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Stephen Crichton. Photo: NRL Images.
N A H T A N Y R A E L C R E T S O P E D I S N I
GOOD AS IT GETS UNBEATEN TO START THE NRL SEASON AND LOOKING THE REAL DEAL ONCE AGAIN, PENRITH RETURNS HOME FOR A GOOD FRIDAY BATTLE WITH THE BRONCOS. MATCH PREVIEW PAGE 31
MASKED PANTHER PROWL PROGRAM EXPANDS, NATHAN CLEARY’S NEW CAREER AND SO MUCH MORE PAGE 32
KENNY’S MEAT PIE
MATT RUSSELL
PANTHERS UTILITY OPENS UP ABOUT THAT DROUGHT BREAKING TRY AGAINST THE BULLDOGS PAGE 33
FOX LEAGUE COMMENTATOR ON THE GAME HE’S GOT CIRCLED IN THE CALENDAR PAGE 38
Friday, April 15, 2022 « the western weekender
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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 15, 2022
match preview
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Nathan Cleary against the Bulldogs last Sunday. Photo: NRL Images.
TROY DODDS
A
s the minutes ticked down and the scoreboard kept clicking over against Canterbury last Sunday, there’s no doubt Penrith coach Ivan Cleary’s mind would have drifted from CommBank Stadium to this Friday’s game against Brisbane at home. It’s likely why co-captain Isaah Yeo played just 57 minutes, compared to the 80 he punched out against the Rabbitohs the week prior. And why fullback Dylan Edwards was handed a well earned break at the back end of the game. It’s the luxury you have when your team is five from five and humming along nicely. All of a sudden it doesn’t have to be ‘one game at a time’, you can start to meticulously plan how things will unfold weeks in advance. The Panthers face a couple of these five day turnarounds in the next little while and
FRIDAY, APRIL 15 | 7.55PM | BLUEBET STADIUM | REFEREE: ADAM GEE Cleary’s management of his players through the period will be critical, particularly with some traditional firepower still missing in the shape of Moses Leota and Brian To’o. One thing that’s become clear at Penrith is how important the back five are to the go-forward the team is achieving at present. It’s serving the forward pack well, allowing key players to spend more time on the field and keeping them fitter when they are. As a result, the Panthers are just running all over teams. Last week the side clocked up more than 1600 run metres, compared to 1088 from Canterbury. Their average set distance, kick return metres and post contact metres all dwarfed the Bulldogs. And yes, Canterbury are a team struggling to find form at present but this is a pretty regular occurrence from Ivan Cleary’s side. It’s hard to find another side defending the
Premiership that has had such a dominant start to a new season. This Good Friday clash with Brisbane comes at the perfect time. Being the planner he is, Cleary would know that a trio of big games awaits in May – Eels, Storm, Roosters back-to-back. With the Broncos, Raiders and Titans to face in the weeks leading up to those enormous contests, Penrith will get to test themselves against middle of the road opposition – sides who can certainly turn it on, but aren’t quite producing complete performances. It’s clear the Panthers are ready to be tested against the better sides but this run of games will give them the opportunity to fine tune things and ensure their fitness peaks when things start to get serious. That’s not to discount the Broncos on Friday. They gave the Roosters a real run
PANTHERS
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for their money last weekend and Adam Reynolds was always going to take time to find his feet before this team became his. It’s all a matter of which Broncos team turns up. If it’s the one that troubled the Roosters, anything could happen here. But if it’s the one that got hammered by the Cowboys a couple of weeks back, the Panthers will turn them into mince meat. I suspect like most teams, they’ll aim up against the Premiers, but once Payne Haas was ruled out this week, my thoughts of a close contest went out the window. After two weeks warming back into things, I’m expecting a real stand-out performance from Nathan Cleary here. Lock him in for a try and perhaps three Dally M points too. Penrith will get home – and they should get the job done easily. Tip: Panthers by 24.
