Extra Time May 28 2021 by Western Sydney Publishing Group

Brian To’o and Jarome Luai. Photo: NRL Photos.

TO’O A BLUE? Winger opens up on Origin prospects

PAGE 29

JOEL CAINE Should the Warriors play every game in New Zealand next season?

PAGE 30

WARREN SMITH The incredible legacy of Bob ‘Bozo’ Fulton

PAGE 34

PETER LANG Origin is just around the corner. How will the Panthers be impacted?

PAGE 39

BRING ON THE DOGS PANTHERS SEARCH FOR 12TH STRAIGHT VICTORY MATCH PREVIEW: PAGE 27

Friday, May 28, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

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the final word

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 28, 2021

match preview

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Matt Burton scored three tries in Dubbo. Photo: NRL Photos.

TROY DODDS

f ever rugby league has presented a David and Goliath battle, it’s this Saturday at BlueBet Stadium. First versus last on the ladder and it feels like the gulf has never been wider. You’d have to find the most one-eyed of Canterbury fan to think they have a chance on Saturday against competition leaders Penrith, but often these lopsided contests don’t turn out to provide the blowouts you’d expect. Talking of expectations, I think everyone anticipated Penrith would find things much tougher against Souths last Sunday afternoon, but Ivan Cleary’s juggernaut just rolled on, grabbing a half century for the first time this season on its way to an 11th straight win to start the year. The most frightening thing about Penrith at the moment is that they seem so effort-

SATURDAY, MAY 29 | 3.00PM | BLUEBET STADIUM | REFEREE: MATT NOYEN less in their attack. There’s not too many sides who could lose their fullback and starting prop in the 48 hours before the game and then go on to demolish a team like the Panthers did to Souths on Sunday. But this is the new Penrith, now Melbourne-like in developing a ‘next man up’ system where no matter who fills the gap, they slip into the rhythm and habit of winning. Talking of gaps to fill, Ivan Cleary again needed to shuffle things around this week with Kurt Capewell spending a week on the sidelines due to suspension. Liam Martin starts in the second row while Moses Leota returns from injury to start at prop. The Panthers remain without Dylan Edwards, with Stephen Crichton set to once again fill-in at fullback.

So how do Canterbury possibly stop Penrith rolling over the top of them on Saturday afternoon? The impossible task can only be led by a simple game plan – complete your sets, kick well and try to play the game at Penrith’s end, limiting the opposition’s opportunities. This may be first versus last on the ladder but there’s still a bit of passion in this contest with a bunch of enticing storylines – Matt Burton against his future club; Trent Barrett against his old one; the likes of Jack Hetherington and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returning to Panthers Stadium to try to cause a boilover. The list goes on. The Bulldogs have been improving somewhat in recent weeks, but it feels like they don’t know how to win at present. Even when opportunities land right at their

PANTHERS

KAYO FOX LEAGUE ABC 702 TRIPLE M

feet – such as against Canberra a fortnight ago – they can’t seem to find the required punch to get themselves home. And recent history against Penrith isn’t on their side either. The Bulldogs have failed to score a point in their last two outings against Ivan Cleary’s men, going down 28-0 in atrocious conditions at Bankwest Stadium earlier this year and 42-0 in the last game of the regular season last year at Stadium Australia. Let’s be real: If Penrith turn up to play, this will resemble a cricket score. I’d like to be respectable to Canterbury and their fans but I have to be honest – I think the record books will need to get cracked open just before 5pm on Saturday. These two sides are just in very different places at present. Tip: Panthers by 70.

