Extra Time October 16 2020

PRELIMINARY FINAL SHOWDOWN

Ivan’s

WAYNE’S WORLD CLEARY POISED TO TAKE DOWN THE SUPER COACH FULL COVERAGE OF PANTHERS V RABBITOHS INSIDE

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Friday, October 16, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

the final word

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, October 16, 2020

match preview

Dylan Edwards and Nathan Cleary celebrate. Photo: NRL Images.

TROY DODDS

T

he talk is almost over. The nerves?

They’re at fever pitch.

It’s games like this that every sports fan dreams of, but for one set of supporters, this Saturday night’s Preliminary Final between Penrith and South Sydney will end as a nightmare. For the other fans, the magic of Grand Final week will commence almost immediately.

The Panthers and Rabbitohs meet in a Finals match for the first time, and it’s a mouth- watering contest – the recordbreaking Panthers, who have dropped just one match all year, up against the red hot Rabbitohs, who have charged into premiership contention on the back of an incredible three weeks of attacking football.

Don’t let anyone tell you this is a sure thing for either team. Preliminary Finals don’t work that way – this will be a close contest, with both teams putting everything on the line as they chase the prospect of a Grand Final appearance.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 | 7.50PM | ANZ STADIUM | REFEREE: GERARD SUTTON It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of the Rabbitohs. They piled on the points against the Roosters, Knights and Eels and looked anything but a team that finished sixth on the ladder and lost to the Bulldogs just a month ago.

But it’s important to break down those wins.

The Roosters rested a number of players, and were clearly not switched on that night at ANZ Stadium. Perhaps the first cracks were starting to appear in their armour as their ageing squad limped to the end of the season.

The Knights were awful at the back end of their campaign, essentially making up the numbers in the top eight, and despite taking an early lead offered little for much of the game in the first week of the Finals.

And the Eels? They peaked long ago, and after a disrupted week with injuries and Michael Jennings’ suspension, couldn’t aim up when the Rabbitohs put the pedal down last Saturday night.

You can only play what’s in front of you, but let’s not suggest that Souths’ form line blows Penrith to the status of outsiders for this one.

The Panthers have won 16 games in a row, defied the critics who said they’d fall over in the Finals and now find themselves 80 minutes from a season decider.

That can be too easily forgotten when you watch the week two Finals games and focus on those fights for survival rather than those who have already arrived at the destination the others were trying to get to.

There’s plenty working in Penrith’s favour this weekend, but nothing more than the week off. Given no team has had a break since the competition resumed on May 28, the benefit of sitting back and taking a breath, as well as fixing up any niggling injuries, will be of monumental benefit to both Melbourne and the Panthers.

I don’t believe Penrith will leak in

PANTHERS

defence like the Roosters, Knights and Eels did against the Rabbitohs – it just wouldn’t line up with the team’s defensive performances all season, albeit the Roosters did rattle the cage in week one of the Finals.

The loss of Viliame Kikau is significant, but Kurt Capewell is a more than adequate replacement and brings plenty to the match in his own right.

Complacency won’t get the Panthers – they aren’t acting like a team that will fall into that trap – but experience at this level may. Souths have been here for the last two years, and some would suggest destiny is calling for them to go one step further.

Penrith will need to be as good if not better than they have been all season, and I think they will be – Ivan Cleary will have them prepared better than perhaps any other Finals team he’s coached. This is his time, and Penrith’s time.

Tip: Panthers by 8.

RABBITOHS

1 Dylan Edwards

10 James Fisher-Harris

1 Corey Allan

2 Josh Mansour

11 Kurt Capewell

2 Alex Johnston

11 Jaydn Su’A

3 Brent Naden

12 Liam Martin

3 Campbell Graham

12 Bayley Sironen

4 Stephen Crichton

13 Isaah Yeo

4 Dane Gagai

13 Cameron Murray

5 Brian To’o

14 Tyrone May

5 Jaxson Paulo

14 Mark Nicholls

6 Jarome Luai

15 Spencer Leniu

6 Cody Walker

15 Liam Knight

7 Nathan Cleary

16 Moses Leota

7 Adam Reynolds (c)

16 Jed Cartwright

10 Thomas Burgess

8 James Tamou (c)

17 Zane Tetevano

8 Tevita Tatola

17 Keaon Koloamatangi

9 Apisai Koroisau

18 Mitch Kenny 19 Dean Whare

9 Damien Cook

18 Steve Marsters 19 Hame Sele

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Friday, October 16, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

panther rumblings

WITH THE MASKED PANTHER

RELAXED VIBE CONTINUES !

