Extra Time April 12

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Dean Whare in action against the Tigers. Photo: Melinda Jane

TITANIC BATTLE PANTHERS PREPARE TO FACE WINLESS GOLD COAST MASKED PANTHER > P32 Mansour’s shoulder struggle plus why Tooheys hopes RCG plays for NSW

FACE IN THE CROWD > P40 Have our cameras spotted you at Panthers Stadium this year?

EXTRA MINUTES > P42 All the NRL news and information you may have missed this week

Friday, April 12, 2019 « the western weekender

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PANTHERS 1

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Josh Mansour Dean Whare Waqa Blake Dylan Edwards James Maloney Nathan Cleary James Tamou Sione Katoa Reagan Campbell-Gillard Viliame Kikau Isaah Yeo James Fisher-Harris Wayde Egan Tyrell Fuimaono Moses Leota Hame Sele Malakai Watene-Zelezniak

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 12, 2019

MATCH PREVIEW

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TITANS

FOX LEAGUE

TRIPLE M Josh Mansour goes close to scoring against the Tigers last week. Photo: Melinda Jane

TROY

DODDS There’s ugly, and then there’s kissingyour-sister, marrying-your-cousin ugly.

Penrith’s performance last weekend against the Wests Tigers was certainly in the latter category, but somehow the side managed to scrape home 9-8 in what was a confidence building victory if nothing else.

Despite a poor start to the season, the Panthers are 2- 2 heading into Friday night’s clash against the winless Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium, and will surely only improve as this early part of the season rolls on.

This is without doubt a danger game, despite the Titans sitting alone at the bottom of the NRL ladder. Garth Brennan’s men have to win eventually, and

with a few Penrith connections in the side they’d like nothing more than to claim the scalp of Ivan Cleary’s men.

The good news for the Panthers is that this squad is largely unchanged from the team that made the Finals last year, so we know what it is capable of. While we should be a little worried about the side’s performance over the first month of the competition, it’s not quite time to hit the panic button.

At the moment, Penrith’s completion rate is simply too low, which is not allowing the team to build any momentum or to take control of matches at any point.

While that’s not necessarily a simple problem to fix, it’s far less complicated than if the problem was a lack of quality cattle. This team can turn things around, but the NRL season can get away from you quickly, which means the next few weeks are critical.

Ivan Cleary was forced to alter his spine mid- way through last weekend’s game against the Tigers when he shifted an out- of- form Dylan Edwards to the wing, and moved Dallin Watene - Zelezniak to fullback. Cleary has stuck with that formula for Friday’s game against the Titans, hopeful Edwards can find the confidence he has so severely lacked so far this season.

With Frank Winterstein out injured, Cleary has named Viliame Kikau to start, with Tyrell Fuimaono coming onto the bench.

Cleary has resisted the temptation to add the mongrel style of Jack Hetherington to the side, who has been mysteriously sitting in reserve grade for the last couple of weeks.

While the Gold Coast are yet to win this season, they should not be under- rated and are probably going a little better than

1

Michael Gordon

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Anthony Don Tyrone Peachey Brian Kelly Dale Copley Tyrone Roberts Ashley Taylor Jarrod Wallace Mitch Rein Ryan James Kevin Proctor Bryce Cartwright Jai Arrow Alexander Brimson Max King Shannon Boyd Keegan Hipgrave

the NRL ladder suggests. They were only a lucky bounce of the ball or two away from toppling the Rabbitohs a fortnight ago, and almost no team would have beaten the Warriors last weekend given they completed at 91 per cent and made just five errors.

The Titans do have some star power just waiting to be unleashed, and once the halves combination of Tyrone Roberts and Ash Taylor clicks, the side may finally start to do something this year. Tyrone Peachey is an obvious danger man this week too.

On paper Penrith look too good here, but it’s hard to be completely confident they’ll get the job done given the way they’ve played over the last four weeks.

I’m sticking with the Panthers, hopeful that last weekend’s thrilling victory over the Tigers will be the catalyst that turns the side’s fortunes around.

Tip: Panthers by 6.

31

Friday, April 12, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

PANTHER RUMBLINGS

with the Masked Panther

SORE SAUCE  Winger Josh Mansour is really strug-

gling with a persistent injury to his shoulder, which is heavily strapped before every game he plays. The 28-year-old has been in the wars in recent seasons, with knee, facial and shoulder problems, and it’s certainly having an impact on the fan favourite getting to 100 per cent fitness.