BULLDOGS

1 Stephen Crichton

10 James Fisher-Harris

1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

2 Charlie Staines

11 Viliame Kikau

2 Nick Cotric

10 Luke Thompson 11 Adam Elliott

3 Paul Momirovski

12 Liam Martin

3 Will Hopoate

12 Matt Doorey

4 Matt Burton

13 Isaah Yeo

4 Aaron Schoupp

13 Josh Jackson (c)

5 Brian To’o

14 Tyrone May

5 Nick Meaney

14 Bradley Deitz

6 Jarome Luai

15 Scott Sorensen

6 Brandon Wakeham

15 Joe Stimson

7 Nathan Cleary (c)

16 Matthew Eisenhuth

7 Jake Averillo

16 Dylan Napa

8 Moses Leota

17 Spencer Leniu

8 Jack Hetherington

17 Ava Seumanufagai

9 Apisai Koroisau

18 Mitch Kenny 19 Robert Jennings

9 Jackson Topine

18 Kyle Flanaghan 20 Corey Waddell

Friday, May 28, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

panther rumblings

WITH THE MASKED PANTHER

CAPEWELL SET TO STAY ! Kurt Capewell had one foot out the door earlier this year with a desire to move back to Queensland after a couple of years at Penrith. But the 27-year-old now looks likely to stay at the foot of the Mountains for one more season, with Penrith officials growing in confidence that he’ll stick around for at least the 2022 season. That would align perfectly with a possible return to the sunshine state in 2023 to join the new Brisbane franchise, which is likely to be given the green light to enter the competition. Penrith are keen to keep Capewell given his experience while the man himself has very much found a home at Penrith and was buoyed by the support he received during a well-publicised tough time in the off-season. ! The Panthers are preparing to call Bankwest Stadium home from 2023 with confidence high that the State Government will announce funding to re-build Panthers Stadium in the upcoming State Budget. The two years away from home while the new stadium is built would be tough on the fan base and memberships, while local sponsors I’ve spoken to have expressed split opinions. There’s plenty of boxes to tick and a pile of issues to work through once the funding is secured, so for now it’s a matter of one step at a time, with all eyes on NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet on June 22. ! Former winger Robbie Beckett was a fan favourite at Penrith through the 1990s and he’s still a keen follower of the game. But in recent weeks ‘boom boom’ has, along with many of us, shaken his head at the NRL’s crackdown on high shots. He believes the game’s new rules are to blame for an increase in head knocks. “The six-again rule is too much too soon for the players’ fitness,” he said on Facebook. “Now the boys cannot keep up... the players union need to step in for them and hold an urgent meeting.” ! Spotted: Former Sharks legend David Peachey at Apex Oval last Sunday watching the Panthers maul the Rabbitohs. !

The Bulldogs have become Sportsbet’s

Kurt Capewell is set to stay. Photo: NRL Photos.

longest priced NRL team to win a match in history. In the online bookmaker’s headto-head market, the Bulldogs are $19 to beat Penrith. The Warriors held the honour last season, when they were $15 ahead of their clash with the Roosters. After leading at half-time the Warriors went on to lose. The Panthers are $1.01 to extend their unbeaten run to 12 against the Bulldogs, who surprisingly, held 84 per cent of early turnover. “If the Bulldogs manage to beat the Panthers it will go down as one of the greatest upsets of all-time. Penrith are unbeaten and steam-rolling teams, while the Doggies have won just one of 11,’’ said sportsbet.com.au’s Rich Hummerston.

! There’s growing talk that Api Koroisau could be a surprise call-up into the New South Wales team for the Origin opener against Queensland next month. While

Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook was seen as a certain starter for the Blues, there’s concerns over his recent form particularly given the Bunnies have been smashed by 50 in two of their last three games, and only just got home against Cronulla.

! Talking of Origin, it’s expected to be confirmed at the end of the year that all three games will be played on Wednesday nights from 2022, with the Sunday experiment deemed a failure in terms of TV ratings. ! The NRL is edging towards a preseason tournament of sorts from next year, formalising trial matches into a festival of footy that would be broadcast on Fox League. It’s possible there’ll be footy on every night of the week for a fortnight with rivalry games including Penrith up against

Parramatta. Matches like the All Stars would also be included. Watch this space.

! Who wore it better? What a great moment this was in Dubbo last Sunday – Viliame Kikau meeting a young supporter who is obviously a fan of the big man’s hair cut.

! Penrith winger Brian To’o has admitted his girlfriend cut off his famous rattail. “It was pretty depressing… I was so sad,” the lovable larrikin said this week.

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TO’O TRIES TO IGNORE ORIGIN HYPE The 22-year-old is one of eight Panthers in line for a Blues jumper this year, with many experts predicting Penrith could be in for a record haul of Origin players due to their undefeated start to the season. To’o said it would be a ‘pinch me’ moment to don a sky-blue jumper alongside his best mates. “It would be pretty special to play alongside a few of the Penrith boys and put on the Blues jersey as well,” he said. “My missus is always keeping me grounded and making sure I’m not thinking about it too much, but it would be pretty special and pretty cool to play alongside my Penrith brothers in the Blues jersey.” Before Origin squads are named, To’o and his Panthers teammates have to get through Saturday afternoon’s clash against the bottom-placed Bulldogs at BlueBet Stadium unscathed. The St Marys junior said he’s expecting another fiery encounter just like they experienced back in Round 2 at Bankwest Stadium. “They will be coming out swinging… every team is the same, every team is out to beat us,” To’o said. “The first game against them we knew it would be heated at times and it did get heated at times. I think it will flare up again on Saturday, but we will see.”

