Sport Confidential: Penrith Panthers receive major perk for winning minor premiership
The minor premiership puts a big wad of money in a club’s back pocket, but there’s another perk of winning that the Panthers are taking full advantage of.
Penrith will embark on their quest for a third-straight NRL premiership by paying homage to their 2003 grand final-winning side.
The Panthers have opted to wear their throwback strip from 20 years ago instead of their regular home jersey for the rest of the finals series. They wore the jersey and shorts during their win against the Warriors in the opening week of the final and have nominated that strip for the rest of their finals campaign.
“It’s a sign of respect for the 2003 team,” Panthers boss Matt Cameron said. “The boys love wearing it and it’s a good looking jersey.”
One of the perks of finishing minor premiers – aside from the $200,000 prize money – is that the Panthers can elect what game-day kit they want to wear.
Last year they lifted the trophy wearing a 1991 throwback kit.
WALLABIES TARGET EEL
Parramatta back Bailey Simonsson has appeared on the radar of rugby union after it emerged that Wallabies coach Eddie Jones had begun doing background research into the Eels star.
Simonsson has one year remaining on his deal at Parramatta and the club has offered him an extension, which is yet to be taken up.
Sport Confidential understands that Simonsson’s name was on a list of players who enter the final year of their deals on November 1 and was distributed to clubs recently.
It now appears he has also piqued the interest of rugby union after Jones made subtle inquiries about him to figures within rugby league.
Simonsson played rugby union at high school and then spent a year representing the New Zealand rugby 7s team at the tournaments in Hong Kong, London and Paris.
He returned to rugby league at the end of 2018 before finding his way to Parramatta – he scored nine tries in 20 appearances for the club this season.
EELS’ TUG-O-WAR FOR PRODIGY
Parramatta have been given renewed hope that they can hang on to gun half Ethan Sanders thanks to the NRL and the decision to rewrite the contracting rules.
Sanders, regarded as one of the most exciting young playmakers in the game, is stuck behind Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses at the Eels and the expectation was that he would move to Canberra at the end of next season on a two-year deal.
There were reports that the deal would be confirmed once he entered the final year of his contract on November 1. However, the NRL’s new rules have bought the Eels more time to convince Sanders to stay as the teenager becomes the face of the NRL’s plan to take greater control of the transfer market.
Under the revised rules, Sanders and his representatives are unable to speak or sign with rival clubs until the completion of round six next season because he is considered a developed player.
The only caveat is if he gets written consent from the Eels. That appears unlikely to happen given the club is optimistic that they can convince him to stay.
Sport Confidential understands that Canberra remain interested in Sanders even though they have completed the signing of Manly utility Kaeo Weekes, who has been recruited as a potential five-eighth to play alongside Jamal Fogarty next season.
Fogarty’s long-term future is also under scrutiny after it emerged he was ready to test the market from November 1. The Raiders want to keep Fogarty but are also ready to back youth as they prepare for life after Jack Wighton.
WATCH THE RADLEY PARODY
Rugby league funnyman Denis Carnahan’s annual season in review is back next week. Carnahan will perform across five nights at the Bridge Hotel in Rozelle from Monday-Friday. Tickets:rugbyleaguethemusical.com.au
FREDDY’S PITCH TO SAVE JOB
Friday has emerged as D-Day for Brad Fittler’s NSW coaching future.
The Blues coach is expected to front the NSW board where he will outline his coaching plan for next year’s series in the hope of keeping his job for at least 12 months.
Fittler is off-contract with NSW after the series loss this year failed to automatically generate an extension on his deal.
The NSW great has indicated he wants to remain in the role and the Blues board are understood to be supportive of his stance.
However, Fittler is expected to make tweaks to his coaching and support staff which could see Ivan Cleary parachuted into a game day role.
Cleary was in the box alongside Fittler and advisor Greg Alexander for Origin III this year and there is a push to make the Panthers premiership winning coach a permanent part of the NSW staff.
While a decision could happen as early as Friday, it is expected that the Blues board will listen to Fittler’s presentation before reserving judgement on his future.
Alexander, Paul McGregor, Danny Buderus and Andrew Johns were part of the NSW staff this year.