BRONCOS
1 Dylan Edwards
10 James Fisher-Harris
1 Tesi Niu
2 Charlie Staines
11 Viliame Kikau
2 Corey Oates
10 Corey Jensen 11 Kurt Capewell
3 Izack Tago
12 Liam Martin
3 Kotoni Staggs
12 Jordan Riki
4 Stephen Crichton
13 Isaah Yeo (c)
4 Herbie Farnworth
13 Kobe Hetherington
5 Taylan May
14 Mitch Kenny
5 Selwyn Cobbo
14 Ryan James
6 Jarome Luai
15 Scott Sorensen
6 Billy Walters
15 Rhys Kennedy
7 Nathan Cleary (c)
16 Spencer Leniu
7 Adam Reynolds (c)
16 Teui Robato
8 Matt Eisenhuth
17 Jaeman Salmon
8 Keenan Palasia
17 Cory Paix
9 Apisai Koroisau
18 Robert Jennings 19 Chris Smith
9 Jake Turpin
18 Tyson Gamble 19 Delouise Hoeter
31
Friday, April 15, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time
panther rumblings
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WITH THE MASKED PANTHER
DON’T GIVE UP YOUR DAY JOB ! Cleary backs beer: Thank God Nathan Cleary can play footy, because he won’t be signing a record contract any time soon. The champion halfback has joined UFC number three heavyweight Tai Tuivasa and UFC’s Tyson Pedro to star in a rendition of the Australian classic ‘What About Me’ with a surprise star appearance from Shannon Noll. It’s all about promoting Drink West beer, of which Cleary is an investor. Drink West is currently planning to construct a new purpose-built brewery in Penrith.
Nathan Cleary, Tai Tuivasa, Shannon Noll and Tyson Pedro.
! Prowl grows: Panthers on the Prowl is expanding. The club has set up the first satellite ‘Building Young Men’ program in Kiama, capitalising on the success of the program here in Penrith. Former Panthers player Mick Kelly is heavily involved in the program. ! Stadium farewell: The club is starting to put the pieces together for an official farewell to Panthers Stadium on Friday, August 26 when Penrith play the Warriors. With the game kicking off at 6pm, it allows for the potential of some festivities after the match. The team is also likely to wear a heritage jersey for the fixture. While this will be treated as the official goodbye, there’s every chance the team will be back in September for a Home Final. !
Show some respect: A number of journalists were left frustrated at Penrith’s media session at a local swimming centre on Monday. Some of the players acted like they were on school camp and made it difficult for the reporters to do their job. Every journo there was trying to interview players for positive yarns about themselves and the club.
the fundraiser. Simmons (pictured below) is blown away by the support.
! Close to home: New Panthers Chairman Peter Graham will be able to keep a close eye on everything happening at the club. He and his wife Bez are currently living at The Royce. ! Unbeaten Panthers: The TAB has opened a market on when Penrith’s first loss will come. With the competition favourites unbeaten after the opening five weeks, the Storm is rated the best chance of knocking them off at $4.25 in Round 10. They’re $23 to go through the regular season undefeated.
! Backing Royce: A number of NRL legends are supporting Royce Simmons on his fundraising walk from Gooloogong to Sydney next month. A number of fundraising events will be held along the way, including a Barefoot Bowls day, sportsman’s dinner and a golf day. The likes of Brad Fittler, Andrew Farrar, Terry Lamb, Paul Langmack, John Cartwright, Martin Lang, Barry Walker and Steve Carter, among many others, are doing their bit for
! Spotted: Penrith’s coaching staff celebrating the birthday of Kevin Kingston’s wife Melissa at Astina last Friday night. ! Naughty James: It’s been revealed that former Panthers five-eighth James Maloney has been stood down after alleg-
edly testing positive to a banned substance in France. Maloney has been playing with Lezignan in a second tier rugby league competition. He’s waiting for a B sample to be returned before any further action is taken.