This photograph from Panthers training on Monday shows you just how relaxed the squad is heading into Saturday night’s Preliminary Final against Souths.

It’s not complacency and it’s certainly not the players being over- confident, it’s just the way this squad has been all year – a tight unit that chooses to avoid the stresses and complexities that can often come with top level sport. You’d be concerned if the side looked any different this week given this has been their attitude all season.

Josh Mansour, Brian To’o and Nathan Cleary relax at training on Monday.

Photo: Megan Dunn.

!

Panthers back- up fullback Caleb Aekins is close to finalising a deal that will see him move to the nation’s capital next season. The 22- year- old made his debut for the Panthers in 2018 and while he’s been given a few opportunities in the top grade, including a handful of games this year, he’s stuck behind first choice fullback Dylan Edwards. While Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has the fullback position sewn up in Canberra, Aekins is hoping to develop his game under coach Ricky Stuart.

!

The rugby league media has had Jack Hetherington heading to almost every NRL club at some point this year. In the end, he’s landed at Canterbury with the deal officially done on Wednesday.

!

Spotted: Leading Panthers fashion icon James Fisher- Harris wearing socks with thongs at training this week.

!

There’s plenty of talk that this Saturday night’s Preliminary Final will be an Origin audition for Stephen Crichton.

There’s word around the traps that Blues coach Brad Fittler is keen to see how Crichton goes against Souths counterpart Campbell Graham. Neither would let New South Wales down in November.

Monday. Nathan Cleary, Ivan Cleary and Jarome Luai also made themselves available for TV interviews last weekend. Kurt Capewell also fronted up for an interview on 2GB on Monday night.

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The Panthers have made some slight changes to their bubble arrangements, with talented club photographer Jeff Lambert now in the tight-knit group.

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The Panthers have been soaking up the attention that comes with being on top of the table. It would be easy for the club to carefully manage media appearances or demand interviews take place over Zoom, but instead, the entire squad was made available to journalists in person on

as stand- alone premiership favourites.

Sportsbet has Ivan Cleary’s side at $2.70 to win the competition, slightly ahead of Melbourne at $2.80. Canberra and Souths are both at $7.00.

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All the talk might be about Souths this week but the bookies still have Penrith

The Panthers are holding a Grand Final Luncheon at the club on Friday, October 23. ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys will be the guest of honour while former premiership winners Craig Gower and Royce Simmons will also be in attendance. The luncheon will be going ahead even if the Panthers don’t make the big one. If they do, it’ll be an incredible lead-in to the big

day. Corporate partners have been sent details regarding ticketing for the lunch.

!

I’m hearing plenty of fans had trouble getting tickets to this weekend’s Preliminary Final. It was a mixture of people not reading instructions correctly and Ticketek’s general incompetence, which we’ve all talked about for years. I actually had to ring Ticketek the other day to make an enquiry about a ticket and they won’t even take your call these days. They suggest you should reconsider your need to call, then hang up on you. What a way to treat your customers.

!

Heard a whisper about the Panthers?

I’m not good at keeping secrets but I do protect my sources. Email maskedpanther@westernweekender.com.au.

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, October 16, 2020

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KURT IS MORE THAN CAPE-ABLE NATHAN TAYLOR

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0 minutes of teamwork is standing in the way of Penrith and their first Grand Final appearance in 17 years, according to Panthers back- rower Kurt Capewell.

The 27-year-old, who has played in two Preliminary Finals with the Cronulla Sharks, believes his side will be celebrating on Saturday night if “teamwork” becomes the key ingredient.

“We’ve got a really good group of blokes; we all get along unbelievably well. I think teamwork and playing the full 80 minutes is what will win it for us,” he said.

After spending much of the season on the sideline with injury, Capewell will be thrust into the spotlight in a big way tomorrow night, filling the huge boots left behind by none other than Viliame Kikau.

With the Fijian powerhouse serving a one- match suspension for a Dangerous Throw, Capewell has had the last fortnight to prepare himself for the enormous task at hand. While he admits he doesn’t offer the barnstorming runs and sheer brilliance that Kikau does in attack, he said he will be able to strengthen Penrith’s shaky left side defence.

