Extra Time June 4 2026

MATCH PREVIEW

The Panthers and Wests Tigers have built something of a modern day rivalry over the last six or seven years.

But I’m not sure the Tigers have ever really looked forward to playing the Panthers during this period, at least not when Ivan Cleary’s side was sitting at full strength (a couple of Origin-impacted wins at least gave Tigers fans something to crow about).

But with the Tigers sitting on the edge of the top eight and clearly playing their best football, I reckon Benji Marshall’s side would be eager to test themselves against the competition front-runners this Sunday.

In fact, perhaps for the first time in a long time, I think they’d consider themselves a legitimate chance of causing an upset at CommBank Stadium.

And that’s why I’m not convinced this will be a runaway victory for Penrith, despite the fact the side will welcome back the likes of Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o, who were rested last week after Origin I.

Penrith’s performance against the Warriors on Sunday night was absolute first class. It was a high quality game worthy of a Finals match and yet again we saw Ivan Cleary’s ability to turn ‘next man up’ from purpose to execution. Some of the defensive plays when the game was on the line were out of this world.

Meanwhile, the Wests Tigers did it the hard way against the Bulldogs. Their 22-16 victory came despite only having 47 per cent of the ball, a lower completion rate than the opposition and being awarded zero set restarts.

Seriously, Cameron Ciraldo’s email to the NRL should just be marked ‘return to sender’.

The Tigers are far from the finished product but Benji Marshall has them in a great position

for a real shot at returning to the Finals. With games against the Titans and Dolphins at Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Stadium to follow this match, this little batch of games will prove crucial in that dream becoming a reality.

Penrith will have to be on alert for the Tigers’ offload game, led particularly by Terrell May and Kai Pearce-Paul who have made keeping the ball alive an important part of the Tigers’ style this year.

And then there is the Jarome Luai factor. Luai left Penrith to make a difference at the Tigers but well before that mission is complete he’s off to Papua New Guinea. He still has a point to prove, of course, and there’s no doubt leading Wests back to the Finals during his time at the club would be a major tick next to his name in regards to his impact on the club.

As much as he has great mates at Penrith, Luai would love nothing better than get one up

boilover. I’d expect him to be really switched on here.

The reality is that the Tigers may take it right up to Penrith but if everything was to go to script, it’s hard to go past Ivan Cleary’s men.

On paper, they just look too strong.

There’s just not a bad player in this Penrith team at the moment. Everyone is in top form, injuries are minimal and the likes of Liam Martin are returning to the fold.

At this point only a serious injury to the likes of Nathan Cleary or complacency could stop this Penrith juggernaut from winning the Minor Premiership and likely being at Accor Stadium on Grand Final day.

Complacency got the Panthers once already this season. I doubt it’ll happen again on Sunday. I’m predicting a healthy win, but not a total blowout.

Tip: Panthers by 12.

Scott’s debut one to remember

Panthers debutant Billy Scott said he felt no nerves as he patiently waited for his number to be called in one of the games of the season last weekend.

The 21-year-old local junior made his longawaited NRL debut last Sunday night during Penrith’s thrilling win over the second-placed New Zealand Warriors at CommBank Stadium.

Scott played an impressive 21 minutes off the bench in the blockbuster encounter, coming onto the field during a crucial part of the match.

Speaking with Extra Time on Wednesday afternoon, Scott said he was still buzzing three days later.

“The whole thing’s been unreal. I feel like I’m still on a high especially doing it in those circumstances. To get a win like that against a top two team was unreal,” he said.

With the score close midway through the second half, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary decided to throw the youngster into the action, replacing starting hooker Freddy Lussick in the 59th minute.

“To be honest, I wasn’t actually too nervous. I was just watching the game how I would any other time on the bench,” Scott admitted.

“I was more excited than anything. I feel like the moment didn’t feel too big. I was just keen to get out there.”

A Windsor Wolves junior and Hawkesbury resident, Scott has been part of the Panthers pathways system since he was a teenager, featuring in Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Jersey Flegg.

He represented the NSW U19s in 2023 and was recently rewarded with promotion to the Panthers’ Top 30 squad for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

“I was more excited than anything. I was just keen to get out there.”

After appearing on Cleary’s six-man bench on four occasions prior to last Sunday’s game, Scott knew that his time was getting close.

“With the new six-man bench, I had to be patient. I knew my time would come if I was patient,” he said.

“Ivan told me during the week that if everything went to plan that I would go on and I was just so excited.

“Heaps of my mates were there… I saw people after the game that I didn’t even know were going. It was so good to see everyone there.”

One person who was very proud to see Scott finally make his NRL debut was injured Panthers hooker and fellow Windsor Wolves junior Mitch Kenny.

Scott said Kenny, who is due back soon from a fractured fibula, has been pivotal in his development since training with first grade.

“Mitch has been unreal, he’s an inspi-

the same position as me,” he said.

