Just as the Panthers have had a phenomenal season this year, their efforts have been mirrored on the sidelines by the Pantherettes.
Despite being one of the few remaining squads left in the NRL, choreographer Kati Watson said the Pantherettes’ involvement in game days – from performing to meeting the fans – has only grown, citing this year as her favourite yet.
“Being my fourth year running the Pantherettes, I have felt like every year has been sensational, because obviously the Panthers have just done so well and my squad every year has been phenomenal, but there is just something about this year and the 2024 season that has just been so unbelievably indescribable. It’s been a total dream,” she said.
One of the most significant games of the season was their final one at Penrith Park. Having been a Pantherette herself before becoming their choreographer in 2021, Watson said it was completely surreal, and she loved being able to go through it with the squad.
“I’m not going to lie, I definitely shed a few tears the morning of the final home game for Penrith Park, because for me, who used to be a Pantherette myself, I thought, ‘This is where it all began’,” she said.
“The Pantherettes were dressed in different costumes from over the years of the Penrith Pantherettes, and the crowd just loved it.”
It was this game which also led the Panthers into the Finals.
Though for the Pantherettes, who were able to perform at both matches against the Roosters and the Sharks, nerves were well and truly present, the girls couldn’t be more excited to be heading into yet another NRL Grand Final at Accor Stadium this Sunday night.
Whilst much of the squad has been involved in a number of Grand Finals over the years, for second-year Pantherette Maddie Malkoun, it will be her first.
“All the girls talk about is how good it was and how good it is to experience a Grand Final, so I’m just so excited to get that experience and the atmosphere of it all,” she said.
“It’s all just so exciting, and it’s so new.”
Also in her second year as a Pantherette, Summer Stone will be returning for back-to-back Grand Finals, and she couldn’t be more excited.
“Being a Panthers supporter first and their cheerleader second, I definitely am extremely proud,” she said.
“I know there’s going to be a couple of tears on the field. I don’t know when they’re going to come, but I can feel it coming!”
Nine-year veteran Kaylee Burns will be performing in her fifth and last Grand Final with the Pantherettes this year, and is keen to have it all end on a high note after riding the recent wave of success.
“Being with the squad for nine years and doing nine seasons, I think it’s just insane that more than half my time, I’ve been able to experience Grand Finals,” she said.
“I’m really nervous, because I’m like, ‘Can we bring four home?’. But, I’m praying that we can do it, and I’m really, really excited, because this will be the year I hang up my poms. It’s my last season, so I really hope we can finish with a bang!”
Cassidy Pearce
Cassidy Pearce is a news and entertainment journalist with The Western Weekender. A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, she has previously worked with Good Morning Macarthur and joined the Weekender in 2022.