Fittler won his opening two series as NSW coach after taking over from Laurie Daley in 2018.
But the Blues have won just one of the past four with Fittler’s win-rate sitting at 50 per cent.
He is the second most capped coach of all-time for NSW with 18 games, sitting behind Phil Gould (24).
The NSW board is headed up by new chairman Paul Conlon and includes Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly, John Anderson, Terry Brady, Bob Walsh, Kevin Greene, Carolyn Campbell, Bob Millward.
TOMMY’YS MYSTERY CANBERRA TRIP SOLVED
Social media lit up after a photograph of Manly star Tom Trbojevic sitting in a well-known Canberra café began to circulate.
The picture shows Trbojevic, in a blue long-sleeved shirt, sitting with Andrew May at a cafe called Eighty/Twenty, located about 100 metres from the Raiders’ Centre of Excellence in Braddon.
Raiders players are regularly seen at the cafe ordering morning coffee or lunch.
This masthead contacted Trbojevic via text message and he cleared up the mystery.
“That’s our mindset coach at Manly, Andrew May,” Trbojevic said.
“He is running a workshop down here for the Defence Force and I’m the guest speaker, haha.”
It was initially thought Trbojevic was in Canberra helping promote Turbo Pup, a kid’s book he co-wrote with Fiona Harris.
Trbojevic has also been spotted advocating the book around NSW and Queensland.
It is Trbojevic’s first children’s book and based on his real life dog named CJ.
He has a contract with Manly until the end of 2026.
Trbojevic tore a pectoral during this year’s State of Origin series and was ruled out for the season.
‘OH S***, IT’S OUT’
Melbourne superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen has revealed the full extent of the devastating injuries he suffered a fortnight ago on the opening weekend of the finals.
Speaking on the podcast he co-hosts with teammates Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes, Papenhuyzen conceded there was initial concern he may have suffered a compound fracture of his leg.
While that fortunately didn’t happen, he did reveal that he had dislocated his ankle, broken his fibula, ruptured his deltoid (ligament) and ruptured his syndesmosis.
“It did a bit of damage, but I think it’s honestly best case scenario, to be honest, out of every (possible outcome) that they were tossing up at the stadium,” Papenhuyzen said.
“I was pretty lucky it wasn’t a compound fracture; it actually stayed in the skin. But they (the doctors) were saying they were a bit worried because there was a bit of blood on my sock — I think it must have been from a previous tackle — so I think when they came out, everyone was thinking, ‘Oh s***, it’s out’.
“When you’re on the ground and you hear people around you, you go into a bit of a panic.”
Papenhuyzen was a matter of weeks into his return from a shattered kneecap when he suffered the injury, leaving him facing another long period of recuperation. He admitted it was tough to get his head around.
“I’m usually a really positive guy, (but) I think this one hit me a bit harder,” he said.
“Purely because it’s taken me so long from the knee to come back … it’s just wrapping your head around going back for that journey.
“It sucks and I’m still coming to terms with it. Like I said, I’m usually a pretty positive guy, but at the moment, I’m just down in the dumps and feeling sorry for myself — but I’m sure I’ll kick out of it.
“Just a little mishap during the game — it happens to everyone.”
BUNNY BURROWS IN
There are plenty of reasons for South Sydney NSW Cup captain Dean Hawkins to celebrate recently. Hawkins will lead the Rabbitohs in the NSW Cup grand final against the Bears on Sunday with a new deal in his back pocket.
He has re-signed with the Rabbitohs with a top 30 deal for the next 12 months as he pushes Lachlan Ilias for the starting halfback spot. Hawkins, 24, has played six top grade games since making his debut in 2021.
South Sydney reserve grade coach Joe O’Callaghan is also expected to be rewarded for leading his team to a grand final with a promotion.
O’Callaghan is expected to become an NRL assistant next year after the departures of John Morris and Sam Burgess.
KANGAROOS KICK AFL
The AFL is trying to leave its mark in Queensland but Australian coach Mal Meninga is fighting back.
Ipswich has become a cross-code battlefront with the AFL trying to lay claim to the area which produced the likes of Allan Langer, the Walters brothers, Peter Ryan and more recently NRLW star Ali Brigginshaw.
