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Penrith Panthers
Full name	Penrith Panthers Rugby League Club
Nickname(s)	Panthers
Founded	1964
Ground	Credit Union Australia Stadium Penrith, Sydney
Capacity	21,000
CEO	Glenn Matthews
Coach	Matthew Elliott
League	National Rugby League
2006	National Rugby League, 12th

The Penrith Panthers are a team in the National Rugby League (NRL), the premier rugby league football competition in Australia.

Based in Penrith, New South Wales, 55 km west of the centre of Sydney and at the foot of the Blue Mountains, the Panthers were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition in 1967 , predecessor of the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and the current NRL competition.

Penrith struggled for almost 20 years before finally reaching their first finals series in 1985. Penrith achieved their first Grand Final appearance in 1990 but were beaten by the Canberra Raiders 18-14. The next year the Panthers met the Raiders again in the Grand Final, this time walking away winners in a game where the Panthers scored 19 points to Canberra's 12. The Panthers most recent premiership achievement was in 2003, in a Grand Final where they were considered under dogs to the Sydney Roosters^{[citation needed]}.

In 2006 the Panthers came 12th, falling two spots on the ladder from their 2005 10th finishing position. Statistically, it is interesting to note that both times that the club won premierships, they finished on the top of the table at the end of the home and away season, that is they were Minor Premiers as well (1991/2003).

Contents 1 Club history 1.1 The early years 1.2 The 90's 1.3 2000 and onwards 1.4 Panthers Team of Legends 1.5 The Uniform 2 Penrith Panthers Leagues Club 3 Team Song 4 Players of note 5 Coaches 6 Notes 7 External link

Varied Penrith teams had played for many years between 1912 and 1966 in the Western Districts League under the control of the Western Suburbs RLFC, in the Parramatta competition after Parramatta was admitted to the NSWRL in 1947, and also in a second-tier Sydney competition introduced by the NSWRL in 1962. By this time a single top level rugby league team had emerge in the Penrith area and in 1964 they became known as the Penrith Panthers. The Panther had been chosen as the Penrith emblem after a public competition won by a graphic artist from Emu Plains named Deidre Copeland.

In 1966 word was out that the New South Wales Rugby League in 1967 would introduce two new teams to the Sydney premiership. There were three teams vying for the two proposed slots, Penrith, Cronulla-Sutherland, and Wentworthville. Cronulla-Sutherland had been assured of one place, leaving Penrith and Wentworthville to fight it out for the other place. The NSWRL eventually settling on Penrith due to their location and a win in the 1966 Second Division title.

After admission to the competition in 1967, they promptly came second last on the competition ladder. Penrith struggled for almost 20 years before finally reaching their first finals series in 1985.

Penrith achieved their first Grand Final appearance in 1990 with a team boasting notable players the likes of Greg Alexander and Mark Geyer only to be beaten by the Canberra Raiders 18-14. The next year the Panthers met the Raiders again in the Grand Final, this time walking away winners in a game where the Panthers scored 19 points to Canberra's 12, including two tries by Royce Simmons the former team captain in his last game.

Their reign was short lived as in 1992 tragedy struck the club when the younger brother of Captain Greg Alexander, Ben, died in a car accident. Greg and close family friends Mark Geyer and Brad Fittler left the club soon after as well as coach Phil Gould left mid-way through the 1994 season, to be replaced by Royce Simmons.

The Panthers were competitive for many seasons under Royce Simmons during his seven years at the club (1995-2001) with only injuries to key players during 1998-99 keeping them from making the semi-finals during those two years^{[citation needed]}.

They did however make the finals during the 1997 Super League season and then again in 2000 in the combined NRL competition.

2007 Squad
Squad
Full Backs
Rhys Wesser
Liam Georgetown
Wingers
Michael Gordon
Luke Rooney
Nick Youngquest
Matthew Forwood
Centres
Luke Lewis
Peewee Moke
Nathan Smith
Michael Jennings
Geoff Daniela
Mark O'Halloran
Halves
Craig Gower
Brett Firman
Craig Trindall
Peter Wallace
Wayne Bond
Keith Peters
Hookers
Luke Priddis
Paul Aiton
Jaye Marleitner
Props
Joel Clinton
Matthew Cross
Frank Puletua
Bryan Norrie
Brandan Worth
Stephen O'Beirne
Bob Blair
Mark Meredith
Second Rowers
Shane Rodney
Tony Puletua
Matthew Bell
Frank Pritchard
Locks
Trent Waterhouse
Junior Moors

In the year 2001, they came last on the competition ladder. 2001 was Royce Simmons' last game as coach for the Panthers, and he was replaced by Johnny Lang from Cronulla in 2002, where they finished 12th. Their last game of 2002 showed hope as they proceeded to thrash the Northern Eagles, knocking them out of the final eight.

