One of the breakout players of the NRL competition this year will be remaining a Panther until at least the end of the 2026 season.
Penrith’s leading try scorer after 18 rounds, Thomas Jenkins, has confirmed he’s sticking around next year after being upgraded from a development player to the Top 30 squad.
It’s been a remarkable and well-documented rise for the 24-year-old winger, who began the year in Ron Massey Cup with St Marys after coach Ivan Cleary gave him a lifeline following his early exit from the Newcastle Knights.
Returning to his hometown of Boorawa in country NSW during the recent bye round, the humble Panther said he was welcomed back home with open arms.
“I went back home to the country to see family and a few mates. I try and get back there a few times a year, but it’s hard when you have a life and a partner back here,” Jenkins told the Weekender.
“My family are super proud of me and the town rallies around me, which is good. There’re not many people back home that get to have this opportunity in the NRL, so it’s cool to just go back and give other kids an insight into what it’s like.”
Another opportunity that Jenkins was afforded recently was the chance of training with the NSW Blues team prior to Origin II in Perth. The youngster was called into Blues camp in the Blue Mountains as a training partner and loved every minute of it.
“That was definitely a surprise,” Jenkins admitted.
“I didn’t find out until after the Tigers game when ‘Spud’ (Shane Elford) asked me how I was feeling and if I wanted to go in and train with the Blues that week. I said, ‘of course’, and so I headed up to Leura for a few days.
“It was such a cool experience! Laurie (Daley) and the team up there were all welcoming and looked after me. It was sick!”
Jenkins returned from his time with the Blues with an extra spring in his step and that was evident during Penrith’s most recent wins against the highly fancied Bulldogs and Warriors.
Jenkins said he can’t stop pinching himself at how his 2025 season is panning out.
“I’m definitely enjoying my footy. This year has been one of my favourite years so far,” he said.
“The goal is to be a regular first grader and I’ve strived for that as such. I spoke earlier in the year that getting the opportunity was so good and I’ve enjoyed it so much, but now it’s more about playing consistent footy – selections will take care of itself.”
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.