Michael Jennings gave 2000 tickets to Panthers fans but never paid for them

Michael Jennings has lifted the lid on the myth on one of the game’s most bizarre punishments.

Michael Jennings hands out tickets after being stood down for the Penrith Panthers v Wests Tigers game at Centrebet Stadium in Penrith in 2011.

Michael Jennings has lifted the lid on the myth on one of the game’s most bizarre punishments. 

Jennings has revealed he was never made to pay the $40,000 for the 2000 tickets he was forced to give out to Penrith fans during a humiliating halftime walk of shame around Panthers Stadium in 2011.

Ahead of his return to the ground of his former team for Friday night’s highly anticipated western Sydney derby, Parramatta centre Jennings said Penrith never made him pay what was effectively a fine for turning up to training under the effects of alcohol after a heavy night of boozing.

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Until now, it had always been believed that then Panthers boss Phil Gould — so angry at Jennings over his antics — had made Jennings pay the $40,000. 

“But I never did,” the NRL veteran reveals now, nine years on. “It never happened — and it’s thanks to the Eels.”

The Eels?

“They were my first, maybe second game back from suspension,” the 32-year-old said. “I remember we were trailing at the end, almost no time to go.”

His Panthers teammates were tossing the ball chaotically before it reached the hands of Jennings. “So I’ve received the ball and, first, stepped back inside,” he said. “Eventually I grubbered through towards the tryline and our fullback Lachlan Coote raced through to score.”

Cue pandemonium.

Then from there, Travis Burns converted before Luke Walsh nailed a golden-point field goal to give Penrith the most unlikely of wins.

But the best part?

“Afterwards Gus comes into the sheds and finds me,” Jennings said. “Up until that point, my fine was still suspended.

“But he says to me ‘mate, I never really wanted to fine you. And after that try, I’m not going to’. So that was it.’’

That $40,000 kick is just one part of a journey that now see the 32-year-old not only in his fifth season with the Eels, but looking to hand his old club only its second loss of the year on Friday.

Which, again, is some story. Especially when you consider how in that same 2011 season, Jennings also revealed just how little love he had for the club where he now boasts 102 games.

The Daily Telegraph