus” could be heard coming out of the Sharks dressing room. With Gould and Paul Gallen far from friends, and a number of ex-Panthers in their team, there is no doubt that the Sharks lift when playing the Panthers these days. Meanwhile, it’ll be interesting to see what Fairfax Media’s attitude is towards both Gould and the Panthers moving forward. Gus recently moved on from his role as a columnist with the Herald, a gig which previously led to reasonably positive coverage of Penrith from Fairfax reporters.

Matt Moylan

» He only recently made his NRL debut

but second-rower Corey Harawira-Naera could be on his way out of Pepper Stadium. There’s talk floating around rugby league circles that the youngster has caught the eye of a number of other NRL clubs, with one said to be leading the race for his signature.

» Spotted: Panthers coach Anthony

Griffin and CEO Brian Fletcher deep in conversation at the post-match function held at TC’s following last Sunday’s loss.

» Do you have any Panthers

gossip? Email maskedpanther@ westernweekender.com.au.

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MATCH PREVIEW

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE PANTHERS V EELS | SATURDAY, APRIL 22 • 3.00PM | ANZ STADIUM | REFEREES: GAVIN BADGER & JON STONE | TV: FOX LEAGUE

PANTHERS 1

Matt Moylan (c)

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 18 19 21

Waqa Blake Dean Whare Tyrone Peachey Dallin Watene-Zelezniak Te Maire Martin Nathan Cleary James Tamou Peter Wallace Reagan Campbell-Gillard James Fisher-Harris Isaah Yeo Trent Merrin Peta Hiku 15 Leilani Latu Tim Browne 17 Moses Leota Corey Harawira-Naera Sitaleki Akauloa 20 V Kikau Bryce Cartwright

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 21, 2017

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EELS

Nathan Cleary in action against Cronulla. Photo: Megan Dunn

TROY DODDS @troydodds

o start by stating the obvious, it’s quite clear there’s a problem at the foot of the Mountains. After seven rounds, the Panthers sit awkwardly placed in 13th spot on the NRL ladder having collected just two wins (against lowly Wests Tigers and Newcastle) and five losses, a record nobody could have anticipated during a pre-season dominated by hype. No longer can we say ‘it’s still early’. In fact, no Penrith side has ever made the finals after such a poor start to the season, so this squad would be history makers if they managed to turn it all around. The Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew

Webster wrote this week that Penrith “have so much talent they don’t know what to do with it” and it’s an excellent point. At least, we hope it is. Because if somehow this squad isn’t right, if by some weird quirk club officials have got this all wrong, then we’ve got an even bigger problem on our hands given it’s the same squad we’ll have in 2018 and well beyond that. This is the team, give or take a few comings and goings, that will represent Penrith for the next handful of years. And we should have every confidence that it will eventually click. Perhaps in all the excitement about 2017 we forgot that Penrith had the most inexperienced halves pairing in the competition. At the moment, it’s showing – neither Te Maire Martin (who to be fair did have an impressive start to the year) or Nathan Cleary are standing up and owning the team’s attack.

Cleary has become bomb-happy, even when it would be best to put in a long kick and build pressure. And when he did put a little grubber in last week in the hope of earning a repeat set, nobody chased it, as if they didn’t expect it to happen. At the end of the first set after half-time, Cleary put up yet another mid-field bomb. The Sharks took it essentially uncontested – so what was the point? All of this, as well as a plethora of notes I can’t fit into this article, points to a playing group that is playing as individuals and not as a team. That’s not to say egos are at play – far from it – but it honestly appears as though the side doesn’t know what its next move will be at any given time. Nobody is standing up and owning the team, and Cleary and Martin, at least at this stage of the season, appear to be suffering from a dash of second year syndrome.