The club’s medical staff continues to monitor Sauce’s injury, and is hopeful it can be managed through the season.

 It’s understood the NRL has knocked

back disgraced Wests Tigers player Tim Simona’s bid for an NRL redemption story. The former Samoan representative was banned back in 2017 after it was discovered he had been placing minor bets on games, and selling signed jerseys for auction but taking the proceeds himself.

Simona has turned his life around and is desperate to play rugby league again, and the saviour of his career could have been the Panthers. Simona’s management had been in regular contact with Penrith about a comeback path, but it appears the NRL Integrity Unit will block that chance.

 Frank Winterstein’s strong start to the

season at the Panthers has suffered a major blow with the 32-year-old set to miss up to six weeks after suffering an MCL tear in his right knee.

 Tooheys have backed Panthers prop

Reagan Campbell-Gillard to be playing for New South Wales in this year’s Origin series. I’m told the go-ahead has been given for a specially designed RCG Tooheys New can, which will be released to coincide with this year’s series. The Tooheys marketing team will be hoping Brad Fittler gives the Rooty Hill Dragons junior a sky blue jersey in June, otherwise there could be a few red faces.

 Spotted: Panthers General Manager

Phil Gould and recruitment king Jim Jones enjoying a quiet lunch at the Happy Inn on Monday.

 Spotted: New Wests Tigers Chairman

Barry O’Farrell in the Chairman’s Lounge at Panthers Stadium last Friday night.

Shoulder woes: Josh Mansour. Photo: Melinda Jane

 Isaah Yeo has escaped suspension

despite being cited by the NRL’s Match Review Committee over an incident involving Luke Garner in the second half of last Friday night’s game against the Tigers. Yeo took an early guilty plea to the Grade 1 Dangerous Contact charge, meaning he is free to play this weekend.

Delpechitra and her family have appeared on the popular Foxtel / Channel 10 show since its first season.

 The Panthers could play three games

at BankWest Stadium in Parramatta next year – all of them away matches. Parramatta and the Bulldogs would play home games against Penrith at the new venue, but it’s expected that the Sydney Roosters will take their home game against Penrith, should one be scheduled, out west as well. The Panthers are also being urged to take a home match to BankWest in future seasons.

 Spotted: Panthers Chairman Dave

O’Neill and General Manager Phil Gould – who according to some sections of the media, are involved in a bitter feud – laughing and chatting at the Squires Bar pre-game last Friday. The pair were also spotted talking in the sheds after the dramatic golden point win. Not a bitter word in sight.

Vestal Delpechitra cheering for Penrith

 Did you know that one of the Panther-

 Spotted: Panthers General Manager

ettes also appears on ‘Gogglebox’? Vestal

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Phil Gould in the sheds at half-time last

 Spotted: Recently re-elected Penrith

MP Stuart Ayres in the sheds after last Friday night’s game at Panthers Stadium.

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 12, 2019

FEATURE

NRL: WE GOT IT WRONG NATHAN

TAYLOR In a day and age where NRL referees use the Bunker for the most obvious of tries, Panthers powerhouse Viliame Kikau is baffled that his second half effort against the Tigers – where he literally put the ball on the try line – wasn’t checked.

With Penrith desperately trying to score their first try in two games last Friday night, Kikau stormed his way through the Wests Tigers’ defence and managed to put the ball on the line ever so quickly before eventually losing it out of his grasp.

Without hesitation the referee deemed the play a knock- on but replays after the game showed that the 24-year- old Fijian – who was celebrating his birthday during the clash – did in fact put the ball on the stripe.

The NRL has since admitted it was the wrong call, and that the possible try should have been referred to the Bunker.

“I don’t know what happened but I defi-

nitely thought I scored the try,” Kikau told Extra Time this week.

“I was a bit confident too but I had no time to celebrate because the Tigers players were lying all over me and the ref signalled a knock-on straight away.

“They check some obvious stuff these days but the ref got one up on me there.”

Fortunately for Penrith the referee’s blunder didn’t prove too costly for the home side, with the Panthers eventually snapping their try-scoring drought in the 79th minute through Dylan Edwards.

Penrith went on to win the match in golden point extra time after some late Nathan Cleary heroics.

