Penrith Panthers

Infobox rugby league club
clubname = Penrith Panthers


fullname = Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club
nickname = The Mountain Men, Chocolate Soldiers
short name =
founded = 1964
ground = CUA Stadium Penrith, Sydney
capacity = 21,000
ceo = flagicon|New Zealand Glenn Matthews
mgrtitle = Coach
manager = flagicon|Australia Matthew Elliott
URL = [http://www.panthers.com.au/ panthers.com.au]
league = National Rugby League
season = 2008
position = 12th
homejersey = Penrith Panthers home jersey 2007.svg
awayjersey = Penrith Panthers away jersey 2007.svgThe Penrith Panthers is an Australian professional rugby league football team. The Panthers compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia.

Based in Penrith, New South Wales, 55 km west of the centre of Sydney and at the foot of the Blue Mountains, the Panthers were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition in 1967, predecessor of the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and the current NRL competition.

Penrith struggled for almost twenty years before finally reaching their first finals series in 1985. Penrith achieved their first Grand Final appearance in 1990 but were beaten by the Canberra Raiders 18–14. The next year the Panthers met the Raiders again in the 1991 Grand Final, this time winning the game 19–12. The Panthers most recent premiership achievement was over the Sydney Roosters in the 2003 Grand Final where Penrith were considered 'under dogs' but came out on top with a 18-6 victory.

History

The early years

Varied Penrith teams had played for many years between 1912 and 1966 in the Western Districts League under the control of the Western Suburbs RLFC, in the Parramatta competition after Parramatta was admitted to the NSWRL in 1947, and also in a second-tier Sydney competition introduced by the NSWRL in 1962. By this time a single top level rugby league team had emerged in the Penrith area and in 1964 they became known as the Penrith Panthers. The Panther had been chosen as the Penrith emblem after a public competition won by a graphic artist from Emu Plains named Deidre Copeland.

In 1966 word was out that the New South Wales Rugby League in 1967 would introduce two new teams to the Sydney premiership. There were three teams vying for the two proposed slots, Penrith, Cronulla-Sutherland, and the Wentworthville Magpies. Cronulla-Sutherland had been assured of one place, leaving Penrith and Wentworthville to fight it out for the other place. The NSWRL eventually settled on Penrith due to their location and a win in the 1966 Second Division title.

After admission to the competition in 1967, they promptly came second last on the competition ladder. Penrith struggled for almost 20 years before finally reaching their first finals series in 1985.

The 1990s

Penrith achieved their first Grand Final appearance in 1990 with a team boasting notable players the likes of Greg Alexander and Mark Geyer only to be beaten by the Canberra Raiders 18-14. The next year the Panthers met the Raiders again in the Grand Final, this time winning 19 to 12, including two tries by Royce Simmons the former team captain in his last game. They went on to play Wigan in England for the 1991 World Club Challenge but were beaten by the British champions 21 - 4.

Their reign was short lived as in 1992 tragedy struck the club when the younger brother of Captain Greg Alexander, Ben, died in a car accident. Greg and close family friends Mark Geyer and Brad Fittler left the club soon after as well as coach Phil Gould left mid-way through the 1994 season, to be replaced by Royce Simmons.

The Panthers were coached by former player and club captain Royce Simmons starting with the last six games in 1994 until the end of 2001.

They made the finals during the 1997 Super League season and then again in 2000 in the combined NRL competition.

2000 and onwards

In the year 2001, they came last on the competition ladder. 2001 was Royce Simmons' last season as coach for the Panthers, and he was replaced by John Lang from Cronulla in 2002, where they finished 12th. Their last game of 2002 showed hope as they proceeded to thrash the Northern Eagles, knocking them out of the final eight.

This showed the promise that was to come the next year. With the signing of Preston Campbell and Joe Galuvao, their side fired in 2003. Coming off 3 early season losses, they proceeded to lose only 3 other games for the rest of the competition with the local hero, Rhys Wesser scoring a new club record 25 tries. Penrith finished as Minor Premiers after convincingly accounting for the Parramatta Eels in the last round of competition. In the Finals series Penrith beat the Brisbane Broncos and New Zealand Warriors to reach the Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters.

Penrith, entering the match as underdogs, defeated the Roosters 18-6, with winger Luke Rooney scored two tries. Hooker Luke Priddis received the Clive Churchill Medal. The game is also remembered for a spectacular tackle by Scott Sattler in the 2nd Half Roosters winger Todd Byrne, who was sprinting down the left wing for an almost certain try.

Penrith lost the World Club Challenge in early 2004, with Bradford defeating them 22-4 in sub-zero temperatures.

They did however rally after that loss and once again qualified for the NRL semi-final series by finishing fourth and defeating St George Illawarra in the first week of the semi-finals before being knocked out by the Bulldogs in the Grand Final qualifier two weeks later.

The Panthers then just failed to qualify for the Top 8 in 2005 finishing two points out and in 10th spot on percentages before enduring another below-par season in 2006 this time falling well short of the finals finishing the year in 12th position. The 2007 season turned out to be a poor one for the Panthers, they won only eight games, finished last and "won" the wooden-spoon for the second time in six years after losing to the New Zealand Warriors in the last round of the regular season competition.In 2008 the Panthers improved four spots on their 2007 performance by finishing in 12th spot out of 16 teams in the NRL competition with 10 wins, one draw and 13 losses.