Clinton Gutherson

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Semi Radradra Michael Jennings Kirisome Auva’a Josh Hoffman Brad Takairangi Corey Norman Suaia Matagi Kaysa Pritchard Tim Mannah (c) Manu Ma’u Tepai Moeroa Nathan Brown Beau Scott 15 Daniel Alvaro Kenny Edwards 17 S Vave David Gower 19 Will Smith G Jennings 21 M Niukore

So what does it mean? Patience, I guess. Ah, that dreaded word that has been part of Penrith’s vocabulary for way too long. Coach Griffin is certainly showing that patience, naming the same 21-man squad as last week to play Parramatta on Saturday. I would expect some late changes – Bryce Cartwright has been named in jumper 21 but will almost certainly play, while James Fisher-Harris is nursing a shoulder injury and is in serious doubt. It’s also worth a pretty hefty head scratch as to why Griffin went with Peta Hiku, Tim Browne and Moses Leota on the bench last weekend ahead of Corey Harawira-Naera, Viliame Kikau and Sitaleki Akauola. I’d expect there to be at least some re-shuffling of that bench on Saturday. This is a season-defining game for Penrith. For that reason, I think desperation will be enough inspiration for a win. Tip: Panthers by 6.

Friday, April 21, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

FEATURE

STAYING STRONG NATHAN TAYLOR @natetaylor87

anthers fullback Matt Moylan says he’s not “pulling the pin” as captain of the club but does admit he needs to work hard to earn back the trust of his teammates. Earlier this week, the 25-yearold local junior opened up about his recent axing from Penrith’s first grade side as well as the challenges of being a leader. After breaking team curfew following a night out in Melbourne, Moylan along with Waqa Blake and Peta Hiku were dropped to reserve grade by coach Anthony Griffin as punishment. Moylan said the club had strict standards and he failed to meet them on that fateful night. “It was disappointing I put myself in

that position, I only have myself to blame there,” he said. “Hook told us at training that we weren’t playing [against the Rabbitohs] and that we let the side down. “We’ve got standards here and we didn’t meet the standards.” Moylan said he apologised to his fellow teammates for his actions that night, and that he would need to work very hard to repay them. “The boys were disappointed I put myself in that situation, they were probably frustrated that I did it as well,” he said. “It’s something that I’m going to have to repay everyone for and keep working hard to not let that happen again.” Following Moylan’s axing, questions have been raised regarding his position as captain of the Panthers. When Moylan was surprisingly unveiled as skipper by Griffin last year, many people questioned if the then 24-year-old was the right man for the job.

Matt Moylan is staying on as captain of Penrith. Photo: Megan Dunn Moylan said despite what has occurred in recent weeks, he wants to continue being the best captain he possibly can. “It’s a role that is new to me and I’m growing into it as well… I’m still learning on the run,” he said. “I’m certainly not pulling the pin. Hook and I had a chat about stuff last week but nothing has changed, I was always captain.” With senior players like Peter Wallace,

Trent Merrin and James Tamou surrounding him, Moylan said the side is in good stead out on the field. “I don’t think I’m the biggest talker [but] we’ve got leaders out on the field that do a good job as well in Wal, Mez and Jimmy Tamou,” he said. “You’ll find that Wal will say a bit, Mez will say a bit and I will say a bit – there’s not just one of us out there leading, there’s a few of us.”

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HIKU'S wake up call NATHAN TAYLOR @natetaylor87

enrith Panthers utility Peta Hiku has opened up for the first time after getting dropped earlier this month for breaching team protocol. Along with skipper Matt Moylan and fellow back Waqa Blake, the 24-year-old was demoted from Penrith’s NRL side to take on the Rabbitohs back in Round 6, due to breaking a team rule after a night out in Melbourne. Speaking with Extra Time on Monday, the former New Zealand international said the recent controversy was a “wake up call” and one he has learned from. “I’ve accepted the punishment,” Hiku said. “Every coach is different and Hook thought that was the best decision for our team and I reckon it gave me a wake up call. I’m certainly not holding a grudge or anything.” Following their axing to reserve grade, the ‘party boys’ were forced to play in

front of a smattering of loyal fans in St Marys the day after Penrith’s one-point loss to Souths. “It wasn’t too bad playing in St Marys, it was different,” Hiku admitted. “It certainly was a big wake up call not being with the first grade side.” After a week of exile, Hiku, Moylan and Blake all made their returns to first grade last Sunday in Penrith’s 28-2 defeat to the Sharks. The 26-point hammering was Penrith’s worst loss at home in years and their third straight defeat of the season. Hiku said the mood at Penrith HQ “wasn’t too bad”. “It’s been better,” he said. “I think we are more frustrated than anything. With the team we’ve got we can do better. But it’s not going our way, we’re not building our own luck. “When it comes to game day we are obviously doing something wrong, it’s something we are going to have to change.” Since returning from a busted eye socket in Round 3, Hiku has been relegated from Penrith’s starting side to a utility role off the bench. It has placed some question marks over his long-term future.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 21, 2017

