NRL rejects the west
I can reveal today that high level approaches were made to the NRL in July about holding official Grand Final fan events in western Sydney, and more specifically Penrith.
With the Panthers on the verge of a fifth straight Grand Final appearance, school holidays scheduled and western Sydney being the home of rugby league’s core fan base, it made sense.
But the NRL chose to ignore the plea, which had the backing of Panthers, and pushed ahead with holding its official Fan Fast at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney this week and a Footy Fest at Bondi Beach on Saturday.
Even if Penrith hadn’t made the Grand Final, holding events in western Sydney should be a key part of the NRL’s strategy. You’ve got prime locations like Parramatta Square, Gipps Street and Tench Reserve to potentially hold massive events.
Grand Final Launch
To top it off, the NRL held its Grand Final Launch at Campbell’s Cove at The Rocks on Monday night, with former winger Josh Mansour Penrith’s representative.
Legends share a brew
Tooheys will continue to be poured at bars at Panthers until 2031 after the club announced it had extended its partnership with Lion for a further seven years.
With a rich history in supporting the club, Tooheys has been a proud partner of the Panthers for over 22 years, and the 2027 season will mark an astonishing 50 years of partnership with the Panthers Group.
“Tooheys has been deeply embedded in the Panthers’ journey for over two decades, and the upcoming 50-year milestone in 2027 is a testament to the strength of our relationship,” Managing Director at Lion Australia, James Brindley said.
“We share a common bond with the club and the Penrith community, and we’re excited to continue supporting the Panthers as they build on their success and inspire the next generation of fans. Good luck to the team!”
The partnership extends across the clubs within the Panthers Group as well as the Pullman Sydney Penrith and Western Sydney Conference Centre. This collaboration, which was announced last Friday, will continue to strengthen the connection between the Panthers and its loyal fan base.
“Our partnership with the Tooheys brand has thrived because of our mutual values, including teamwork, innovation, outstanding results and a dedication to serving our community,” Panthers Rugby League CEO, Matt Cameron said.
“I’d hate to take Tooheys off the tap and put another brand on. We’d probably lose half of our customers, so we can’t afford to do that!” Group CEO Brian Fletcher added.
The new contract was celebrated by club legends Royce Simmons and Steve Carter, who shared a Tooheys at the announcement.
Pretty in pink
The Panthers will wear their pink jersey for the first time in a Grand Final on Sunday night, with Melbourne given the right to play in their home jumper given where they finished on the ladder at the end of the regular season. With the NRL concerned of a clash between the two teams’ playing strips, the Panthers will revert to their pink jersey for the decider.
Spotted
Panthers back-up half-back Brad Schneider heading into Osso at Panthers for dinner on Sunday night.
Three years in Brisbane
The Panthers’ recent deal to play a home game at Magic Round is actually a three-year agreement, meaning the club will host games at Suncorp Stadium in 2025, 2026 and 2027. There is no plan to extend the deal, with the club to return to its usual suite of home games from 2028.
Final look at Accor
Melbourne and Penrith will both hold their Captain’s Runs at Accor Stadium on Saturday, 24 hours out from the big game on Sunday night. Storm coach Craig Bellamy will get the final word, holding his press conference after Ivan Cleary.
Cleary escapes fine
I’m told the NRL was unhappy with the way in which Ivan Cleary addressed last Saturday night’s Bunker blunder in relation to the Sunia Turuva no try, but felt it couldn’t take any action by way of a fine given his core point was right. Head of Football Graham Annesley confirmed on Monday that the try should have been awarded.
Council deserves a wrap
Penrith City Council has been slammed in recent years for being slow off the mark when it comes to celebrating the Panthers. But they deserve to be commended this year – they were on the ball, with free materials available for fans even before the side had made the Grand Final and banners and flags adorning the city.
Magic milestones
It was great to see the respect the Panthers showed Isaah Yeo by allowing him to walk out solo on to Accor Stadium last Saturday night. It was also a terrific milestone for Dylan Edwards – who celebrated his 150th game with his kids on the field after full-time.
Masked Panther
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