NATHAN TAYLOR

hen the NSW State of Origin team gets announced on Sunday evening, one player who won’t be standing by his phone, waiting for a call, is popular Panthers winger Brian To’o. In fact, in recent weeks, To’o can’t bear to hear or even see his name tossed up in mock Origin sides as he says his “sole focus” is on Penrith and Penrith only. But, after a career-best start to the season where he’s topping multiple statistics, not receiving a Blues call-up from coach Brad Fittler in the coming days would be a big kick in the guts for the proud Mt Druitt product. “It’s hard because my family talk about Origin 24/7,” To’o told Extra Time. “If they are talking about it in the living room, I walk out and go to my bedroom – it’s got to that point. “There was a time where I was having dinner with my family and my Dad whispers ‘so do you think you’ll play for the Blues?’. I said, ‘I’m done’ and left the table. “Dad always takes the piss out of me and tries to make jokes, but I just have to not think about it and think about the Panthers.”

Brian To’o is in line for an Origin debut. Photo: NRL Photos.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 28, 2021

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joel caine T

he end of the 2021 season will mark two years since the New Zealand Warriors were last based out of their home in Auckland. It’s been a remarkable sacrifice by the club’s players, staff and extended families, as their readiness to be based in Australia has effectively kept the competition afloat. While the Warriors have done incredibly well to stay competitive in Australia, New Zealand rugby league fans have been completely starved of games on home soil. It’s looking increasingly likely that the Warriors will be able to head back to Auckland next year, and I think they should be rewarded by not having to leave the country in 2022, except for Brisbane’s Magic Round and away Finals if they are to qualify. Not only would it help revive the game across the Tasman, but I think it wouldn’t hurt sides in Australia as I hold the belief that we may have too many home games already. The Commission should hand each team nine or 10 home games in 2022, instead of the 12 they receive now. We already have eight teams that give a home game to Magic Round,

The Warriors deserve our thanks, according to Joel Caine. Photo: NRL Photos.

and a raft of NSW-based clubs have willingly shifted a home game this year with great success to rural towns. With no Queensland-based teams yet to commit to rural games in their state, it shouldn’t be too hard to convince them to hand an additional game to New Zealand. For mine, it’s a simple supply and demand theory with home games. The scarcer they make home games; the more clubs will be able to boost importance and attendance numbers when they have them. Not only will it not hurt other clubs when looking at it from that lens, but I think it could be a great test for the NRL and their expansion plans in New Zealand. Sure, the Warriors should have their 11 games at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, but their other 12 games should be split between Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington. That way, the game’s decision makers can see what region has the biggest thirst for a future franchise. New Zealand rugby league fans and the Warriors franchise should be rewarded for their immense sacrifice. It will be time for the NRL to pay their dues to them in the 2022 season.

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Friday, May 28, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

Why the Warriors should play every game in New Zealand next year

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 28, 2021

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“WE WON’T TAKE DOGS LIGHTLY” NATHAN TAYLOR

here’s “no easy games in the NRL” – that’s how Panthers centre Paul Momirovski is approaching this Saturday’s first versus last encounter against the Canterbury Bulldogs at BlueBet Stadium. While most bookies have installed Penrith as $1.01 favourites for the first time in club history, the team itself is feeling a little more conservative despite piling on 56 points against heavyweights Souths last weekend to remain undefeated. Speaking with Extra Time on Tuesday, Momirovski said no matter the opposition, the club takes every match seriously. “Like the club did all of last year – whoever we verse we prepare the same, and that’s the same mentality we’ve had this year,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who’s out there, any team is talented enough to win games in this competition. “It comes down to our mentality and how we prepare. This team is professional, this coaching staff is professional, and we will prepare the same way we prepare for any other game.” With fullback Dylan Edwards succumbing

to a mild hamstring injury, Momirovski returned to the line-up last Sunday in Dubbo after serving a three-match suspension. The 24-year-old was initially due back in Round 10 against the Titans, however the scintillating form of Matt Burton in the centres prevented him from getting his starting spot back straight away. Momirovski said he wasn’t ‘kicking stones’ during his layoff but knew it would be hard to regain his spot in such a starstudded side. “I knew from the get go once I got suspended that it was going to be hard to get back into the team, but this is an environment you want to be in, so I’m still happy,” he said. “I think everyone in the team wants to be playing, but we haven’t lost a game, so it’s hard to get back into the team. “That’s the level we are at right now – it’s competitive and wherever the club wants me to play, that’s what I’ll do.” Momirovski has retained his number three jersey this round and is expected to be there for several weeks to come with more than a dozen Panthers players in the mix for a State of Origin berth. The former Tiger said there’s been “no talk of Origin internally” amongst the playing group.