FEATURE

Peta Hiku says he’s learned his lesson after being axed from first grade recently The former Manly star admitted it was a challenge playing in a new position each week. “Since my debut at Manly I’ve been in and out of different positions and I suppose that’s still the same here,” he said. “I don’t mind the role coming off the

bench, playing in the back-row is a lot of work – a lot of defence.” With Bryce Cartwright due to return this week, Hiku will be battling to keep his position in Penrith’s side for this Saturday’s clash against Parramatta, despite being named on Tuesday.

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Friday, April 21, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

Time to lay off Moylan and let him grow as skipper

JAMIE SOWARD

enrith Panthers captain Matt Moylan has certainly had an interesting couple of weeks, both on and off the field, but the first thing we have to remember is that he’s a young bloke, who is still learning to be a man. A lot of opinions have been expressed of late regarding Matt’s captaincy role at the Panthers and whether he is still the right man for the job. It’s easy to give the captaincy to the oldest player on the team or the guy who has played the most games, but that might not always be what’s best for the club. When Matt was given the captaincy role last year, Penrith had a real eye for the future and they see him being a one club player. I enjoyed my time playing under Matt, even though it wasn’t for long. He brings excitement to a game and, as an older player, it was fun to play with young guys like him. For the two and a half years I was at Penrith, I got an inside knowledge of these young guys at the club and how they react and respond at certain times. To me, they’ve all been model citizens.

Matt didn’t treat anyone in the public disrespectfully, he didn’t do anything wrong. He made a mistake and the club took a stance on it. Matt recently came off a fantastic year where he played Origin, took his team to the Finals and went on a Four Nations tour – I regard him as Penrith’s best player. This whole situation has turned into a big deal because the side hasn’t been winning of late. Penrith have now lost three in a row, are struggling in attack and this issue has been made much bigger than it should be. Let’s judge Matt at the end of the year and, if being captain is too much for him, maybe Anthony Griffin and Phil Gould should sit him down and reassess the situation. But, at the moment, we are only seven rounds in and everyone should worry about Penrith winning more games than who is captain. Do we really want Matt to relinquish the captaincy? Do we really want kids to not aspire to be a leader of their local club one day? I don’t think so. Matt’s already in one of the most impor-

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 21, 2017

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Friday, April 21, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

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2 Storm

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3 Sharks

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4 Roosters

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5 Raiders

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CLUB

Dragons

Round 8

FACE IN THE CROWD

Friday, April 21 6pm GIO Stadium

/ / / / / / / /

Friday, April 21 7.50pm ANZ Stadium

Saturday, April 22 3pm ANZ Stadium Saturday, April 22 5.30pm 1300SMILES Stadium Saturday, April 22 7.30pm Southern Cross Group Stadium Sunday, April 23 4pm ANZ Stadium

Tuesday, April 25 4pm Allianz Stadium

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 21, 2017

NRL LADDER AND FIXTURES

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Extra Time Issue Number 008 PRINTED BY Spotpress Pty Ltd / PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 / troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au

Tuesday, April 25 7pm AAMI Park

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Friday, April 21, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

FEATURE

Why we hate the Eels

t’s the battle of the west this weekend between arch rivals Penrith and Parramatta, and as every Panthers fan knows, thou shalt not like the Eels. If you needed any help figuring out why, here’s a handy 12-point guide as to why we don’t like our next door neighbours. 1. They’re Parramatta. 2. Michael Jennings. A Penrith junior playing for the Eels, a team he once said he hated. Enough said! 3. They beat us 19-18 in extra time at Penrith Stadium back in 2012. Not something any Penrith fan wants to see. The pain is only just now subsiding. 4. Back in 2009, they beat us in a crucial game late in the season. A win would have put us in the top eight. We’ll never forget the heartbreak. 5. They’ve won almost 60 per cent of their all-time matches against us. Just not on and it’s time the stats turned in our favour.