! Hungry journos: Good news for reporters putting in the hard yards during matches at BlueBet Stadium. KFC has agreed to keep the media box stocked with delicious food from the Colonel. We know a few journos in particular who will put their hand up to cover Penrith games more regularly now. ! Sad passing: Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Steve Snell, who passed away recently. Steve is credited as Panther number 82, and played with the club in the early 1970s. A funeral service is being held in Minchinbury next Tuesday.
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KENNY FINALLY BREAKS DROUGHT NATHAN TAYLOR
O
ne of the longest try scoring droughts in Panthers history finally ended just before 8pm last Sunday when lovable larrikin and back-up hooker Mitch Kenny crossed the line for his first fourpointer in the NRL. With around 12 minutes remaining on the clock and Penrith well in control of the match, Kenny put the finishing touches on the game when prop and carpool buddy Matt Eisenhuth put him through a hole close to the line. After 41 games in the top grade, the 24-year-old finally got the monkey off his back when he crashed over to score beside the posts. Chatting with Extra Time on Monday at Nepean Aquatic Centre, the Windsor Wolves junior was still on top of the world the following morning. “It feels good, man,” Kenny said with a big smile on his face. “Any way that I can contribute to a win I will and I’m proud of that; to cross the stripe is just another way to do that.” Making Kenny’s first ‘meat pie’ in first grade even more remarkable was the fact it was assisted by the 111kg, 197cm Matt
Mitch Kenny crosses for his first try in the NRL. Photo: NRL Images.
Eisenhuth and not one of the playmakers or backs. “I probably have to thank Eiso for putting me through a hole and all I had to do was
get onto it,” Kenny said. “Never doubt the ‘Eisen-slueth’… he’s a crafty man and makes things happen. Eiso is a very classy player and it’s nice to see
him setting the boys up and it was equally as nice to be on the receiving end of it.” Before his maiden touchdown last Sunday evening, Kenny was sitting fourth among Panthers in the ‘most matches before their first try’ list, with Joel Clinton (80 games), Brad Waugh (48 games) and Matt Goodwin (44 games) ahead of him. Kenny admitted he’d been copping flack from his teammates over the years for failing to get off the nudie run each season. “I cop it all the time, I always get stick for it,” he said. “I think I’ve been knocked back by The Bunker once or twice, but yes this try was well overdue… I certainly took my time.” Thanks to Kenny’s ‘heroics’ late in the game, Penrith notched up their fifth consecutive win to remain the only unbeaten side in the NRL this season. While the 32-12 scoreline suggests the reigning Premiers had a fun night out, the Bulldogs – featuring several former Panthers – put up one hell of a fight at CommBank Stadium. “The Dogs came out and played really well. They were really tough, really physical and stayed in the fight for a long time,” Kenny said. “I think it’s a sign of things to come for them. They’ve had their troubles, but I think they are on the up.”
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 15, 2022
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Friday, April 15, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time
34
feature
CLEARYS SIGN DEAL OF A LIFETIME NATHAN TAYLOR
P
enrith’s long-term future is in very safe hands, with star halfback Nathan Cleary and head coach Ivan Cleary committing to the defending Premiers until the end of 2027. After a month of “very easy negotiations” between the pair, their management, and the club, the Clearys will remain at the foot of the Mountains for at least the next five seasons. Ivan was already contracted for the 2023 NRL season but has extended his deal for a further four years, while superstar son and Panthers co-captain Nathan extended his deal for a further three years, having already been committed to the club for the coming two seasons. “At a Board meeting in February, the Board asked me to start negotiations with Ivan and his management and Nathan and his management to extend their contracts… so I started negotiations in early March and we finished those negotiations at the end of March – they were very easy negotiations,” Panthers Group CEO, Brian Fletcher said at Wednesday morning’s announcement. “I must thank Ivan and Nathan, they went into those negotiations with their management with the spirit of knowing that we had a salary cap that we had to abide by and we had a soft cap as well. “I’d be certain if both gentlemen went on the open market, they’d probably secure bigger salaries than what they’ve agreed to at Panthers, but they wanted to stay. It was an easy process and if all negotiations were like that, it would be great.” After winning the 2021 Premiership and starting this season undefeated, Wednesday’s announcement would’ve been music to the ears of Panthers supporters far and wide. Nathan, who was named Clive Churchill Medallist in last year’s Grand Final and played 122 first grade games for the club,
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, Chairman Peter Graham and co-captain Nathan Cleary. Photo: Melinda Jane.
