NRL 2023: Penrith Panthers grand final party kicks on in fancy dress

There were UFC megastars, cult figure WWE wrestlers and movie icons – take a look inside Penrith’s Mad Monday celebrations as the three-peat superstars grand final party rolls on.

Panthers enjoy some fancy dress after their grand final win. Picture: Supplied

There were UFC megastars, cult figure WWE wrestlers and movie icons – take a look inside Penrith’s Mad Monday celebrations as the three-peat superstars grand final party rolls on.

Fresh from winning a historic three-straight premierships, and a trophy presentation with fans, Penrith players swapped their official team kit on Monday for costumes, fake beards and even fake tattoos.

The champion side took their Mad Monday celebrations behind closed doors where players gathered at Drink West Brewery – the Penrith watering hole partly owned by two-time Clive Churchill Medallist Nathan Cleary and UFC stars Tai ‘Bam Bam’ Tuivasa and Tyson Pedro.

Backrower Scott Sorensen got into the combat sports theme dressing up as UFC star Conor McGregor.

(L-R) Scott Sorensen, Taylan May and Moses Leota enjoy some fancy dress after their grand final win. Picture: Supplied

Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai celebrating on Sydney harbour on Tuesday night.

Just like McGregor, Sorensen’s torso was covered with the fight stars famous gorilla and ‘notorious’ tattoos.

Outside back stars Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o and Sunia Turuva took on Netflix’s dystopian thriller Squid Games, based on a high-stakes tournament with deadly consequences.

Turuva and Crichton were spotted dressed in green jumpsuits as Squad Game contest, while To’o opted for the red suit as the game’s soldiers or ‘front men’.

Fullback Dylan Edwards got into the act as a Stormtrooper from popular movie franchise Star Wars.

Soni Luke.

(L-R) Sunia Tuturva, Brian To’o and Stephen Crichton.

NSW Blues under 19’s player Harry Hassett.

(L-R) Sunia Turuva, Dylan Edwards and Brian To’o.

Prop Moses Leota went with an ambiguous orange prison jumpsuit, leaving Bondi-bound forward Spencer Leniu to joke the costume was a failed attempt at channelling one of the many cult-classic Mexican American crime dramas.

“Vatos locos he reckons … 3.5/10,” Leniu posted in reference to Leota’s outfit.

Hooker Soni Luke went with arguably the most famous WWE wrestler to ever wear a full face mask –

Rey Mysterio.

Taylan May, who missed the entire 2023 season with an ACL injury, channelled a Samurai complete with a prop sword.

Rising backrower and NSW Blues under 19’s player Harry Hassett went with a dress-up favourite in The Hangover’s Alan, complete with a full beard, sunglasses and a baby doll in toe.

Another of Penrith’s youngsters, Jesse McLean, came as a yellow power ranger.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Penrith Panthers grand final party kicks on in fancy dress