From the hospital to the stadium, Panthers fans will do anything to support their team

Dedicated Penrith granddad Andrew Hind would never miss a chance to celebrate a Panthers win – even if it means escaping hospital to do it.

Andrew Hind would never miss a chance to celebrate a Panthers win, even if it means escaping hospital to do it.

After watching Penrith’s NRL grand final victory last year, the 54-year-old suffered a heart attack that would put him in hospital for the next three days.

“I was lying in the hospital and I told my daughter to come and get me,” Mr Hind said.

“I told her, I’m going to the grand final parade.

“My son said he’d push me around in a wheelchair if he had to but I was getting there.”

Panthers fans Andrew Hind and his family celebrate their team’s preliminary final win with a day in the park. (Back L-R) Karalee Clarke, Debbie Hind, Aaron Clarke, Matari Clarke. (Front L-R) Koa Hind, Kye Hind, Andrew Hind, Lowanah Clarke and Renae Clarke. Picture: Daily Telegraph/ Gaye Gerard

Immediately after leaving hospital he made a beeline for BlueBet Stadium where the club celebrated its third premiership win.

Now Mr Hind and his family, all diehard Panthers fans, may get to see their team go on to win the grand final for a consecutive year after defeating the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday night.

The whole family are Panthers diehards – even the kids. Picture: Daily Telegraph/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Hind has been a Panthers fan ever since he moved to Penrith from Tasmania when he was six-years-old.

Since then, he has passed on his love of the Panthers to all his children and grandchildren.

“My granddaughter Karalee rang me up when Parramatta beat us earlier this year,” Mr Hind said.

“She was so upset we had lost.”

13-year-old Karalee Clarke (right) was devastated when the Eels beat Penrith earlier in the season. Picture: Daily Telegraph/ Gaye Gerard

For 13-year-old Karalee Clarke, the battle against South Sydney had been a nail biting affair.

“I was on my toes the whole time,” she said.

“I was really happy we came back in the second half.”

The Panthers will go on to play the Parramatta Eels next Sunday in the grand final. In the meantime, the team got a well-earned rest watching the junior Panthers take the victory on Sunday at the Jersey Flegg Cup grand final.

The team relaxed in the grandstands and Panthers captain Nathan Cleary grabbed some snaps with the fans.