Meninga has set up camp there this week with his PM’s XIII side to help regenerate interest in the game.
“It’s part of what we like to do with the teams,” Meninga said.
“We like to stay connected to the community. Ipswich is such a great rugby league community with great history. They haven’t performed well at state level. It’s good to get back in the community and open up some doors.”
BELLYACHE UP TO OLD TRICKS
The Storm having their reserve players wear opposition jerseys at training is not something new. Craig Bellamy has been doing it since at least 2018 as these pictures show ahead of their grand final clash against the Roosters.
Back then it was the likes of unknown youngsters including Ryan Papenhuyzen emulating Luke Keary, Scott Drinkwater was James Tedesco and Harry Grant tried to be Jake Friend.
DRAGONS JAM REVOLVING DOOR
Andrew Lancaster is set to remain as chair of St George Illawarra for at least another two years after the club’s board agreed to end the revolving door at the helm of the organisation.
Lancaster confirmed the club had rubber-stamped a proposal that meant the chair would stay in power for at least three years, with the capacity to extend their tenure if the board was in agreement.
The club had previously alternated the chair role on a yearly basis between a representative of St George and WIN, the two shareholders in the club.
The Dragons’ decision to endorse Lancaster as chair comes in the same week that fellow cellar-dwellers the Wests Tigers revealed they had reappointed their chair Lee Hagipantelis for a further three years.
“Having the chair in place for a longer term is about stability and consistency of leadership when working with internal and external stakeholders,” Lancaster said.
“The previous one-year rotation model wasn’t practical.”
Lancaster, the chief executive of media empire WIN Corporation, took over the role at the end of last season and has overseen a year where the club parted ways with Anthony Griffin and handed the reins to Shane Flanagan.
He also revealed the club had removed the term ‘joint venture’ from their agreement in a move designed to reinforce that they are one club.
“It’s a small change but we are discarding a term that reflects a different time,” Lancaster said.
“After 25 years as St George Illawarra Dragons, we should be considered as a single entity – one club – like the other clubs in the NRL.
“Both changes reflect the strength of the relationship between the shareholders of the Dragons.”
After finishing the year well adrift of the top eight, the Dragons have had to deal with ongoing speculation over the future of captain Ben Hunt, who has agitated for a release so he can return to Queensland.
SIMS LOCKED IN
Melbourne forward Tariq Sims’ sole focus is on the preliminary final on Friday night but he insists his faith in his own ability and his love for the sport has never wavered as he looks to continue his career at the Storm next season.
Sims is in talks with Melbourne over a new deal and it is understood the club is open to extending his time in Victoria, although they have asked for some patience as they look to finalise their salary cap and squad for 2024.
Sims had a difficult start to the year in Melbourne after damaging his calf but he forced his way back into the side and will be a crucial part of their middle rotation against the Panthers as they attempt to qualify for the grand final.
Importantly, he says he remains passionate about the game and believes he still has something to offer.
“Confidence in myself and my game has never wavered,” Sims told Sport Confidential.
“Dealing with this calf injury at the start of the year, that really slowed my momentum down. I have a lot of passion and drive to play rugby league.
“I have a lot of love for rugby league. I owe my life to the game. As long as I am contributing at a high standard (I want to go on).
“There are not too many clubs that hold high standard like Melbourne Storm.”
FEEDING THE MASSES
The Australian Open golf will have a splash of celebrity off the course as well as on it this year as golf tragic and celebrity chef Michael Weldon prepares to feed the masses.
Weldon, of MasterChef and Farm to Fork fame, plays off a handicap of 10 at Kingston Heath on the iconic Melbourne Sandbelt. Still, his ability around the greens pales in comparison to his skill in the kitchen.
Weldon will be at the Open where he will design and develop a menu that takes spectators on a journey right across New South Wales.
The specially designed menu will be featured in the Stonehaven, Bridges, and Champions suites at the tournament, which will be hosted by The Australian Golf Club and The Lakes Golf Club from November 30.
FLASHBACK
Adam Reynolds was in the headlines on this day five years ago. Reynolds was praised by then South Sydney teammate John Sutton who dubbed him as tough as one of the game’s best small players in Geoff Toovey.
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