said Penrith’s been his home since he was 14-years-old and he never considered playing anywhere else. “It only hit me last night that I was actually able to do this and how grateful I was for the club to offer this contract to me,” the 24-year-old said. “It’s home for me and it’s the only place I wanted to be, so as soon as I found out about the contract extension, I wanted to get it done straight away. “I’m grateful for the club for what they’ve done for me – developing me and turning me into the player I am today. I’ll always be proud to say I’m a Panthers player and that’s ‘til the end, really.” Currently the club’s longest serving coach, Ivan has been an integral member of the Panthers since first joining the club in 2012 for four seasons, before returning in 2019 to
lead the club to back-to-back Grand Finals and a Premiership. Ivan said rumours of him potentially hanging up the clipboard at the end of his current deal were off the mark, stating the good times far outweigh the bad. “There’s definitely times you wonder why you do it… but the good times are incredible,” the 51-year-old admitted. “One thing about me is, I love sport, I love being involved in teams, and I get to do that every day here. I get to come out and hang with these young guys and you’ve all seen the way they express themselves and love life… it makes you feel younger.” With Nathan and Ivan’s long-term futures now secured, attention will soon turn to Penrith’s other off-contract stars including Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o and Liam Martin.
Ivan Cleary and Nathan Cleary at the Panthers Academy on Wednesday. Photo: Melinda Jane.
The club knows keeping the band together will be difficult due to salary cap constraints, but they are hoping the players will consider taking pay cuts, much like Nathan has, to remain a consistent force in the NRL for many more years to come. Ivan said he and Nathan had a “frank conversation” recently about taking less money than what he could get on the open market, to help shore up the club’s other off-contract talent. “We’ve also had this conversation with other players over the last couple of years about the situation we are in, where we can’t keep the team together, so it’s not just Nathan,” he said. “That’s going to be a conversation we’re going to have to keep having. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t.”
R
lang on league with Peter Lang
oyce Simmons is a legend, simple as that. The definition of a ‘legend’ is ‘an extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field’. If we look at the definition more closely, then Simmo ticks every box. Royce Simmons is ‘famous’ for playing rugby league for the Panthers from 1980-1991 before coaching them from 1994-2001. It’s true he spent a few years away at the Tigers, he then went to the UK to coach St Helens before making his way back home to Penrith again. As a player Royce is ‘notoriously’ known for two famous quotes. One, when he told a reporter he was going to train on Christmas Day. When asked, why Christmas Day, he said because he knew his rival for the Kangaroo hooking spot would not train on that day, thus giving him an advantage. That was Simmo, always thinking outside the box. However, the line that most Panthers fans will remember him for is the classic, “I can’t wait to get back to Penrith and
Royce Simmons is an undisputed Panthers legend.
have a schooner with you all!” after winning the city’s maiden Premiership in 1991. Legend has it, he was still having drinks with supporters some 30 years later. Now I had the absolute privilege to work alongside Royce Simmons between 1997 and 2001 when I worked in the club’s media department. As a coach, just as a player with Simmo, what you saw is
what you got. A no-nonsense, no bulls**t person who cared about his players and staff. To this day I still tell the story of taking a bus trip while sitting next to Simmo on the way to Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide to take on the Rams. I remember talking to him about the match, I also remember Penrith losing the match quite convincingly. I was never allowed to talk to
Royce before a game ever again. So I admit I felt a tinge of sadness when I first heard that he had been diagnosed with Dementia. I smiled though when I read he was unselfishly going to raise funds to help facilitate research for the disease. That’s Royce, always thinking of others first. Royce’s Big Walk, to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease, will begin in his home town of Gooloogong in Central NSW on May 17. Simmo will then walk almost 300km before his 10-day journey ends, in the place where he played in front of Panthers fans for over 11 seasons, at Penrith Stadium on Friday, May 27. Simmo’s long journey will finish where his rugby league career began, a place I’m sure he’ll never forget. No matter how much of his memory this horrible disease takes. A place he’ll always remember, a place called... home. To donate money towards Royce’s Big Walk, visit www. memorywalk.com.au/event/ royces-big-walk.