6. The Eels helped draw Penrith’s two biggest ever crowds at Penrith Stadium (22,582 in 2010 and 22,304 in 2003). We’d rather let Rabbitohs fans in for free just to see the Eels’ name off the Panthers’ record books. 7. Round 1, 2002. It still gives us the chills. The Eels won 64-6 at Parramatta Stadium and Luke Burt scored two tries and kicked 10 goals for a club record 28 points. What a bloodbath. 8. ANZ Stadium. A once great venue being tainted by the Eels calling it home. 9. Their headquarters is located on “Eels Place”. Oh please. 10. That time they beat us 64-6. So bad we put it in the list twice. 11. They’ve won more premiership titles than us. 12. That time in 2010 when Penrith led 22-0 at home, only to be beaten 34-28. Any comeback hurts, but when it’s the Eels coming back at you, it hurts even more. Not a great night for Panthers fans.

Former Panther Michael Jennings getting belted by the Penrith defence But hang on, we’re not that cruel. There’s a few reasons we LIKE the Eels: 1. They’ve won 13 wooden spoons. 2. They choked in the 2001 Grand Final, somehow losing to Newcastle after dominating the entire season and going into the match as short-priced favourites. 3. Back in 1993, they got beaten 68-0 by Canberra in round 21. The game should be released on DVD. 4. From round 10, 1959 to round 10, 1960 they lost 19 straight matches. If only they could repeat that feat. 5. Sterlo. No jokes here, we actually really like him.

6. The fact that they won the minor premiership in 1896, according to the NRL Media Guide. Typical Eels, claiming they won something 12 years before rugby league even began in Australia. (By the way, that error has been in there for five years – cut and paste is a curse!) 8. They don’t have a major sponsor. Good business move by every company in Australia. Rivalries are a wonderful thing. Let’s hope Saturday’s chapter lives up to the hype, and the past. We reckon such a battle deserves much more build-up from the NRL.

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enrith have won premierships, produced superstars of the game and had great success over the years, but one of the most significant days in the club’s history was way back on April 23, 1967. It was on this day that Penrith Park was officially opened – the venue that would go on to be the hallowed turf that so many memories were made on, and continue to be made on. With the Panthers granted a place in the 1967 competition, work was feverish in late 1966 to get the ground ready. When it opened on April 23, 1967 it looked nothing like it does now – many upgrades over the years have taken away the bulk of the 1960s heritage that existed at the venue. The official opening game was against

PANTHERS 30 SHARKS 30

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The team that played against the Dragons on April 23, 1967 the ferocious Dragons, a side that had won 11 straight premierships. The Dragons were obviously the favourites, but Penrith were keen to commemorate the opening with a victory and ran out 24-12 winners. The day will be remembered sadly for St George fans, with the legendary Reg Gasnier suffering a broken leg early in the contest. Coached by Leo Trevena, the Panthers scored four tries on the day through Russell Johnstone, Grahame Moran, Wayne Peckham and Maurie Raper.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 21, 2017

BLAST FROM THE PAST

The legendary John Raper scored for the Dragons, as did Brian Clay, while Graeme Langlands kicked three goals. Laurie Bruyeres was the referee. The crowd on that day was 12,201 and each one of them witnessed something very special in the history of not only the Penrith Panthers, but Penrith as a city. Nobody could have foreseen on that day what would happen to rugby league over the next 50 or so years, nor would they have expected that the Panthers would still be running out at the same location in 2017.

