To’o sidelined
Panthers winger Brian To’o could be out for around month after suffering a hamstring injury against Souths last Thursday night. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary wouldn’t confirm a timeframe for To’o’s return when asked by reporters on Monday, but I’m told the four week mark is likely.
Panthers turn it on for Yeo
Penrith will go all-out to pay tribute to Isaah Yeo ahead of his 250th NRL game at CommBank Stadium this Friday night.
There will be special video tributes, while Yeo will walk out with his family. The club is also giving away Isaah Yeo footy heads (pictured) with every purchase from the merchandise stands.
One thing that won’t be happening is a massive banner for Yeo to run through – the man himself asked for that idea to be canned.
Sad loss for Panthers family
The matriarch of the Alexander family, Leonie Alexander, passed away last week. Leonie is Greg Alexander’s mother and Mark Geyer’s mother-in-law, so the news has been felt deeply within the wider Panthers community. A funeral service was held yesterday at St Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church on High Street.
Journos’ wager
Two rugby league journalists have placed a bet – involving Krispy Kreme doughnuts of all things – on how the Panthers will finish this season. One veteran writer believes the Panthers will make it as far as a Preliminary Final this year, the other says Penrith will be done and dusted before then. May the best scribe’s prediction win.
OAK takes step out
It’s been one of the great jersey sponsorships but OAK will officially bow out from Penrith’s strip from next season.
The company had already moved on from its major front of jersey sponsorship after the 2023 season, but were still featured on the back of the jersey. 2026 will make the first time in more than a decade that the OAK logo does not feature on the Panthers jersey.
None of this would have come as a surprise to Penrith’s corporate team – OAK had indicated some time ago that they were scaling back their sponsorship commitment. The brand will continue to support some of the club’s community initiatives.
Multicultural Round
The NRL will celebrate Multicultural Round this weekend, paying tribute to the some 65 nations represented across the NRL and NRLW playing squads in 2025. Expect to see special branding and acknowledgements at grounds and as part of broadcasts right across the weekend.
Podcast record
Perhaps an indication of the frustrations many Penrith fans have with the move to CommBank Stadium, a recent special edition of the ‘Tension’s Running High’ podcast focused on the CommBank move and associated issues was the most listened to episode in the show’s history.
Construction begins
Formal construction of the Penrith Stadium project is now underway, following months of work to relocate sewer lines and prepare for the stadium redevelopment. Interestingly, there was no photo opportunity with Premier Chris Minns and a shovel on Monday. In fact, it was a very low-key start to work – announced by local MP Karen McKeown on her Facebook page.
Where’s the skipper?
The official Australian Kangaroos Facebook account posted an ad last week announcing the return of the Ashes, with five Australian players pictured in the promo. The problem? No sign of Isaah Yeo. You’d think the current Kangaroos captain would feature on the promo.
Spotted
Plenty of Panthers fans soaking up country music at the CMC Rocks festival in Queensland last week.
Spotted
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary enjoying a meal with his family at Wests Leagues on Sunday. They then popped over to Campbelltown Stadium to watch Jett Cleary play for the Warriors in the Jersey Flegg against the Tigers. After leading 20-4 at half-time, the Warriors could only manage a 20-all draw in the end.
CommBank conundrum
Here’s an interesting one for you – neither Penrith nor North Queensland have a particularly good record at CommBank Stadium. In fact, both have lost the majority of their games there. The Panthers have won 48 per cent of their matches at the Parramatta-based venue, while the Cowboys have won just 29 per cent of their games.
Spill the tea
I don’t keep secrets but I do protect my sources. If you’ve spotted a Panther out and about, or you want to get some gossip off your chest, email maskedpanther@westernweekender.com.au.
Masked Panther
The Masked Panther is the most mysterious journalist of all. He has the inside word on everything happening in rugby league.