Colours

leagueicon|Penrith Panthers|align=left|size=100Penrith's uniform colours in the 1966 NSWRL Second Division and earlier years were blue and white but due to the Cronulla-Sutherland side registering a predominantly blue jersey design first, and with Newtown, Canterbury, Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta also displaying various shades of blue, Penrith went in search of an alternative. A decision was made to change their colours to Brown with a white V. This decision subsequently earned them the affectionate name of the "Chocolate Soldiers" thanks to radio commentator Frank Hyde who wrote in the Penrith Club journal "these chocolate soldiers from out west - they don't melt!". In 1974 Penrith changed their strip to a jerseys with brown and white vertical bars and again in 1991 they changed the colours to Black with White, Red, Green and Yellow stripes until 2000 when they changed the colours once more to Black, Rust red, Teal green and White.In 2004 the design of the jersey changed once more to its current design. On Thursday, November 23 2006 the club launched a new 'alternate/away' jersey predominately white in colour as a stark contrast to its main design.Just before Christmas 2007 the Panthers launched a new 'home' jersey which is predominately black with light grey claw marks on either side at the front and back.

Penrith Panthers Leagues Club

The Penrith Panthers Rugby League Football Club is the major financier the Penrith Panthers Leagues Club (of the Panthers Entertainment Group). The Panthers Entertainment Group has 14 licensed club sites in NSW - from Port Macquarie on the mid-north coast to Lavington, in the south. The clubs cater for a wide range of activities for members, their families and guests. On July 13, 2007 the Panthers Entertainment Group (PEG) settled with ING Real Estate on the property partnership deal and is now debt free. Fact|date=June 2008

Current squad

As of September 8, 2008:

enior squad 2009

Under 20s Squad 2008:Tinirau Arona, Shane Blackett, Jimmy Brown, Mitchell Calahane, Jarred Cannon, Luke Clydesdale, Lachlan Coote (made first grade debut,(currently out of squad due to injury) ), Tim Glasby, Bradley Goodwin, Wade Graham (made first grade debut,(currently out of squad due to injury) ), Guy Hodgins, Masada Iosefa (made first grade debut,(currently out of squad) ), William Isa, Trent Iselin, Michael Leeds, Travis Marshall, Michael Mate, Sam McKendry(made first grade debut), Matthew Minto, Joel Orton, Joseph Paulo (made first grade debut), Daniel Penese, Joel Romelo, Jarrod Searson, Jesse Sene-Lefao, James Smart, Jamie Theoharous, Junior Tia-Kilifi (Made first grade debut), Sonny Tuigamala, Greg Waddell, Chris Ward and Zoram Watene.

Players not required in any given week in the NRL or U20s competitions will be available to play Premier League or Jim Beam with the Windsor Wolves.

Penrith have already announced changes for their playing roster for next season. The Panthers have signed Centre/Back Rower Gavin Cooper from the Gold Coast Titans, and lost Tony Puletua to St Helens, Luke Priddis to St George Illawarra, Rhys Wesser to South Sydney and Luke Rooney to French Rugby.

Notable players

Notable former players

*Craig Gower
*Greg Alexander
*Mark Geyer
*Royce Simmons
*Brad Fittler
*Ryan Girdler
*John Cartwright
*Tony Puletua
*Tim Sheens
*Luke Priddis
*Scott Sattler
*Peter Mortimer
*Peter Kelly

Panthers Team of Legends

On October 4, 2006 a 40 Year Panthers Legends Team was named.

flagicon|AUS

1 Rhys Wesser

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2 Bob Landers

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3 Grahame Moran

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4 Ryan Girdler

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5 Alan McIndoe

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6 Brad Fittler

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7 Greg Alexander

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8 Terry Geary

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9 Royce Simmons

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10 Tim Sheens

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11 John Cartwright

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12 Bill Ashurst

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13 Colin van der Voort

Replacements
*14 flagicon|AUSCraig Gower
*15 flagicon|AUSBrad Izzard
*16 flagicon|AUSMark Geyer
*17 flagicon|NZLTony Puletua

Coaches

*Leo Trevena - 1967, 1973
*Bob Boland - 1968-1972
*Jack Clare - 1974
*Mick Stephenson - 1975
*Barry Harris - 1975-1976
*Don Parish - 1977-1978
*Len Stacker - 1979-1981
*John Peard - 1982-1983
*Tim Sheens - 1984-1987
*Ron Willey - 1988-1989
*Phil Gould - 1990-1994
*Royce Simmons - 1994-2001
*John Lang - 2002-2006
*Matthew Elliott - 2007-

Team song

"Go the Mighty Panthers" (1990) Sung by Jane Scali

Footnotes

References

*

External links

* [http://penrith.panthers.com.au/ Official Penrith Panthers Web Site]
* [http://www.hawkesburyradio.com.au/Index.cfm?pid=111727 Hawkesbury Radio 89.9FM Broadcaster of Penrith Panthers games]
* [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/index/0,22045,5012662,00.html Daily Telegraph - Penrith Panthers 2007 season feature]
* [http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/YDHPenrithHistory.aspx Penrith Panthers History at yesterdayshero.com.au]

ee also

*National Rugby League