Paul Momirovski is back in the Panthers line-up. Photo: Megan Dunn.

“Those boys will get the rewards when the time comes but, for us, it’s week in, week out, and that’s what I said about this team being so professional,” Momirovski said.

“Nothing externally comes into it. These boys just play week in, week out, enjoying themselves and hopefully a few of them get rewarded for it.”

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 28, 2021

Friday, May 28, 2021 « the western weekender • extra time

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Bob Fulton left an important mark on rugby league

warren smith “

The best idea is a stolen one”. That saying gets tossed around a bit in the land of television, and until they stop putting out remakes of old shows and passing them off as something new, it will retain its value in production house meetings for some time to come. Ideas also get stolen frequently in rugby league, and you could bet London to a brick that what the Premiers do one year, most of the rest of the teams will try and implement the following season. Some of those ideas get superseded pretty quickly, others stick around for years afterward. Melbourne took wrestling in the tackle to new heights in the mid-2000s, and the NRL is still trying to find a way to open up the game 15 years down the track. Coaches pinch ideas from other coaches, and some players absorb lessons from old coaches and find themselves implementing those very lessons decades later when they’ve swapped boots and shoulder pads for a clipboard and a whistle. As the rugby league world came to grips with the news that one of the original Immortals, Bob Fulton, had died on Sunday morning, one of his former players fronted the media in Dubbo, having watched the team that he now leads dismantle the Rabbitohs by the tune of 56-12. Ivan Cleary spent his first two seasons in first grade at the Sea Eagles playing

Bob Fulton’s coaching lessons remain strong today. Photo: NRL Photos.

under the man known as ‘Bozo’, and almost 30 years later he was able to clearly recall a lesson learned about toughness. “I was injured one week, and I thought

I was being tough to play the next week”, Cleary said. “I thought I’m doing a good job because you’re supposed to play injured.

“My knee was strapped up and we were just about to play Newcastle up there, and ‘Bozo’ comes up to me in the sheds and goes, ‘why is your knee strapped?’.” Explaining that he had hurt it the week before drew no sympathy from one of the greatest to have played the game. “He said, ‘once you go out there you’re not injured’, and then walked off. I was rattled,” the now-Panthers coach said. “Anyway, I went out and I had a shocker in the first half, and then he sprayed me at half-time, but luckily we won that game and he comes up to me after and said, ‘well done mate’. “It’s one I’ve used over the years on a few players.” Ivan Cleary, three decades after being exposed to the Fulton methodology for carrying injuries into games, still using the same lesson on players he now coaches. The funny thing is, given how there aren’t that many new ideas in the game and how lessons are passed down through the generations, you could just imagine one of Fulton’s early coaches saying exactly the same thing to him one day at Brookvale Oval in the 1960s. The tentacles of the legends of the game spread far and wide, and as one was lost after a life in rugby league, it brought a smile to many faces to know that the Bob Fulton footy DNA lives on in the current coach of the best team in the competition.

Keep local news free. Having a local news service is vital to a community such as Penrith. Making a pledge to The Western Weekender helps ensure our print and digital content continues to thrive. You’re supporting journalism at its most raw level, as we continue to tell Penrith’s stories. Visit www.westernweekender.com.au/pledge

WW44881

CLUB

Panthers

364

+280 22

Storm

370

136

+234 18

Eels

300

170

+130 18

Rabbitohs

279

252

+27

Roosters

300

181

+119

Sea Eagles

255

246

Dragons

223

226

-3

Titans

260

287

-27

Warriors

237

276

-39

10 Cowboys

217

305

-88

Raiders

203

261

-58

12 Knights

199

292

-93

13 Sharks

195

270

-75

14 W. Tigers 15 Broncos 16 Bulldogs

11 11 11

3 3 1

0 0 0

8 8 10

0 0 0

220 180 130

310 306

+/-

-90 -126

330 -200

PTS

4732 6007

ROUND 12 V

Thursday, May 27 7.50pm Suncorp Stadium

Friday, May 28 6.00pm QLD Country Bank Stadium

Friday, May 28 7.55pm Bankwest Stadium

Saturday, May 29 3.00pm BlueBet Stadium

Saturday, May 29 5.30pm Stadium Australia

Saturday, May 29 7.30pm Central Coast Stadium

Sunday, May 30 2.00pm C.ex Coffs International Stadium In

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 28, 2021

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Extra Time Issue Number 2020-012 PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Taylor, Joel Caine, Peter Lang, Warren Smith SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi / 4722 2998 chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 28, 2021

