Beers in the sheds, the ‘human alarm clock’ and partying all the way through til sunrise. And that was just the beginning. We go inside Penrith’s premiership party.
Penrith are planning to have a street parade and a party at Panthers Leagues Club to celebrate the NRL team’s premiership win over South Sydney but it’s unlikely to take place until at least November because of the Covid situation.
Penrith CEO Brian Fletcher told The Daily Telegraph about the plan as players and staff are expected to remain in Queensland to enjoy a well-earned break before returning to Sydney.
The news comes as the Panthers partied into Monday morning after their 14-12 win over the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium with enforcer James Fisher-Harris and Nathan Cleary leading the charge, according to try-scoring hero Stephen Crichton.
Players posted photos and videos celebrating on the picturesque Sunshine Coast beach where the club has been based for the past three months.
While Crichton slept, the rest of his teammates were still in their playing kits knocking back beers with the sunrise as a backdrop, and the Provan-Summons Trophy in toe.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of the videos of the boys going hard at the beach, I missed that. I bailed around 5am, most of them were still going,” Crichton said.
“Probably Clez [Cleary] and Fish. He is really quiet but when it comes to partying, especially that we won he’ll be going for days.
“They will be in their playing kit for the next week, they still have their strapping tape on as well.”
Clive Churchill Medallist Cleary posed with his premiership ring, the trophy and the strapping that miraculously kept his dodgy shoulder together over the last eight weeks.
But the celebrations started long before at Suncorp Stadium.
Long after the last of the 39,000 fans left the stadium, Panthers players spilled out onto the turf to enjoy a few drinks on the ground.
It wasn't a dream Panthers fans!
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) October 3, 2021
How they celebrated - party in the rooms and sunrise beers on the beach via @FatimaKdouh_https://t.co/2jMH2z5oYXpic.twitter.com/SjM6XiiLdM
Inside the rooms as the Panthers celebrate THAT winhttps://t.co/2jMH2z5oYXpic.twitter.com/A9uVkbyprO
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) October 3, 2021
The players then continued the party on the team bus for the 80-minute drive back to their hub at Twin Waters where utility Mitch Kenny turned into a human alarm clock.
“Every five minutes it would go quiet because the boys were trying to get some rest, but Mitch was screaming all night,” Crichton said.
“The boys are trying to close their eyes to have little nap but he was rubbing their head and stuff.”
Crichton said he has been taking Facetime calls from family and friends who have been celebrating the grand final win back home in western Sydney.
“I just face timed a few of the boys just then. And I could see coppers [police] behind them trying to let the cars go through,” Crichton said.
“They are all honking their horns. I can‘t explain [the feeling]. It is definitely for them as well.”
When they do arrive home, Jarome Luai is on board with Brian To’o’s plans for a street parade in Mt Druitt.
“I’m going to take it where ever I can, around the whole of Mt Druitt if I can,” Luai said.
“Bizza doesn’t even drive, so I don’t know what car he is planning to take it [the trophy] in.
“We have electric scooters, so we’ll cruise around Mounty for a couple for days.”
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