“I might not offer as much attackingwise as Kiks, but I’ll be able to help out Romie (Jarome Luai) in defence,” he said.

“I’m confident we will still perform well without Kiks, he is a big loss for us but having that weekend off and that extra week to prepare has definitely helped me.”

While Capewell has tasted both Preliminary Final victory and defeat, he’s yet to experience an NRL decider after his previous club, Cronulla, left him out of their 2016 Grand Final team.

The Queenslander said it will be a “dream come true” to play next Sunday night at ANZ Stadium, but his side will need to get past the toughest, most unpredictable game of the year first.

“Anything can happen in Prelim Finals, it’s do- or- die, so every team’s willing to throw the ball around if they’re chasing points and that’s when some teams are at their most dangerous,” he said.

“If you prepare well enough and you prepare right, you shouldn’t be too nervous. You just have to trust your preparation and trust that the work you’ve done throughout the week is going to get you through the game.”

Penrith’s opponents, South Sydney, are currently riding the crest of a wave – scor-

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Kurt Capewell is very confident of victory this Saturday night. Photo: Megan Dunn. ing a whopping 144 points in their last three matches. While the Rabbitohs boast arguably the NRL’s best attack at present, the Panthers ended the regular season with the best defence.

Capewell said if Penrith’s forward pack stand up on Saturday evening, they’ll be popping champagne at full-time.

“I think our forward pack is the best in the comp,” he said.

“If we can stick to our job, complete and do everything right, we’ll go straight through their middle.

“I’m sure if our defence holds up against their attack, then I don’t think they can defend our point scorers.”

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Friday, October 16, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

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Why painful memories of 2014 won’t stop the 2020 Panthers

lang on league

with Peter Lang

J

osh Mansour is the only player who was part of the Penrith side which last made and ultimately lost the Preliminary Final 18-12 in 2014.

This is but one reason why history will not repeat itself on Saturday night when the Panthers take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the chance to progress to the 2020 NRL Grand Final.

With Mansour being the sole survivor from that team, there are no scars for the remaining 16 players to take into the encounter. For the record, the side which took to the field that day against the Dogs was: Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Dean Whare, Jamal Idris, Dallin WateneZelezniak, Will Smith, Jamie Soward, Sam McKendry, James Segeyaro, Brent Kite, Sika Manu, Matt Robinson, Adam Docker.

Int: Nigel Plum, Jeremy Latimore, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Lewis Brown.

A handy side but one also missing some of its most experienced players through injury including Bryce Cartwright, Kevin Kingston, Peter Wallace, Tim Grant, Elijah Taylor and Tyrone Peachey.

In 2020, apart from Viliame Kikau being suspended, the Panthers are at full strength and the combinations are set.

Unlike the team above, this year Penrith will have their first choice ‘spine’ available to start the game.

More importantly, we also have the same coach in Ivan Cleary guiding this 2020

What caught my eye last week...

Last weekend the two Finals games flowed nicely and there were no major refereeing decisions that cost any team the game.

There has been a noticeable improvement in the standard of refereeing over the last two weeks.

Here’s hoping that the outcome of the two Finals games this weekend are once again decided by the players.

My tips for the week...

Panthers to defeat the Rabbitohs and Storm to beat the Raiders to both qualify for the 2020 NRL Grand Final at ANZ Stadium next Sunday.

Josh Mansour is the lone survivor of the 2014 Penrith Panthers. team, just as he did in his third season with Penrith in 2014.

That season, Cleary won Dally M Coach of the Year for guiding a young, largely inexperienced side with a sprinkling of veterans to the second last weekend of the NRL season.

In 2020, Cleary is a frontrunner to win

the Dally M Coach of the Year for coaching a young, largely inexperienced side with a sprinkling of veterans to (hopefully) the 2020 NRL Grand Final.

Cleary may be the same coach but he’s different as well. He’s also the reason why history won’t repeat itself again this Saturday night.

The final word...

Former Panthers and Roosters centre and current Eel Michael Jennings may have played his last game of rugby league.

He faced a rude awakening last Saturday morning when officials from Sports Integrity Australia informed him at 6am that he had returned a positive test result for banned ‘steriod based’ substances Ligandrol and Ibutamoren.

He was immediately slapped with a provisional suspension until his second sample is tested.

Jennings has since professed his innocence, I hope the second sample proves his claim.

