Penrith have cancelled a planned unofficial trial against NSW Cup side North Sydney, and they have their Grand Final opponents from last year to blame.
The Panthers had scheduled an opposed scrimmage this weekend against the Bears, allowing the likes of Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards to have some game time before flying to Las Vegas.
But 2024 runners-up Melbourne have called up a host of Bears players for the NRL’s pre-season challenge, leaving the scrimmage somewhat pointless.
“We wanted a decent quality team, and Norths were the best option,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“[But] we didn’t really get what we thought we were going to get.”
The Panthers informed the Bears today that the match would not go ahead.
Penrith will fly out to America next Thursday, with their next pre-season challenge match not scheduled until Friday, February 21 against Manly.
It means Penrith will face the extraordinary reality of going into a round one match with almost all of the 17 players not having played a minute of pre-season footy.
Only a couple of players who took part in last Saturday’s trial against Canberra would be likely to be named for the Las Vegas season opener.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.