“I admire the way he plays. He’s so tough. He’ll do anything for the team. I’d like to be someone like that.”

Signed until the end of next season, Scott is hoping to play alongside Kenny down the track and remain a Panther well into the future.

“I love it here, it’s home. I’d love to extend and stay here,” he said.

“Right now, I need to wait for my next opportunity and hopefully when it comes, I’ll take it

FEATURE

Smith hungry for Origin shot

While Lindsay Smith wasn’t named to be part of Laurie Daley’s NSW Blues team for Origin I, he hasn’t given up on his dream of representing his state one day.

Despite playing a handful of games for his country, the 26-year-old is yet to taste Origin footy with Daley overlooking the Panthers forward for last week’s State of Origin series opener against Queensland.

Speaking with Extra Time on Wednesday, Smith said he won’t give up on his dream of playing for the Blues.

“It’s definitely a goal of mine whether it happens this year or in the future, that’s sort of out of my hands,” he said.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be part of it but watching State of Origin still brings back so many memories as a kid.”

Smith said sitting down to watch Panthers teammate Nathan Cleary lead the Blues’ comeback against the Maroons last Wednesday night had him jumping off his couch.

“It was super cool to see the boys win especially the way Nathan took the game on at the end there. It was pretty cool to sit back and watch as a fan,” he said.

“You don’t get to watch much footy as a fan,

so it was pretty cool. It’s a dream of mine to put on that Blues jersey but I’m just trying to focus on what I can control and that’s good footy at Penrith.”

Smith had one of his better games last Sunday night when the Panthers won a thriller over the New Zealand Warriors at CommBank Stadium.

In what was one of the games of the year, Smith played at lock while NSW captain Isaah Yeo was getting a well-earned rest.

“I’ve played that position in the past but obviously I’m not Yeoy, so you’ve got to play to your strengths and it’s something I’ve had to learn over the years,” Smith said.

“A couple of years ago when I’ve played that position, they haven’t been my best games but I feel like I’ve learned from them.

“Games like the one against the Warriors are really exciting to be a part of. They’re the moments you cherish as a player.”

The Panthers will aim to make it seven straight wins when they return to CommBank Stadium – this time as the away team – to play the Wests Tigers this Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

Benji Marshall’s Tigers are enjoying a strong season so far, with Smith and the Panthers rather wary of their western Sydney neighbours.

“They’re playing an exciting brand of footy and have been really good to start the year,” he said.

“I can’t wait for the weekend, and hopefully there’s a good turnout on Sunday.”

PANTHER RUMBLINGS

Panthers land new Director

New Director revealed: Long-time Penrith accountant Peter Tracey will join the Board of the Penrith Panthers. A Partner in Business Services at BDO Australia, Tracey is also a Director of the McGrath Foundation, The Royce Simmons Foundation and the Thorndale Foundation, where he is Chairman. He brings extensive corporate, financial and charity knowledge to the Board and will serve as an Appointed Director. His appointment follows the return of the existing Board earlier this year.

Spotted: Former Panther and current Wests Tigers skipper Jarome Luai calling by the Hungry Jack’s drive-thru on the M4 on Sunday night.

Sponsor’s schmooze: Which Panthers sponsor left the Editor of the Western Weekender stranded for a lift after last Wednesday night’s State of Origin so he could cosy up to Panthers Chairman Peter Graham?

Will Cleary get the Blues? The big rumour doing the rounds at Accor Stadium last Wednesday night was that Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is in the sights of the New South Wales Rugby League as next Blues coach. It is widely being tipped that Laurie Daley will move on from the role regardless of whether New South Wales win the series. With Cleary

Peter Tracey.

over to his friends and family who had gathered to celebrate the achievement. They all wore specially themed shirts to mark Scott’s debut, which came in the second half of the match. The hooker becomes Panther #639.

Record breakers: While the slot is not used every week, Penrith’s clash with the Warriors became the most watched 6.15pm Sunday fixture of the season on Fox League. It formed part of a stunning weekend of NRL coverage, with the league reporting its most watched Round 13 in history across Fox Sports and Channel Nine. Amazing what some close games can do!

making it clear he’s still keen on representative coaching when he steps down from Penrith at the end of next season, the timing while not perfect could see Cleary become the ideal replacement. One conundrum could emerge: If Daley does go at the end of this series, would Penrith let Cleary coach the Blues next year? You’d think the answer to that question is yes, while the Blues would deal with Cleary juggling both roles given it’d only be for one year. Watch this space – the people talking about it know their stuff.

Trio behind the mic: Why have one ground announcer when you could have two? Indeed, why have two when you could have three? It was interesting to note that Lyndal Rogers, Glenn Hawke and Josh Mansour all shared the ground announcing duties at CommBank Stadium on Sunday night.

Funds for Foundation: The Nepean Business Network raised almost $50,000 for the Royce Simmons Foundation at its casino night last weekend. Well done to all who attended and helped raise money for a great cause.

