Former Pantherette ties the knot
Jessica Gilarte, who won Big League’s coveted Cheerleader of the Year competition in 2015, was married to her long-time partner Nick last weekend. The former Pantherette tied the knot at Jaspers in Berry in front of family and friends.
Bizarre Buzz
Telegraph journalist Phil Rothfield knows the rumour around Nathan Cleary quitting the NRL and playing in the English Super League is absolute hogwash. And he even checked it with Panthers boss Brian Fletcher and Cleary’s manager, just in case. Both shut it down, but ‘Buzz’ published it on Sunday anyway.
Despite its lack of substance, the story spread like wildfire over the next 24 hours. I’m not having a crack at rumours being published (after all, I often do the same!) but they need to come from at least half-respectable sources if you’re going to publish them, names and all. The Cleary rumours do not.
Ironically, Buzz’s team the Sharks just happens to be playing Penrith this week.
Spotted
Channel Nine NRL commentator Mat Thompson stocking up at Gourmet Meat Co in Emu Heights last week.
Gourmet Meat Co is run by Bill McDeed, a mad Panthers fan and sponsor (pictured below with Jarome Luai). A number of Penrith players use Gourmet Meat Co as their go-to butcher.
Behind the Panthers
It’s great to see so many businesses and schools already getting behind the Panthers ahead of the Preliminary Final this weekend. Nangamay Public School even blared ‘Go The Mighty Panthers’ through its speakers this week. How good.
Busy week ahead
Should the Panthers make the Grand Final with victory over Cronulla on Saturday it will kick off one of the busiest weeks of the year for the club. The good news is the club is used to it.
They’ll get their main media commitments out of the way earlier in the week, and then there’s the Dally M Awards on Wednesday night. The final public commitment will likely be on Thursday before the two competing sides bunker down for final preparations.
Moseley’s double crown
Kierran Moseley’s NRL career never quite took off, but he’s never given up on footy. The hooker played one NRL game for Penrith in 2014 after coming through the NYC system, and was considered one of the real rising stars of the game.
But after playing 20 games with the Titans across 2015 and 2016, he disappeared from the NRL landscape. He’s been plying his trade as captain of the Norths Devils, who won the QLD Cup competition last weekend.
The 30-year-old will now be at Accor Stadium on Grand Final Day as part of the State Championship.
Dream team
Four Penrith players have been included in the Rugby League Players’ Association Dream Team for 2024. Isaah Yeo, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards have all made the team. The Panthers had the most representatives in the 14-man team, which is designed to recognise the best players in each position.
Yeo honoured
As part of celebrations surrounding Isaah Yeo’s record-breaking 244th game for Penrith, a commemorative t-shirt has been released by the club. You can get it from the Panther Shop.
Spotted
Which Panthers official had a heated conversation with a News Corp journalist over recent coverage surrounding the club?
NRLW Finals are here
The NRLW Finals kick-off this weekend with the Broncos taking on the Sharks and the Roosters tackling the Knights. It’s been one of the most competitive NRLW seasons on record. The winners of matches this weekend will go straight through to the Grand Final, which will be played prior to the NRL Grand Final next Sunday.
See you next week
I’ll be back on deck next week regardless of Penrith’s result on Saturday night. Here’s hoping it’s part of the Weekender’s Grand Final commemorative wraparound feature, but if not, there will be a special season review edition of Extra Time and of course here on the Weekender website on Thursday at 7am regardless.
Masked Panther
The Masked Panther is the most mysterious journalist of all. He has the inside word on everything happening in rugby league.