For Kikau though the match wasn’t just special because it was his birthday and he had family and friends in the crowd, it was even more important because it was his first game back since injuring his knee during a pre-season trial against Souths.

Kikau started the game from the bench but after Frank Winterstein got injured in the opening minutes, his number was called earlier than expected.

Viliame Kikau charges through the Wests Tigers’ defence. Photo: Melinda Jane “I had no idea I was going on after seven minutes [but] as soon as I saw big Frankie go down, I knew straight away I’d be right in,” Kikau said.

“I was surprised at how well I went, I played the whole game from the seventh minute onwards. I got some positive feedback from the trainers as well, they were surprised at how well I went after missing five weeks.”

Kikau’s return will be a huge sigh of relief for Panthers supporters who had missed the second rower’s damaging runs and ability to off-load under pressure.

The former North Queensland Cowboy said coach Ivan Cleary has given him a few instructions to take into each game.

“He wants me to get a bit of ownership on the edge,” Kikau said.

“Last year was my first full season in the NRL and I was a bit quiet on the edge, I wasn’t communicating well with my halves. This year Ivan wants me to take ownership and communicate better with the players around me.”

One player who is no longer by his side is Fijian counterpart Waqa Blake, with the exciting centre now spending time on the right side of the field.

Kikau said while he and Blake were a strong pairing, he can’t see why a similar partnership with Dean Whare can’t ensue.

“Whare knows how I play, so I don’t see much difference,” he said.

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Friday, April 12, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

FEATURE Hame Sele. Photo: NRL Photos

SELE SETTLES IN HOW A GUS GOULD PHONE CALL CHANGED HIS LIFE NATHAN

TAYLOR

34

After being cut by St George- Illawarra at the end of the 2018 season, 22-year-old Hame Sele was in limbo for a few months before he received a phone call from Panthers boss Phil Gould offering him a career lifeline.

“That call from Gus was life changing,” Sele told Extra Time.

“I found out I was coming to Penrith mid-way through pre-season, it was a life changer for me.”

With his daughter nearing her first birthday, the versatile forward said securing a new deal at another NRL club was the number one thing on his agenda.

“The only thing on my mind was what I was going to do to provide for her and once I got that call it was like lights flashing at me saying ‘take it’,” he said.

“A few months on and I’m really enjoying myself here, the boys have brought me in and made me feel right at home.

I’m fitting in well and getting along with everyone.”

After only playing a handful of games at the Dragons last season, Sele has so far featured in every single game for the Panthers in 2019, despite many predicting he wouldn’t be in the top 17.

The one-time City Origin representative said he’s enjoying his expanded role at the foot of the Mountains.

“I didn’t play many minutes at the Dragons but when I first started here I was shocked that I was able to punch out a fair few minutes – I actually impressed myself,” Sele admitted.

“As the weeks go on I’m continuing to get better. The coach gives me feedback and wants me to work on little things each week. I’m really happy playing all these minutes.”

Sele has once again been named in coach Ivan Cleary’s side for tonight’s Round 5 clash against the winless Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.

“THAT CALL FROM GUS WAS LIFE CHANGING”

While the Titans have a decent looking side on paper, they haven’t managed to secure a win despite inching closer and

closer each week. Sele knows it’s a danger game given how desperate the Titans are.

“It’s going to be a tough one playing them in their home town in front of their fans,” Sele said.

“I expect them to come out really strong this week.

“We are really looking forward to the challenge this week up in the GC.” With Sele signed until the end of the current season (plus a team option in 2020), the Kingsgrove Colts junior is hoping some strong performances in the next few weeks and months will earn him a contract extension – something he desperately wants especially considering he has another baby on the way.

“Since I’ve arrived here I have loved the club, so hopefully I get an extension,” Sele said.

“There’s been no talks as yet but I just have to do my best each week and hopefully impress the staff.”

Cleary’s heroics may inspire Panthers into form

ANDY RAYMOND C

ometh the hour, cometh the man.

They were the words ringing around Panthers Stadium last Friday night when Nathan Cleary slotted a sideline conversion to force the clash against the Tigers into golden point extra time.

The Panthers did everything they could to lose that match last weekend, but refused to give in when it mattered most.

When Dylan Edwards sliced through the Tigers’ defence in the 79th minute to bring the Panthers to within two points of the lead, the scene was set for Cleary to step up and prove why he’s Penrith’s $1 million man.

