NRL grand final: Penrith Panthers boss delivers Las Vegas four-peat promise to ecstatic fans
Penrith made sure there was no repeat of last year’s controversy at the club’s fan day as Panthers players greeted a 4,000-strong crowd at their trophy celebration. See the pictures.
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Penrith boss Brian Fletcher is planning to check in some extra special cargo when the NRL champions jet off to Las Vegas in early 2025 – a fourth Provan-Summons trophy.
“We’ll take our first game to Las Vegas, so start booking your sets for that in 2025 … by then we would have won four competitions,” Fletcher told 5000 ecstatic Panthers fans who poured into Bluebet Stadium to celebrate their third consecutive premiership.
Fletcher’s Las Vegas revelation came as the western Sydney powerhouse not only stamped its dominance on the NRL but sent a clear warning to rivals that the side’s era of supremacy is far from done.
Fletcher said an American audience would get the chance to witness “the best” in 2025 after the Panthers were initially slated as one of the first four teams to travel to Sin City next year as part of the NRL’s initiative to grow an international audience.
The Panthers instead opted out of the opportunity, preferring to take part in 2025 when the club will be without a home ground.
While Panthers fans cheered the Las Vegas news, loud boos rung out through the crowd when Fletcher confirmed Commbank Stadium, the home of arch rivals Parramatta, would be Penrith’s base while the current site is being refurbished.
“At this stage we’ll play the majority of our games in 2025 at Parramatta Stadium … I have to agree with you, but we’ve got no ground here,” Fletcher said as fans voiced their disapproval.
“We’ll play here (Bluebet Stadium) until the end of 2024 and at the end of September.
“We’ll be bulldozing down the (main) stand, building a new one and new stand on the hill … that’s in 2025.
“We’ll take a couple of games to the bush, to Mudgee and a couple to Bathurst. We’ll be back here in March, 2026.”
The biggest cheer of the morning was reserved for star playmaker Luai who waved to the crowd, proudly showing off his three premiership rings.
Luai and his teammates have been a lightning rod for criticism over the past 12 months amid accusations of arrogance on the back of the side’s unapologetic approach and celebratory antics.
Fletcher called out the club’s detractors.
“They’re young men and the work they do in the community is unbelievable and some of the crap they cop at times in undeserved,” Fletcher said.
Co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, with the help of Dylan Edwards, then presented the club’s third-straight Provan-Summons trophy to the crowd.
The weary NRL champions continued celebrations throughout the day at the Panthers Leagues club.
PANTHERS GAG STAR PLAYERS AFTER 2022 GAFFES
Penrith officials gagged their grand final heroes at Monday’s trophy presentation to fans but CEO Matt Cameron couldn’t help but take a cheeky pot shot at his player’s antics.
Unlike last year in the wake of Penrith’s title win against arch rivals Parramatta, players were not handed the mic at Bluebet Stadium in bid to avoid a repeat of a number of headline grabbing moments including James Fisher Harris’ “Parra are our sons” dig at the Eels.
Instead, officials Brian Fletcher and Cameron addresses the 4,000-strong fans.
“James has got laryngitis. James Fisher Harris can’t speak today. He’s woken up this morning with laryngitis so I just want to apologise for that,” Cameron said.
The comment sent Panthers fans into raptures.
Twelve months ago Fisher-Harris’s take down of Parramatta during grand final celebrations sent social media into a spin and drew the ire of every Eels fan.
Fisher-Harris stepped up to the mic to declare:
“I just want to say: Parra are our sons. Right here, right now, that’s just a fact,” Fisher-Harris said.
Today, players were presented to their adoring fans one by one.
The biggest cheer of the morning was reserved for star five-eighth Jarome Luai.
Luai waved to the crowd, proudly showing off his three premiership rings.
Co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, with the help of Dylan Edwards then present the club’s third-straight Provan Summons trophy to the crowd.
GF CELEBRATIONS: Penrith star Jarome Luai’s received the loudest cheer this morning at Bluebet Stadium. He might have his haters but one thing is certain, Panthers faithful love him @telegraph_sportpic.twitter.com/alEjoWsruK
— Fatima Kdouh (@FatimaKdouh_) October 2, 2023
THREE-PEAT: Penrith co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, with the help of Dylan Edwards deliver the Panthers’ third-straight trophy to fans at Bluebet Stadium on Monday morning @telegraph_sportpic.twitter.com/Lv7dDuRoO6
— Fatima Kdouh (@FatimaKdouh_) October 2, 2023
‘1000 PER CENT WE CAN WIN NEXT YEAR’
Penrith locals Darren Leary and Emma Nanai said the 24-26 Panthers’ comeback victory last night was “the best feeling” for a community that lives and breathes rugby league.
“We bleed football and our kids bleed football, so it’s the best feeling, the best team, the best ever,” Mr Leary said.
“The team means everything, that’s all (our boys) care about and talk about, they are massive role models and the heart of the community,” Ms Nanai said.
Talk of next season and a possible fourth win was already on the cards for many eager fans who celebrated long into the night with street parties springing up across Panthers territory.
“1000 per cent they can win next year,” said Mr Leary, “Penrith has a great junior system, the best in Australia I believe anyway, so we will come back bigger, better and stronger and go for the four-peat”.
Other fans had their mind set on reliving last night’s thriller and the “insane atmosphere” at Accor Stadium.
Tim Peatman and Rose Mccue said the game was “the best thing I’ve ever seen … just being so close at the end there really made it and it will go down in history”.
“They are great, we are so proud of them,” Ms Mccue said, “people say they might be arrogant but they are great guys and they do a lot for us”.
“Look what it’s done for this community over the last three, four years,” Mr Peatman said.
“Look at the number of people here this morning, a lot of these people would have been at the game last night and we are all tired, and haven’t slept a lot because we are on such a high, but here we are”.
FANNING’S CLEARY LOVE
Australian surfing legend and tragic Panthers fan Mick Fanning stole the show as Penrith’s grand final celebrations launched into gear on Sunday night.
Born in Penrith before becoming the world’s greatest surfer, Fanning joined the premiers memorable lap of honour around Accor Stadium.
It comes just a week after Fanning led the team song in the Panthers’ dressing room following their preliminary final win over Melbourne.
Having clearly enjoyed his grand final day, Fanning couldn’t contain his excitement when speaking to Channel 9.
“This is the best thing ever,’’ Fanning said.
“This is so amazing. Look at them.”
Asked for his opinion of Penrith’s star Nathan Cleary, Fanning replied: “Are you kidding me? He’s the greatest athlete on earth, seriously.
“I swear to God, greatest athlete on earth. He just went absolutely loony in that last 10 minutes. So good.”
Fanning spoke for every Panther fan when asked what it is going to be like back in Penrith?
“So much fun, are you ready, ready?,’’ Fanning said.
Fanning’s excited response prompted immortal Andrew Johns and Penrith legend Brad Fittler to form their own opinion on who should be named the player of the match.
“I’ve got 10-points (to give) to Mick Fanning,’’ Johns said.
“Some people say tired and emotional, I say sideways.’’
Fittler added with a joke that Fanning’s name should be included on the Panthers iconic premiership-winning jersey memorabilia.
“Just at the bottom of the jersey, Mick Fanning, man of the match,’’ Fittler smiled.
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