Panthers set to dominate Origin selections

lang on league L

adder leaders the Penrith Panthers could have up to eight players take part in the first State of Origin match between the New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons on Wednesday, June 9 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. You can pencil in Kurt Capewell for the Maroons side while Nathan Cleary is an absolute lock for the Blues halfback spot. The other six players who are in the mix for NSW according to comments made by coach Brad Fittler and selector Greg Alexander, are winger Brian To’o, five-eighth Jarome Luai, hooker Api Koroisau, lock Isaah Yeo with Liam Martin on the bench and Stephen Crichton as 18th man. Injuries and suspension to Cameron Murray, Victor Radley and Angus Crichton have all but guaranteed Isaah Yeo a spot as starting lock while the recent poor form by incumbent hooker Damien Cook has opened the door for Koroisau to make his State of Origin debut. While Liam Martin may be considered a bolter, his ability to play second-row and prop may just give him the edge for a bench spot. He came close to making the side last year and his recent form for the high-flying Panthers has elevated his chances. Stephen Crichton, on the other hand, has shown plenty of versatility to play both fullback and centre this season and while a starting spot may be out of reach, a stint as 18th man is a definite possibility.

My NSW Blues side is: 1. James Tedesco 2. Brian To’o 3. Tom Trbojevic 4. Latrell Mitchell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Payne Hass 9. Api Koroisau 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Jake Trbojevic 13. Isaah Yeo. Interchange: 14. Jack Wighton 15. Junior Paulo 16. Regan Campbell-Gillard 17. Liam Martin 18. Stephen Crichton. What caught my eye last week... The moustaches sported by several of our first grade referees, Ron Burgundy eat your heart out. What game I’m looking forward to... The clash between the Rabbitohs and Eels is an important one, in that neither side has lost two games in a row this season. If the Bunnies lose, it could see them knocked out of the Top 4.

with Peter Lang

press conference lasted 114 seconds. I understand that he was disappointed but c’mon S t i c k y , Raiders fans deserve more than what you gave them, which was a big – fat – zero! Wayne Bennett was only slightly better on Sunday in his press conference following Souths’ loss to the Panthers.

My tips for the week... Storm, Cowboys, Dragons, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Titans, Sea Eagles. The final word... I don’t know how to police this edict but coaches have got to start giving us more than five word answers. Ricky Stuart sat there like a petulant little child refusing to give any sensible answers Nathan Cleary will play halfback for NSW. Photo: NRL Photos. to legitimate questions. His

extra minutes

Bob Fulton passed away last Sunday. Photo: NRL Photos.

! The NRL has confirmed the entertainment for the upcoming State of Origin series. The Veronicas will headline the pre-match entertainment at the MCG for the Origin opener on June

9, while Sheppard will be at Suncorp Stadium for Origin II on June 27 and Lime Cordiale & JK47 will rock Stadium Australia on July 14 for the third and final match of the series.

Canberra fullback Charnze NicollKlokstad met with a specialist last week to review his neck injury, where it was determined he will require surgery this week. This means Nicoll-Klokstad will miss the remainder of the 2021 season.

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! The rugby league community is this week mourning the loss of the legendary Bob Fulton. Fulton was part of the first group of players to be granted Immortal status in 1981 after representing Australia in 35 Tests as a player and on 40 occasions as a coach. He represented NSW on 17 occasions and played 213 Premiership games for Manly and 50 Premiership games for the Roosters. He coached the Sea Eagles in 305 games and the Roosters 100 times. “Bob will forever be part of rugby league’s DNA and our game is richer for having had Bob part of it,” ARLC Chairman, Peter V’landys said.

The Warriors have confirmed centre Peta Hiku is leaving at the end of the season to continue his NRL career with North Queensland. The 28-year-old had signed a one-year deal for 2021 but his campaign ended after four appearances following season-ending shoulder surgery after the 20-14 win over St GeorgeIllawarra on April 18.

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Friday, May 28, 2021 « the western weekender