The poise that Cleary showed to slot that sideline conversion with the full-time siren sounding behind him was beautiful to watch.

To back that up with an 84th minute, 40 metre field goal, would have not only pleased his coach, but would have felt like a massive weight off the shoulders for the father and son pair.

The return of Isaah Yeo and Viliame Kikau was a massive boost for the Panthers last week and they’ll need both

players to be firing tonight when they lock horns with the Gold Coast Titans.

The Titans remain the only winless team in the NRL competition and will be desperate for a win in front of their home crowd.

The Titans weren’t great against the Warriors last week, but showed glimpses of what they’re capable of in the final 20 minutes of that contest.

You can guarantee that there will be plenty of feeling in this clash with a host of former Panthers, headlined by Tyrone Peachey and Bryce Cartwright, coming up against their old club.

Garth Brennan will also be keen to show his former employer what he’s capable of doing as a head coach.

On the other side of the coin, Ivan Cleary will be desperate for his team to find some consistency and attacking flair.

There’s no hiding from the fact that James Maloney and Nathan Cleary haven’t set the world on fire thus far this season, but maybe, just maybe, the confidence that the Panthers got from last weekend’s hard- fought win will be enough to spark them into gear for 2019.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 12, 2019

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Nathan Cleary prepares to take a kick after the siren last weekend. Photo: Melinda Jane

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Friday, April 12, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

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Friday, April 12, 2019 « the western weekender

How does the NRL attract fans to big stadiums?

CLINTON MAYNARD I

t’s early April and a picture perfect night in Australia’s biggest city. The NRL Premiers are doing battle with one of the heavyweights of the competition. Superstars James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Tevita Pengai Junior and Anthony Milford are about to run out and Cooper Cronk is back!

The host, the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. The crowd? Just 9,304.

Less than 10,000 people bothered to turn up to one of the feature games of the season so far.

Thursday night is not a popular timeslot for fans to attend games, but if ever a game was going to attract a crowd on a Thursday night it was this one. The home team, the Premiers at a ground close to the city with the capacity to attract workers after they finish work at CBD offices.

Granted the SCG is not the best place to watch rugby league but it was good enough for decades and decades.

The NRL clearly has a big problem with crowds, but it’s not the case with every game. More than 14,000 turned up to watch Penrith’s golden point win over Wests and 12,000 cheered on Manly’s

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 12, 2019

Brought to you by

The atmosphere at Panthers Stadium last Friday night was superb. Photo: Melinda Jane extra time win over Souths. Both crowds weren’t massively bigger than the SCG attendance but in smaller suburban grounds they provided a great atmosphere.

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Friday, April 12, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

NRL LADDER AND FIXTURES PD

W

D

L

B

F

A

+/-

PTS

Storm

4

4

0

0

0

94

40

+54

8

2 Roosters

4

3

0

1

0

110

66

+44

6

3 Raiders

4

3

0

1

0

78

44

+34

6

4 Rabbitohs

4

3

0

1

0

100

67

+33

6

5 Eels

4

3

0

1

0

98

72

+26

6

6 W. Tigers

4

2

0

2

0

70

43

+27

4

7 Sharks

4

2

0

2

0

82

60

+22

4

8 Sea Eagles

4

2

0

2

0

83

70

+13

4

9 Warriors

4

2

0

2

0

84

96

-12

4

CLUB

1

10 Dragons

4

2

0

2

0

68

94

-26

4

11 Panthers

4

2

0

2

0

39

74

-35

4

12 Knights

4

1

0

3

0

50

54

-4

2

13 Broncos

4

1

0

3

0

69

93

-24

2

14 Bulldogs

4

1

0

3

0

60

102

-42

2

15 Cowboys

4

1

0

3

0

62

113

-51

2

16 Titans

4

0

0

4

0

36

95

-59

0

FACE IN THE CROWD

Round 5

/ / / / / / / /

Thursday, April 11 7.50pm Suncorp Stadium Friday, April 12 6.00pm Cbus Super Stadium Friday, April 12 7.55pm 1300 Smiles Stadium Saturday, April 13 3.00pm Sunshine Coast Stadium

IS THIS YOU?

Saturday, April 13 5.30pm McDonald Jones Stadium

Is this you at a recent Penrith Panthers game?

If it is, you’ve won a Hoyts Family Movie Pass to use at any Hoyts Cinema in Australia! To collect your prize, visit the Weekender office at 2/42-44 Abel Street, Jamisontown and ask for Nathan Taylor.

