After several years in the wilderness, Penrith have returned to the NSW Premier Cricket Belvidere Cup Finals.
New Penrith first grade coach Shannon Finemore made good on his pre-season promise to be a competitive outfit, with a goal of returning the Cats to the Finals arena.
The young coach delivered, with his troops ending the regular season last weekend in fifth spot with eight wins and four losses to their name.
“I’m ecstatic!” Finemore told the Weekender on Monday.
“I remember when we spoke at the start of the season and my main goal then was to just be competitive and put a bit of respect on our name.
“Finals were always the goal and our aspiration, but I was trying to be realistic and grounded at the beginning there. I think we exceeded most people’s expectations.”
Despite a mixed start to the season, Penrith have been rolling since returning in the New Year, notching up three from five to secure a well-earned place in the post-season.
“I knew we had it in us. It’s just whether in that first year, a bit of a rebuild year, whether we’d click more often than we didn’t. We just found a good patch of form and we’ve capitalised on it,” Finemore said.
“We’re playing really good cricket, it’s a really good team environment, everyone’s happy, and we’re just running off the back of that.”
Penrith’s return to the Finals won’t be an easy one, matching up with second-place St George in this weekend’s Qualifying Final at Hurstville Oval.
Finemore said the two sides have enjoyed numerous battles in recent years, with St George his potential favourite to go all the way.
“Out of all the teams in the top six, I see St George going back-to-back if we don’t knock them over this weekend,” he said.
“St George are a really good outfit and I have a lot of respect for them, but I’m quietly confident without counting my chickens…
“I feel pretty confident against most teams in the top six. It’s just a matter of turning up and not letting the moment get to the boys.”
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.