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 15, 2022
THE PANTHERS LEGEND WHO ALWAYS PUTS OTHERS FIRST
L Shop 3B 513-519 High Street Penrith [entry via Station Street]
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Friday, April 15, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time
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DOB: 14/11/97 | HEIGHT: 182CM | WEIGHT: 92KG | POSITION: HALFBACK | NRL DEBUT: 2016
NATHAN CLEARY
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 15, 2022
37
Friday, April 15, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time
RIVALRY RUNS DEEP WHEN IT COMES TO BATTLE OF THE WEST I
matt russell Brought to you by
love getting too far ahead of myself, so here it goes again. Put Friday, May 6 in your diary and make sure you’re free from 7.55pm onwards. It’s the night Penrith plays Parramatta for the first time this season. If you want to see a man get really passionate about rugby league rivalry, ask Panthers Premiership-winning captain Greg Alexander what it meant to him when he played Parramatta. Then sit back and enjoy the stories laced with real feeling and emotion. I’ve been lucky to do it often. This year the western Sydney rivals are drawn to meet twice in the regular season – and plenty suspect again during the Finals. Firstly, it’s Round 9 at Penrith, then Round 20 (July 29) at Parramatta. The games are either side of Origin and therefore unaffected by representative absences. Hallelujah! The Panthers’ unbeaten start to the season stretched to five games when they rolled past Canterbury 32-12 last Sunday night. The Premiers have not been kept under 20 points this season and have enjoyed double figure winning margins against every opponent except St George-Illawarra (20-16). They have the best points differential in the competition. It begs the question, when is their first loss going to come? It would be a brave person to
Jarome Luai.
suggest a stumble in their next three games against Brisbane, Canberra and Gold Coast (although, beware the commentator’s mock). Then they play the Eels.
Parramatta continued their near perfect start when they held off the Titans last Saturday 26-20. They’d be unbeaten too if it wasn’t for a late try and winning conversion after full-time from the Sharks’ Nicho Hynes. Their attack has been blindingly brilliant in scoring more points through the first five games than anyone. The comment from coach Brad Arthur post-game on Saturday was telling; “The boys came into the sheds after the game and they were pretty sombre. I said we’ve got to enjoy winning… like they’re setting some high standards and expectations… I’m really proud of that performance.” The Eels meet Wests Tigers, Newcastle and North Queensland in the next three games and ON FORM won’t lose any. Then it’s on to the Panthers. Luai and Cleary versus Brown and Moses. Gutherson at the other end of the field to Edwards. Paulo and Papali’i thundering in the middle with Fisher-Harris and the Fijian Viliame Kikau. Remember their most recent meeting – an 8-6 semi final win to Penrith that knocked Parramatta out of the 2021 race in a game that was maybe the best of the season. Brandy’s rivalry chat is looming large again. There’s still plenty of footy to be played before Round 9, but who can blame anyone for getting a bit ahead of themselves the way Penrith and Parramatta are playing right now.
