Josh Mansour opens up on the dice game that has revolutionised Penrith’s 2020 NRL season
Roll a two and you’re getting a fake tan, roll a five and the punishment is far more embarrassing, Josh Mansour reveals his role in the dice game that has the Panthers purring.
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Every Monday, Josh Mansour walks into Panthers Academy with a dice in his pocket.
One which soon enough, starts getting rolled.
Although not by everyone.
No, only those, the winger explains, “who’ve stuffed up”.
On field, off it, doesn’t matter.
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Throw a two?
“That results in you getting a fake tan,” Mansour says. “I’ve already had a couple of this year.”
While a three?
That means you’re shaving — or dying — your hair.
Roll a one, you eat a chilli. A four, and you’re wearing a suit and tie all week.
While for those Panthers who toss up a five, the punishment involves posting a cringey picture of yourself to Instagram — followed by an equally self-deprecating caption.
In fact, the only relief has come for players who throw a six.
“Do that,” Mansour says, “and you pass the punishment to someone else”.
Which certainly seemed fair enough in January, when the winger first drew up his disciplinary game.
But over time?
Well, the dice kept being handed on to the same fella.
Every. Single. Six.
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“Which got ridiculous for me,” Mansour cackles. “Even my car pool buddy Mitch Kenny, he picked me – twice.
“It eventually got so out of hand I scrapped it.”
But only the rule, not the game.
Indeed there isn’t a Panthers player anywhere who wants Mansour’s dice gone.
Which is no surprise when you come to understand what it means.
When you learn how this secret game of chance — created in the pre-season, back before even COVID was a thing — has since unified this team now without loss in 14 straight games.
“Before the year kicked off,” Mansour recalls, “we were all talking about culture, energy, mood, stuff like that.
“So I invented my little game.
“I thought it might help create a bond among the boys – and also some banter at training — while helping us maintain discipline too.
“And as the season has gone on, it’s actually become a big thing for us.
“Created something really special within our group.”
Which again, happens every Monday.
When these unlikeliest of NRL competition leaders gather to name – honestly, and often brutally — those blokes who, put simply, have stuffed up.
“Although you can argue your case,” Mansour explains. “I know I’ve certainly tried a few times.”
Any joy?
“Never stood a chance,” he continues, shaking his head. “Apparently the executioner is always guilty.”
Apart from rolling, every disciplined player is also fined $50.
With a further $250 required if you want to forgo whatever punishment Mansour’s dice choses.
“Although given our pay cuts this year,” he says, “I had to reduce those figures a little”.
But still, you have to pay.
In fact, it was only a few weeks ago ‘The Executioner’ went and used some of the group’s funds to buy a brand new basketball hoop for Panthers Academy.
A present which has not only been in constant use since, but the source of much banter.
“Although when it comes to basketball, I’ll be honest – no idea,” Mansour says.
“But for ages now the boys have been shooting hoops through the chin up bars in our gym.
“That’s all they had.”
So after much bugging, The Executioner went online and bought a $1500 hoop
“Although I shopped around first,“ he says proudly. “Eventually got it from Rebel Sports for $910.
“So it’s taken a while.
“But thankfully the hoop is here now and being used all the time.”
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Stephen Crichton looking to win:
— Roast (@thenrlroast) September 8, 2020
- NRL Rookie
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“Oh, the boys love it,” Mansour continues. “And given how much of my own money is invested, I’ve even started playing too.
“I actually had a game this morning; myself and Jarome Luai, beat James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.
“Fish didn’t like it either, I can tell you.”
Interestingly, Mansour reveals how, initially, he had even bigger plans than just a hoop to impress his teammates.
“Wanted to build an entire half court behind the Academy,” he says. “Even had plans drawn up, then an area marked out.”
So what happened?
“Way too expensive,” he continues. “We didn’t even have enough money for the concrete.
“So I said ‘sorry boys, it will have to be a hoop‘. But you know what, it’s been enough. Perfect.”
Isn’t it what?
More than raising funds, or even enforcing discipline, Mansour’s dice has proved something of an unlikely adhesive for this group with all the diversity of, say, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o.
But this is what the Panthers favourite loves to do.
The moment I laced up my boots as a kid a dream lit up inside me to play in the @nrl
— Josh Mansour (@Josh_Mansour) August 21, 2020
To play 150 NRL games for a club that I love and that handed me my first opportunity is something I’ll forever be grateful for. It hasn’t been the perfect path to get here but nothing ever is. pic.twitter.com/AoNfiMZLv6
“And why I stayed,” he says. ”I’ve always believed this club was going somewhere.
“That the potential was there to create something special.”
Which is why when the Panthers initially went into lockdown, Mansour would Facetime teammates not only while doing chins up and dips, but with oversized metal chains hanging from around his neck.
“Win the morning, win the day!” Mansour would shout down the phone line, creating the type of mental image that cannot go unmentioned now, right?
“What? People are throwing me under the bus,” he laughs.
So it isn’t true?
“Look, I’ll tell the real story,” the winger says, still grinning. “I Facetimed Brent Naden one day while he was home having breakfast, devouring bacon and eggs.
“And, OK, I might’ve carried on a little bit. But that’s just another of my techniques to get the boys motivated.”
Seems to be working too, right?
“Oh, without a doubt,” he says. “Obviously when you’re involved in playing footy, everyone wants to be in a happy, positive environment.
“And while winning helps that, it’s also easier to become complacent when everything is going well.
“So it’s important you keep bringing that energy.”
Hence, those lockdown videos.
Which mixed in with the club’s detailed strength programs, daily zoom meetings, even the provision of ‘Gym Packs’ ensured that standards were met, and kept.
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“As a club, we went to great lengths to keep working throughout that break,” Mansour says. “Great lengths.
“And what was done, it’s crucial to where we are now.
“Nobody dropped off.
“And those (Facetime videos) were just a little part of that.
“I didn’t want any of us having excuses.”
Which brings us full circle to that dice of his.
To a game of chance which, organised by Mansour and overseen by the entire group, no longer has you able to pass on punishments with the roll of a six.
So as for what happens instead?
“All the players line up in tunnel formation,” he grins. “Then, you run the gauntlet.
“Which is good fun.
“And better, can’t be passed off to me.”
Originally published as Josh Mansour opens up on the dice game that has revolutionised Penrith’s 2020 NRL season