Penrith ready for 20,000 sellout when Panthers take on the Dragons on Saturday night
THE Panthers are on track for their second sellout crowd of the NRL season as Saturday night’s top-of-the-table match against the Dragons becomes the hottest sporting ticket in town.
Panthers
Don't miss out on the headlines from Panthers. Followed categories will be added to My News.
PENRITH are on track for their second 20,000 sellout crowd of the NRL season as Saturday night’s top-of-the-table match against St George Illawarra becomes the hottest sporting ticket in town.
In what shapes as the match of the season, the one-versus-two battle featuring 10 NSW State of Origin aspirants on a Saturday night in western Sydney has fans clamouring for tickets.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal all corporate areas for the highly anticipated game have already sold out.
MONDAY BUNKER: Is Arthur set for the chop?
Panthers group CEO Brian Fletcher said his club was preparing for a whopping attendance.
“On the early figures that we’ve got … we are on target for a sellout, for sure,” Fletcher said.
“Every corporate area is sold out. Normally we don’t sell all of our open boxes at this time of the year but they are all sold as well.
“Corporately, there isn’t a spot left in the place, which is good.
“We only got a few seats together to sell in the grandstand and the rest is general admission.”
The Panthers already had to put up the “house full” sign once this season for Penrith’s round one comeback win over Parramatta on a warm Sunday afternoon in March.
Predicted fine weather, the temperature is expected to be 16 degrees around kick-off on Saturday night, will also help. As will the fact three grades will be played on Saturday — the under 20s, the NSW Intrust Super Premiership and then the NRL game.
Last week, the 15,081 fans who attended Penrith’s match against Wests Tigers were only treated to the one game, being it was the Thursday night fixture.
“Three games on the one day is that much better for rugby league,” Fletcher said.
The looming sellout was discussed at length during a Penrith football department meeting on Monday morning, and Fletcher welcomed the selling point that punters can enjoy seven hours of rugby league.
“The beauty is the under 20s and reserve grade get to play in front of 4000 or 5000 people, that’s good for them,” Fletcher said.
Penrith are averaging 15,486 fans at Panthers Stadium this season, while they also attracted a crowd of 10,287 to their round-nine clash with North Queensland in Bathurst.
Penrith’s next match at home, a round 16 game against Manly, also has the potential for a large crowd.
“Forward sales for that match are very good too,” Fletcher said.
Saturday night will also be the final opportunity for a handful of Origin aspirants to press their claims for the June 6 series opener.
Penrith’s potential Blues halves James Maloney and Nathan Cleary face in-form Saints pair Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop.
Along with Maloney and Cleary, Blues bolter Tyrone Peachey, props Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Trent Merrin are all in the frame for selection in Brad Fittler’s team.
For the Dragons, Blues incumbent Tyson Frizell could be joined by centre Euan Aitken, hooker Cameron McInnes and forwards Paul Vaughan, Tariq Sims, Jack de Belin.