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, October 16, 2020

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MANSOUR EYES FIRST DECIDER

Veteran Panthers winger Josh Mansour is desperate to play in his first Grand Final this season. Photo: NRL Images.

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ong- time Panthers winger Josh Mansour knows he may not have many more opportunities to play in a Grand Final. That’s why Saturday night’s game against South Sydney is the most important of his life.

While many of his teammates are only beginning their careers and will likely have several chances to challenge for a title, the 30-year-old stalwart doesn’t have that same luxury as he enters his twilight years.

“I’m not going to lie… it’s crossed my mind. Looking at the group we have the average age is 24- 25, so they have their whole careers ahead of them. For me and a couple of the senior boys, it’s just a natural way for us to think,” the 156-game veteran said on Monday.

“I know I don’t have that much time left in the NRL, but I’m not really thinking about that right now.

“You just have to appreciate the opportunity in front of you, there’s nothing I take for granted for what’s happened this year with us.”

While some clubs – including this weekend’s opponents Souths – are involved in Preliminary Finals year after year, the Panthers haven’t appeared in a Grand Final qualifier since 2014.

As it happens, Mansour is the only surviving player from the ‘patched up’ Panthers side that went down to the Canterbury Bulldogs 18-12.

Mansour said he remembers that heartbreaking loss on September 27, 2014, like it was yesterday.

“I remember it all… it was a disaster,” he told Extra Time.

“I remember we were pretty confident heading into the game. No disrespect to the Bulldogs, but I thought we had the better team on the day but they were resil-

ient and ended up holding us out to get the win.”

Just like they did six years ago at ANZ Stadium, Penrith will go into tomorrow’s night clash against the Rabbitohs as favourites and with the same coach in Ivan Cleary.

Mansour said Cleary’s been monitoring every member of his roster very closely this past week, looking out for one thing in particular.

“He’s looking for complacency and none of the boys have been showing that,” he said.

“We didn’t want to take our foot off the pedal during the week off, so we trained really hard. In fact, one of the toughest sessions we’ve done all year was on this paddock (Panthers Stadium) last week.

“Again, it’s just all about training hard, keeping the momentum rolling and the biggest thing… not getting complacent.”

While Panthers supporters have been feeling anxious, bordering on sick, all week, the players are thankfully in a much more positive mindset ahead of tomorrow’s blockbuster.

“I haven’t seen any nerves to be totally honest,” Mansour said.

“Everyone’s just so happy and excited – that’s the main emotions I’ve been seeing.

“It’s been a good couple of days to relax and refresh the body, now it’s back to work and hopefully we can get the result on the weekend.”

If Penrith do manage to knock off the Rabbitohs on Saturday, expect a monster game from Mansour who’s prepared to leave nothing left in the tank.

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Friday, October 16, 2020  the western weekender • extra time

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Friday, October 16, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

preview

CAN RAIDERS TOPPLE STORM? TROY DODDS Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders Friday, October 16, 7.50pm Suncorp Stadium

S

uncorp Stadium is the unlikely host of the first of the Preliminary Finals this weekend, with the Melbourne Storm taking on the Canberra Raiders in what promises to be one of the great forward battles of the season.

These two sides will likely bash each other into oblivion, much to the delight of the team who the winner gets to play in next weekend’s Grand Final.

When you’ve got the likes of Nelson Asofa- Solomona, Felise Kaufusi, Josh Papalii and Joseph Tapine on the field at the same time, there’s no question the dressing room will be littered with bruises after the full-time siren.

Spoiler alert: At the bottom of this

preview I tip Melbourne, purely based on the fact that they’ve had the week off and I believe that’s a significant plus given the challenging nature of the 2020 season.

However, I can make one hell of an argument against myself – because I like this Canberra team a lot.

They play with an energy and a spirit that you just fall in love with, and the fact they lost last year’s Grand Final and are now in the “you have to lose one to win one” cycle is significant.

The Raiders ooze class all over the field – whether it’s the strength of Charnze Nicoll- Klokstad at fullback, the special talents of Jack Wighton in the halves or the strength of that wrecking ball Papalii, there’s enough out there to convince anyone that Ricky Stuart’s side is capable of winning the premiership.

But to do so, they have to get past the professionalism of Melbourne. There is no question marks over the Storm’s experience or preparation. They get the job done time and time again.