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PD
W
D
L
B
F
A
+/-
PTS
1
Panthers
5
5
0
0
0
144
66
+78
10
2
Sharks
5
4
0
1
0
121
56
+65
8
3
Storm
5
4
0
1
0
139
74
+65
8
4
Eels
5
4
0
1
0
150
104
+46
8
5
Roosters
5
3
0
2
0
100
84
+16
6
6
Sea Eagles
5
3
0
2
0
86
78
+8
6
7
Warriors
5
3
0
2
0
95
90
+5
6
8
Cowboys
5
2
0
3
0
96
77
+19
4
9
Rabbitohs
5
2
0
3
0
82
80
+2
4
10 Titans
5
2
0
3
0
98
106
-8
4
11
Knights
5
2
0
3
0
72
96
-24
4
12 Broncos
5
2
0
3
0
65
96
-31
4
13 Raiders
5
2
0
3
0
76
122
-46
4
14 Dragons 15 Bulldogs 16 W. Tigers
5 5 5
1 1 0
0 0 0
4 4 5
0 0 0
82 40 42
133 109 106
-62 -69 -64
2
ROUND 6 V
Thursday, April 14 7.50pm GIO Stadium
V
Friday, April 15 4.00pm Accor Stadium
V
Friday, April 15 7.55pm BlueBet Stadium
V
Saturday, April 16 5.30pm 4 Pines Park
V
Saturday, April 16 7.35pm AAMI Park
V
Sunday, April 17 2.00pm SCG
V
Sunday, April 17 4.05pm WIN Stadium
IS THIS YOU YOU? U? 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.
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Face In Th e Crowd
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Monday, April 18 4.00pm CommBank Stadium
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Friday, April 15, 2022 « the western weekender • extra time
the western weekender • extra time » Friday, April 15, 2022
MIXED RESULTS FOR PANTHERS IN HIGH SCORING ENCOUNTERS A
lower grades report with Lachlan Jeffery @LachlanJeffery
strong second half and starring performance by Sunia Turuva put the Penrith Panthers back in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup winner’s list against Canterbury at Belmore Sports Ground. It was a poor start from the Panthers, with ill-discipline gifting the Bulldogs plenty of field position, taking a 12-0 lead after 18 minutes. J’Maine Hopgood was sin binned for repeated infringements shortly after, however desperate defence from the Panthers prevented further points. Penrith’s discipline improved, allowing them to build attacking pressure. A barnstorming charge by Liam Henry in the 30th minute finally got them on the scoreboard. Kurt Falls then found the tryline when he backed up some good second phase play. From the next set, a shift saw Thomas Jenkins race down the edge and score behind the posts, giving the Panthers an 18-12 lead that they took to half-time. The break didn’t stop the Panthers’ momentum, as Eddie Blacker crashed over from close range shortly after the resumption. Strong defence on their own line protected the Panthers’ lead, which was rewarded at the other end when Sean O’Sullivan scored in his first appearance in the competition for the season. Canterbury scored immediately after
Eddie Blacker grabbed a try for Penrith last weekend.
thanks to a Penrith error, but solid defence allowed the Panthers to defend their 30-16 lead to the end. The Panthers Jersey Flegg side were unable to get back into the winner’s circle, losing an end-to-end match against the Bulldogs 32-28. An inability to defuse kicks hurt the Panthers in the first half as the Bulldogs quickly raced out to a 16-6 lead. However, late tries to Ativalu Lisati and Isaiah Iongi brought the score line back
to 16-all at half time. Daniel Sykes put the Panthers in front early in the second half when he backed up an offload, but the scores were level again shortly after when the Panthers failed to defuse another attacking kick. A deft chip by Niwhai Puru saw William Fakatoumafi snatch Penrith’s lead back before Canterbury went the length of the field off a Panthers kick. The Bulldogs split the Panthers defence again minutes later to take back the lead.
my panther memories
Tuesdays 7:00pm-8:00pm What is your greatest Penrith Panthers memory? Every game is the best! Stand up, flags up; the crowd cheering and booing; the atmosphere; and the smile on everyone’s face when we win. I love how excited my kids get when we are up and close to the field and the players see us cheer.
Why was this memory so important to you? They are all special and my kids’ happiness is the most memorable from every / any game How long have you been supporting the Panthers? Since 1986, when I moved to Australia.
SUBMIT YOUR MEMORY – EMAIL INFO@WESTERNWEEKENDER.COM.AU
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NAME: KAREN BEATTIE | SUBURB: SOUTH PENRITH
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