NRL grand final: Junior clubs, origin stories of the Penrith Panthers side chasing history

They’re the 17 Penrith Panthers players chasing a hat-trick of premierships in this weekend’s NRL grand final. We look at the origin stories and junior clubs that helped where they are today.

The origin stories of the Penrith Panthers 2023 NRL grand final team.

For the fourth-straight year the Penrith Panthers are into the NRL grand final.

And they have a golden opportunity to bring home third successive premiership, aiming to become the first side to complete the feat since the Parramatta Eels in 1983.

With a host of local juniors and players that have been involved in the previous three deciders, the Panthers are looking to cement their legacy as one of the great league dynasties.

Remarkably just three players out of the team selected to take on the Brisbane Broncos have played NRL with other clubs.

We take a look back at how the 17 who will line up in this weekend’s grand final came to this point.

Future Penrith Panthers star Dylan Edwards (back, far right) during his junior rugby league days with Bellingen-Dorrigo. Picture: Contributed

1. DYLAN EDWARDS

Gunning for back-to-back Clive Churchill Medals after an incredible conclusion to last season.

Edwards grew up in Dorrgio, about 80km south of Grafton, where he played his junior footy with the Bellingen Dorrigo Magpies.

He went on to be signed by the Panthers as a 16-year-old, marking an 11-year consecutive run with the club.

Patrician Brothers Blacktown player Sunia Turuva in 2020. Picture: Richard Dobson

2. SUNIA TURUVA

Burst onto the scene this year for Penrith and has played every game after showing glimpses in NSW Cup last year and representing Fiji at the World Cup.

Turuva was a junior with both the Berala Bears and St Marys Saints, earning an NRL development contract with the Panthers as an 18-year-old after joining them in 2018.

Panthers centre Izack Tago as a nine-year-old in a Panthers On The Prowl classroom in 2011. Picture: Contributed

3. IZACK TAGO

One of the most exciting young players on the roster, the 21-year-old is fast approaching 50 games and his second premiership.

A St Marys Saints junior, Tago started his junior reps days with the Panthers as a second rower in Harold Matthews in 2018 before making the move to the centres.

4. STEPHEN CRICHTON

Playing in his fourth and last grand final with the Panthers with a move to the Bulldogs next year.

Came through the ranks with St Marys and the St Clair Comets after playing in division three and now regarded as one of the most athletic players in the competition after getting his shot with the Panthers in SG Ball in 2018.

Brian To'o in his NSW Cup days. Picture: Penrith Panthers

5. BRIAN TO’O

The man they call Bizza is one of the most loved among Panther fans, and is another gunning for a third-straight title.

The Samoan international and NSW Blues regular started his journey with the St Marys Saints. It wasn’t without bumps, being told he was too small for Harold Matthews, before working his way into the system.

Jarome Luai from Patrician Brothers Blacktown. Picture: Daniel Aarons

6. JAROME LUAI

Another player who grew up in the region and did his thing with the St Marys Saints before going onto greater heights.

Came through with halves partner Nathan Cleary from Harold Matthews to Holden Cup (U20s), winning multiple premierships along the way, and now is poised to become the latest $1m man in the NRL.

Nathan Cleary as part of the Harold Matthews team in 2013. Picture: Steve Montgomery/Ourfootyteam.com

7. NATHAN CLEARY

Among the favourites to claim a second Clive Churchill Medal, Cleary’s path to the top involved a stint with the Mount Albert Lions in New Zealand due to father Ivan’s NRL commitments.

Played with the Penrith Brothers before being signed by the Panthers and progressing through the pathways from Harold Matthews to the big time, making his debut at 18 and representing NSW since 2019.

Moses Leota playing SG Ball in 2013. Picture: Matthew Sullivan

8. MOSES LEOTA

Has been playing at the NRL level since 2016 as a 21-year old after coming through the Holden Cup pathway with the club.

A St Marys junior after making the move from New Zealand to Australia, Leota played SG Ball before becoming a two-time premiership winner.

Mitch Kenny was Jersey Flegg captain in 2018. Picture: Monique Harmer

9. MITCH KENNY

Enjoying the season as the first-choice hooker after the departure of Api Koroisau, Kenny has continued to improve into a very solid first grader.

Played in his younger days with the Windsor Wolves before being chosen with Penrith in SG Ball, U20s and NSW Cup.

James Fisher-Harris in 2016. Picture: Jenny Evans

10. JAMES FISHER-HARRIS

Was born and grew up in New Zealand where he was a powerhouse for the Whangarei Marist Brothers club.

Caught the eye of Penrith officials and was signed to play in their SG Ball outfit as a 17-year-old.

He graduated to play two years of U20s and has been a regular in first grade ever since.

Scott Sorensen during his time with Canberra in 2017. Photo: Simon Watts/Getty Images

11. SCOTT SORENSEN

The only player in the starting line-up not to have played his only NRL footy at Penrith.

Was a junior player with Cronulla-Caringbah, earning his shot at rep level when making the Sharks U20s side.

Played first grade with the Sharks and Raiders before being picked up by the Panthers and earning his place as a starter this season.

Liam Martin in action for the Temora Dragons in 2015. Credit: Facebook.

12. LIAM MARTIN

A proud country boy who has graduated from the Temora Dragons to a World Cup-winning player.

Came across to the Panthers as an 18-year-old to link with the SG Ball side, plying his trade in the lower grades before earning a shot at NRL level in 2019 and hasn’t looked back since.

Isaah Yeo during his Holden Cup days in 2013. Picture: Gregg Porteous

13. ISAAH YEO

Another country boy from Dubbo, the international and 200+ game player grew up playing with St Johns and Dubbo CYMS.

Got his chance to play with Penrith as a 17-year-old in the SG Ball competition, won an U20s competition the next year and is now regarded as one of the best forwards in the NRL.

Toukley captain Jack Cogger holds up the shield after winning the Under 14/1s grand final in 2011. Picture: Mark Scott

14. JACK COGGER

Will spend just the one year with Penrith after signing a deal to return to the Knights next season, but has made the most of his opportunities when called upon.

A Toukley Hawks junior who played SG Ball with Newcastle, Cogger was picked up by the Panthers after a stint in the UK with Huddersfield.

Lindsay Smith was selected in the Australian Schoolboys Under-15 rugby league team in 2015. Picture: Matthew Sullivan

15. LINDSAY SMITH

Another local junior in this setup, Smith played with the St Marys Saints, where he earned the chance to train with the Panthers at just 14.

Has played at all levels with Penrith since Harold Matthews in 2016, making his debut at NRL level in 2021 and locking down a more regular spot in the 17 this season.

Current Penrith Panthers player Spencer Leniu during his junior days with the Minchinbury Jets. Picture: Minchinbury Jets Facebook

16. SPENCIER LENIU

Is looking to cap off his Penrith career in style before he joins the Sydney Roosters for the 2024 season.

A Minchinbury Jets junior, he impressed enough to graduate through the pathways with the Panthers, including playing Jersey Flegg as an 18-year-old in 2019, making his NRL debut in the same season.

Luke Garner as a Tiger in 2019. Picture: Monique Harmer

17. LUKE GARNER

A rare signing brought into the club, Garner made the move from the Wests Tigers to the Panthers this season.

Garner played his junior footy with the Bilambil Jets on the north coast, had his first taste of U20s with Manly, before finally getting his shot in NRL at 22 years of age.

Originally published as NRL grand final: Junior clubs, origin stories of the Penrith Panthers side chasing history