Joseph Tapine played well for Canberra against the Roosters. Photo: NRL Images.

With the added mission of sending Cameron Smith out a winner – given his retirement announcement seems imminent – the Storm will be hard to dismantle

on Friday night. If anyone can do it, it’s these Raiders – but they’ll need a lot to go their way.

Tip: Storm by 4.

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y co-host on ‘NRL Tonight’ Mark “Spudd” Carroll knows a thing or two about winning Preliminary Finals.

He played in three and won them all.

It begged the question, what’s the key to being successful this weekend?

He warned against getting carried away by big- game excitement, stressed not to look ahead to Grand Final week, and said to ignore the opposition. Just play your own game as best as you can for as long as you can.

Then he surprised me. “I think the goal kickers will play a huge role. They’re so important.”

What? The goal kickers? Not the lunatic front-rowers like you Spudd? Or the workaholic back-rower? Or the athletic outside backs? Or the finishers on the wings? Or the conductors through the spine?

“They’re all important but you want to be going up by six, not four,” he said.

And you want to be levelling a game at 20- all, rather than watching the opposition pounce on a miss to make it 26- 18.

Sorry Eels fans.

So, I asked Spudd, of the kickers left, who would you want kicking for your life.

Before I’d finished the questions, the answer was leaving his mouth. “Adam Reynolds”.

The South Sydney halfback has

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, October 16, 2020

Why goal kickers will play a critical role this weekend

Adam Reynolds is one of the best goal kickers in the game. Photo: NRL Images. landed 96 of his 111 attempts this season.

That’s 86 per cent. Only 15 misses all year.

He slotted 6/8 in week one of the Finals.

Then it was 7/7 last week. He’s on a 12-goal streak heading into Saturday night against Penrith. Even from the sideline this season, he’s delivered 29/40.

What a crop of goal kickers are there with him though.

Game, club and future record holders.

Cam Smith is having a great year off the kicking tee at 84 per cent, way above his career average 75 per cent.

Jarrod Croker slots them at 82 per cent this year, slightly up on his career average.

Then there is Reynolds’ opponent this weekend, Nathan Cleary. He’s kicking goals at 79 per cent this season, below

his career average because of his sideline strike rate. He’s 7/16 on the left touchline and the same on the right. Still who would back against a man who has delivered big kicks before and has taken his game to new heights in 2020.

There will be some great tries scored this week and some big kicks at goal. Will a kick decide a game? Spudd thinks so!

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Friday, October 16, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

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BACKING THE PANTHERS

From a complete shutdown to cardboard cutouts and then limited tickets, it’s been a crazy ride for supporters of the Penrith Panthers this year, yea but the highlight. performance of the team has been the highl Here’s a collection of some of our favourite supporter s shots from 2020...

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, October 16, 2020

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Friday, October 16, 2020 « the western weekender • extra time

Why the Roosters’ dynasty is far from over

clinton maynard E

ven the sombrero hasn’t been enough to save the Sydney Roosters this year! Despite the return of the great Sonny Bill Williams and the mid-season theft of Josh Morris, it wasn’t enough to get them past week two of the NRL Finals.

Despite being written off after being hammered by Souths in the final round, after the first 10 minutes against the Panthers there was enough to suggest this champion team could rise again and challenge for the three-peat, but for their handful of fans it wasn’t to be.

This tells us winning three straight competitions is virtually impossible, if any club was positioned to do it for the first time since Parramatta in the 1980s it was this Roosters team. Much has been written about the end of their dynasty, but I think it’s far from over.

The end of their campaign has come about because they are an older team that looked tired and busted. Captain Boyd Cordner appears in desperate need of a rest and I’d suggest the Roosters wouldn’t be too happy about the timing of this year’s Origin series.

The Morris brothers had an outstanding season, but given they are close to 45, the week in, week out nature of a COVID season without byes means they’d be spent.

Sonny Bill Williams is mid-30s and actually played his best game in his cameo comeback in the loss to the Raiders. Jake Friend isn’t getting younger either.

However the dominance of the Roosters is far from over and they have plenty of greenshoots. Sam Verrills proved last season he will make a great replacement for Friend when he retires, he was missed after being injured. Victor Radley was a key figure in last year’s Grand Final but also missed much of the season.

The departure of Cooper Cronk can’t be underestimated given just his presence on the field helped them win the 2018 decider, even though he played with one arm. Some Roosters fans are pointing the finger at his replacement Kyle Flanagan.