Saturday, April 13 7.35pm PointsBet Stadium

Sunday, April 14 4.05pm Jubilee Stadium

Extra Time Issue Number 2019-001 PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 / troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au

Sunday, April 14 6.10pm GIO Stadium

CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Taylor / Clinton Maynard / Andy Raymond SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi / 4722 2998 chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au

Every game of every round

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*Selected matches only. 4K Ultra HD requires iQ4, compatible 4K TV and Sports + HD packs. Foxtel marks used under licence by Foxtel Management Pty Ltd.

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SCOREBOARD NRL

PANTHERS 9 TIGERS 8

NSW CUP

WARRIORS 22 PANTHERS 12

JERSEY FLEGG

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 12, 2019

Panther Flashback

PANTHERS 20 WARRIORS 14 The sacking of Matt Elliott For the Panthers, the dumping of Matt Elliott in 2011 seemed inevitable but it still came as a shock to many when the news broke in late April of that year.

As the Weekender reported in its April 29 edition of 2011: “The Penrith Panthers will have a new coach next season after the NRL club sensationally dumped Matthew Elliott over the long weekend. There has been intense pressure on Elliott after Penrith’s horror start

to the season, which has seen them win just two of seven matches.”

Panthers Chairman Don Feltis and CEO Mick Leary delivered the news to Elliott just after the ANZAC Day long weekend. He was told he could see out the 2011 season.

Penrith’s captain at the time, Petero Civoniceva, was unhappy with the decision and was a known supporter of Elliott.

“The Board have to make the decisions

and as a playing group and as a senior playing group we weren’t part of those decisions,” Civoniceva said.

“It’s been handed down to us... I’ve already spoken to the players. We know our responsibilities to this club and our responsibilities start on the weekend and for the rest of the season.”

As it turned out, more drama would ensue in regards to the coaching situation at the Panthers, with Elliott eventually leaving before the end of the season.

BEHIND THE PANTHERS

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Rugby League Marketing Manager HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR PANTHERS? Seven and a half years.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING FOR PANTHERS? Seeing thousands of members and fans fill Panthers Stadium.

WHO IS YOUR FUNNIEST COLLEAGUE AT PANTHERS? The man behind the camera, Jeff Lambert.

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Friday, April 12, 2019 « the western weekender • extra time

EXTRA MINUTES  The NRL is reportedly considering

changes to the Golden Point structure, which would see losing teams still walk away with a competition point. The idea has been floated after three matches went into extra time last weekend. The concept would see four competition points awarded for a standard win, with three awarded for a win in Golden Point, and one point given to the Golden Point loser.

 Former Penrith forward Trent Merrin

is on the verge of an NRL comeback after returning to Australia on compassionate grounds. Merrin, who is in the first year of a long-term deal with the Leeds Rhinos, is tipped to link up with the Dragons, who are down a forward at the moment due to the Jack de Belin saga.

 The Saturday afternoon timeslot

continues to be the poorest rating game of the weekend for Fox League, with 167,000 tuning in to watch the thriller between the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs last weekend. Compare that to the 5.30pm game, which attracted 247,000 viewers, and the 7.30pm match which grabbed an average of 284,000 viewers. Even the Warriors v Titans game at 6pm last Friday out-rated the 3pm Saturday match. While there’s no talk of a change, the temporary

Sunday night slot is working very well for Fox League and surely will be talked about extensively when it’s time to negotiate the next TV deal.

 Former Cronulla star Valentine Holmes has been allocated a spot with the New York Jets in the NFL, as part of the International Pathway Program.

 The injury news just gets worse for

Dean Pay’s Bulldogs, with Dylan Napa to miss the next six weeks due to an ankle problem.

 Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire

says his team needs to learn how to close out games better after last week’s horror finish against the Panthers. “We must learn how to win those clutch moments,” Maguire said. “We definitely had our opportunities to and unfortunately it didn’t go our way.”

 Cronulla has confirmed Shark Park will now be known as PointsBet Stadium.

 Souths have given Greg Inglis a week

away from the game to consider his future. Inglis is dealing with a range of issues, including injury problems. There’s talk his career may be finished.

Former Panther Trent Merrin could be returning to the NRL

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 12, 2019

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Friday, April 12, 2019 ÂŤ the western weekender

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