This showed the promise that was to come the next year. With the signing of Preston Campbell and Joe Galuvao, their side fired in 2003. Coming off 3 early season losses, they proceeded to lose only 3 other games for the rest of the competition with the local hero, Rhys Wesser scoring a new club record 25 tries. Penrith finished as Minor Premiers after convincingly accounting for the Parramatta Eels in the last round of competition. In the Finals series Penrith beat the Brisbane Broncos and New Zealand Warriors to get into the Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters. The Grand Final of 2003 was hailed by many as the best ever^{[citation needed]}, with Penrith, tagged as heavy underdogs, beating the Sydney Roosters 18-6. Winger Luke Rooney scored two tries ala Royce Simmons in 1991, hooker Luke Priddis received the Clive Churchill Medal. The game is also remembered for a spectacular tackle by Scott Sattler in the 2nd Half on a flying break away winger Todd Byrne to stop an almost certain try, which may have seen the match take a different direction^{[citation needed]}.

Penrith lost the World Club Challenge in early 2004, with Bradford defeating them 22-4 in sub-zero temperatures.

They did however rally after that loss and once again qualified for the NRL semi-final series by finishing fourth and defeating St George Illawarra in the first week of the semi-finals before being knocked out by the Bulldogs in the Grand Final qualifier two weeks later.

The Panthers then just failed to qualify for the Top 8 in 2005 finishing two points out and in 10th spot on percentages before enduring another below-par season in 2006 this time falling well short of the finals finishing the year in 12th position.

Having lost players to the fledging Gold Coast Titans club, 2007 will be an interesting year for the club.

The club in 2007 will have three captains: Craig Gower, Luke Priddis and Tony Puletua.

On October 4, 2006 a 40 Year Panthers Legends Team was named. The full team is:-
Fullback
Rhys Wesser
Winger
Bob Landers
Centre
Grahame Moran
Centre
Ryan Girdler
Winger
Alan McIndoe
Five-Eighth
Brad Fittler
Halfback
Greg Alexander
Prop
Terry Geary
hooker
Royce Simmons
Prop
Tim Sheens
Second Row
John Cartwright
Second Row
Bill Ashurst
Lock
Colin Van Der Voort
Interchange
Craig Gower
Brad Izzard
Mark Geyer
Tony Puletua

Penrith's uniform colours in the 1966 NSWRL Second Division and earlier years were blue and white but due to the Cronulla-Sutherland side registering a predominantly blue jersey design first, and with Newtown, Canterbury, Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta also displaying various shades of blue, Penrith went in search of an alternative. A decision was made to change their colours to Brown with a white V. This decision subsequently earned them the affectionate name of the "Chocolate Soldiers" thanks to radio commentator Frank Hyde who wrote in the Penrith Club journal "these chocolate soldiers from out west - they don't melt!". In 1974 Penrith changed their strip to a jerseys with brown and white vertical bars and again in 1991 they changed the colours to Black with White, Red, Green and Yellow stripes until 2000 when they changed the colours once more to Black, Rust red, Teal green and White. In 2004 the design of the jersey changed once more to its current design. On Thursday, November 23 2006 the club launched a new 'alternate/away' jersey predominately white in colour as a stark contrast to its main design.

The Penrith Panthers Rugby League Football Club's major financier the Penrith Panthers Leagues Club (of the Panthers Entertainment Group) is the largest club in the southern hemisphere.^{[citation needed]}

"Go the Mighty Panthers" (1990) Sung by Jane Scali

• Joel Clinton
• Greg Alexander
• Mark Geyer
• Royce Simmons
• Brad Fittler
• Ryan Girdler
• John Cartwright
• Craig Gower
• Steve Carter
• Rhys Wesser
• Tony Puletua
• Tim Sheens
• Luke Priddis
• Scott Sattler
• Col Van Der Voort
• Peter Mortimer
• Peter Kelly

• Leo Trevena - 1967, 1973
• Bob Boland - 1968-1972
• Jack Clare - 1974
• Mick Stephenson - 1975
• Barry Harris - 1975-1976
• Don Parish - 1977-1978
• Len Stacker - 1979-1981
• John Peard - 1982-1983
• Tim Sheens - 1984-1987
• Ron Willey - 1988-1989
• Phil Gould - 1990-1994
• Royce Simmons - 1994-2001
• John Lang - 2002-2006
• Matthew Elliott - 2007-

1. This game was played using an obsolete scoring system. Under current scoring guidelines, the score in this game would have been 8 - 84

• Official Penrith Panthers Web Site
• Broadcaster of Penrith Panthers games

National Rugby League, 2007
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