Considering he’d only played a handful of games at Cronulla before making the switch he did pretty well. Other than Nathan Cleary, which halfback currently in the comp would adequately replace Cronk?

The Roosters will still be a contender for years to come without having to dig too deep into Uncle Nick’s pockets. The club’s best two players, two men who are regarded as just about the best in the game at the moment, are still young. James Tedesco and Luke Keary have plenty of football left in them and critically they play in the spine. As long as a team has a

The Roosters exited the 2020 Finals in straight sets. Photo: NRL Images. strong spine the rest of the side can be almost interchangeable and the Roosters, particularly with Verrills likely to replace Friend over the coming seasons, will have a strong hooker, half, fullback combina-

tion for years to come. So forget talk that the Roosters time at the top is over and just enjoy the fact we’ll have a different looking Grand Final next weekend. We may not be so lucky in 2021.

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Extra Time Issue Number 2020-028 PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 / troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au WRITERS Nathan Taylor, Clinton Maynard, Peter Lang, Matt Russell SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi / 4722 2998 / chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au

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The career of Parramatta centre Michael Jennings is hanging by a thread after he was provisionally suspended under the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy. The former Panthers star says he will vow to clear his name, but he’s facing a four year suspension if he can’t achieve that. The Provisional Suspension Notice asserts that Jennings returned a positive A-sample for Ligandrol and its metabolite Di- hydroxyLGD- 4033, and also Ibutamoren and its metabolites Desbenzyl Ibutamoren and OH Ibutamoren. Each of those substances are prohibited by the World Anti- Doping Agency (WADA) and the NRL’s AntiDoping Policy. Jennings will have his Bsample analysed and await those results before taking any further steps.

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The Dally M Awards will proceed as a live television special on Monday, October 19 to honour the best players from the most challenging year in the game’s history. The Australian Rugby League Commission has approved the Dally M Awards to continue as a special television event on Fox League with award winners to attend a live broadcast studio event at Fox Sports.

For the first time, the Dally M Team of the Year will be a full 13-man team covering all positions on the field. The broadcast will begin at 7.30pm on Monday.

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ANZ Stadium will host the third

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, October 16, 2020

extra minutes round of the NRLW this Saturday with the Dragons taking on the Warriors and the Roosters clashing with Brisbane. Brisbane and the Roosters are undefeated this season while the Warriors and Dragons are yet to win a game.

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Kalyn Ponga has won the Danny Buderus Medal at Newcastle for the second time. Ponga also won the NRL Players’ Player Award, while Kurt Mann won the Gladiator of the Year Award and Chris Randall was named Rookie of the Year.

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SEN continues to build a strong lineup of talent ahead of its launch in Sydney in the coming weeks. Panthers legend Greg Alexander is now on board, joining Matty Johns as a regular guest on his Friday morning show. Stephanie Brantz has also joined the SEN family, which will be piloted by an Andrew Voss-hosted breakfast show. SEN replaces 2CH on AM1170.

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Gerard Beale has announced his retirement from rugby league. “What a ride the past 12 years have been. So many have only dreamed of playing in the NRL let alone playing for 12 years,” Beale said. “I will be forever grateful to the many people I have met throughout my career.” Beale played close to 200 first grade games for Brisbane, St George- Illawarra, Cronulla and the Warriors.

Career in crisis: Eels centre Michael Jennings. Photo: NRL Images.

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Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson has won this year’s Ken Thornett Medal as the club’s best player this season. The Eels held their presentation night this week at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.

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Roosters halfback Kyle Flanagan could be headed for the exit door, with talk he’ll be released from the Bondi club.

There’s talk that the 22-year-old could link up with Canterbury next year.

Open for Visitors The Nepean Naval Museum opened in 2014 and is the area’s first museum dedicated to the Naval Forces.

The Museum houses a collection of Naval Forces Memorabilia.

Open for visitors on Sundays from 11am to 3pm ~ Gold coin donation for entry ~ COME AND SUPPORT THE MUSEUM For more information phone 0411 138 700

NEPEAN NAVAL & MARITIME MUSEUM 40-42 Bruce Neale Dr Penrith (Next to Nepean Rowing Club)

www.nepeannaval.org.au WW42422

41

Friday, October 16, 2020 « the western weekender

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