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Friday, April 21, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

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Sharks Tigers Roosters Storm

Raiders Broncos Panthers Cowboys

Sharks Bulldogs Roosters Storm

Raiders Broncos Eels Cowboys

Sharks Bulldogs Roosters Storm

Sea Eagles Broncos Panthers Knights

Titans Bulldogs Dragons Warriors

066

TRESAMI COMPUTER ENGINEERING 4731 8444

CHRIS LAWLER BUILDING 0405 107 506

GARTON GROUP MCDONALD’S 4721 2992

THE WESTERN WEEKENDER 47 22 2998

LEE BANISTER

CHRIS LAWLER

IAN GARTON

NATHAN TAYLOR

Sharks Bulldogs Roosters Storm

Raiders Rabbitohs Eels Cowboys

Sharks Bulldogs Dragons Storm

Raiders Broncos Panthers Cowboys

Sharks Bulldogs Dragons Storm

Raiders Broncos Panthers Cowboys

Sharks Tigers Roosters Storm

064

062

RAINE & HORNE COMMERCIAL 4722 8500

MACQUARIE ACCOUNTANTS 4731 5628

KEMPS CREEK CEMETERY 9826 2273

LOWER MOUNTAINS AIR 4735 6411

KATE RADCLIFFE

CHRIS AYLING

KIM RILEY

ANTHEA STRATHDEE

Raiders Broncos Eels Cowboys

Sea Eagles Broncos Eels Cowboys

Sea Eagles Broncos Panthers Knights

Titans Bulldogs Dragons Warriors

Sharks Bulldogs Roosters Warriors

Raiders Broncos Eels Cowboys

Sea Eagles Broncos Panthers Knights

Titans Bulldogs Dragons Warriors

062

060

PRD NATIONWIDE PENRITH 0414 620 532

SYNERGY FINANCIAL SERVICES 4732 6555

KELLY PARTNERS 4721 7433

HERTZ 4731 6344

DARREN LATTY

SHANAKA DE SILVA

CHARBEL GEAGEA

TEENA EDWARDS

Sharks Bulldogs Dragons Storm

Raiders Broncos Eels Cowboys

Sharks Tigers Roosters Storm

Sharks Bulldogs Dragons Storm

Raiders Broncos Eels Cowboys

Raiders Rabbitohs Panthers Cowboys

Sharks Bulldogs Roosters Storm

060

058

054

SUPREMACY FUNERALS 4721 2020

ABL TILE AND BATHROOM CENTRE 9623 0499

VISION PERSONAL TRAINING 4742 5079

PENRITH HOMEMAKER CENTRE 4737 9800

DONNA HILDON

TANYA DAVIS

CHRIS GROSS

STACEY GLANVILLE

Titans Bulldogs Dragons Storm

Raiders Broncos Panthers Cowboys

Sharks Bulldogs Roosters Storm

Raiders Broncos Panthers Cowboys

Sea Eagles Broncos Panthers Knights

Titans Bulldogs Dragons Warriors

050

048

HOTONDO HOMES 4751 5222

AT PRINT 4731 5055

PROPERTY CENTRAL 0410 338 040

A STEP AHEAD FOOT + ANKLE CARE 4732 2007

PAUL SPICER

AARON TYERS

LEE WATERHOUSE

BRENDEN BROWN

Titans Bulldogs Dragons Warriors

048 DICKIES TOWING 4736 4400

NARELLE TUBIE Sea Eagles Broncos Panthers Knights

Sea Eagles Broncos Panthers Knights

Titans Bulldogs Dragons Warriors

Raiders Broncos Panthers Knights

Titans Bulldogs Roosters Storm

Sea Eagles Broncos Panthers Knights

Titans Bulldogs Dragons Warriors

Raiders Rabbitohs Panthers Cowboys

Sharks Bulldogs Roosters Storm

tr ivia 1. Which back-up Panthers hooker is waiting for his shot in first grade? (pictured) 2. How many times have the Panthers been held scoreless in 2017? 3. Who is the current CEO of the NRL? 4. Which journo did Phil Gould make peace with this week? 5. How many NRL games will be played on ANZAC Day?

ANSWERS: 1. Mitch Rein 2. None 3. Todd Greenberg 4. Phil Rothfield 5. Two

Sea Eagles Broncos Panthers Knights

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 21, 2017

064

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Bringing DESIGNS to Life Penrith City Council - Community Newsletter

PENRITH CITY COMMUNITY NEWS

IN HOUSE graphic design team

The official newsletter of Penrith City Council December 2016 edition

26 January

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