Silverware for Ellis: Kaide Ellis, who won the NYC Grand Final with Penrith in 2015 and played nine first grade games for the club across 2018 and 2019, was part of the Wigan team that thrashed Hull KR in the Challenge Cup Final in England last weekend. And Adam Keighran, who never reached first grade with Penrith but played in the NSW Cup in 2017 and 2018, was also part of the winning side.

Girls ready to go: Penrith’s NSW Women’s Premiership side will play as the curtain raiser to an NRL fixture this year. The side will play against the Wests Tigers on Thursday, July 16 at CommBank Stadium prior to Penrith’s clash with Brisbane in the NRL that evening. It’ll be a huge step up for the squad, which will split home games this year between Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub in Rooty Hill and Parker Street Reserve. The new season kicks off next weekend.

Great Scott! There were fabulous scenes post-game at CommBank Stadium on Sunday night when debutant Billy Scott got to head

What an experience: Now that’s what we call work experience! Year 10 student Chloe Maclean from CathWest Innovation College recently undertook a week of work experience at the Penrith Stadium construction site with the John Holland group. A 5.15am start didn’t deter the teenager, who got plenty out of the opportunity.

PANTHERS POSTER

Why Penrith should land Jett

Ithink it’s time to bring Jett Cleary back to play for the Panthers in 2028. I know that comment will create a lot of controversy amongst Penrith supporters but hear me out.

Since Jett moved to join the Warriors at the start of last season he has come a long way as a half back, playmaker and organiser. He was a key ingredient in the dominant Warriors NSW Cup side which won the competition last season and while they are not as strong this year, Cleary is regarded by many as the number one player in the NSW Cup competition.

I don’t want to concentrate too much on statistics as a lot can change with his stats in the next 18 months but there are other reasons why a return to the Panthers makes logical sense.

Jett left the comfort zone of Penrith at the end of 2024 to carve out a name for himself across the ditch. Far removed from the spotlight of being Ivan Cleary’s son and little brother to Nathan Cleary.

Well, a return in 2028 will see at least one of those issues eliminated as a problem with father Ivan set to step down as the Panthers first

grade coach at the end of 2027.

As for brother Nathan, well he’s a 50/50 chance at best to stay a Panther and even if he does, Jett will find himself in no worse a

position then he would at the Warriors as far as playing in the halves at a first grade level goes.

At the Warriors he has Tannah Boyd and Te Marie Martin in front of him while at Penrith it would be Nathan (if he stays) and Jack Cogger whose own contract expires at the end of 2028.

Jett will also come back older and wiser and a different player from the young 19 year-old who left in 2024 and if big brother does end up re-signing, then there’s the carrot of perhaps one day playing alongside him.

A lot of supporters will look at my arguments as to why Jett should return to Penrith and probably poke holes in a lot of my reasoning.

This move feels right, for both Jett and the Panthers. I’m probably romanticising the whole idea just a bit but sport has a habit of doing that. Of making us think and feel things we never thought possible

and that don’t always make logical sense.

So, I’m going to finish my argument as to why Penrith and Jett Cleary belong together this way.

Imagine if you will, Jett Cleary leading the Panthers to a premiership in five years’ time just like his brother did so many times before him.

I’ll go one step further, imagine Jett Cleary and Nathan Cleary in the halves leading Penrith to a Premiership together.

Now wouldn’t that be something.

The replacements While I don’t think there will be the mass exodus of star players from the Panthers as many media scribes are predicting, I would just like to tell you who I would target if the following three players left at the end of 2027.

Now I hope the Panthers re-sign all three players but if for some reason they do move on, here are my suggested replacements.

To replace Liam Martin, I would target Dylan Lucas from the Knights, if Brian To’o left I’d go after Jack Bostock from the Dolphins and if Mitch Kenny were to depart, I’d do everything in my power to bring Wayde Egan back to Penrith. Just my thoughts.

Golf, books but no footy thanks!

Before bed every night, Penrith Panthers hardman

Luke Garner cracks open a book.

Garner does a lot of things to get his mind off the game and settle back into normal life, including getting out on the golf course and reading a good book.

“I’ve been getting into golf a little bit but I’m not very good so it’s a bit frustrating,” Garner laughed.

“I enjoy playing golf, going for walks, coffee, reading my book and listening to podcasts.

“I read just about every day before bed, it’s a good way to wind down. I used to be pretty keen on the non-fiction stuff, self-help type of books but I’ve turned to fiction recently just to mix it up a bit.”

As a professional footy player, Garner tends not to watch much footy in his free time saying footy players who do are “sickos”.

“I watch no games!” he said.

“I shouldn’t say no games, it depends on the weekend, I’ll watch maybe one. It’s like would you want to watch your job on the weekends? If you do watch every game as a player, you are a bit of a sicko! I’ve got other things to do and life to live.”

Garner debuted in the NRL in 2018 for the Wests Tigers under the direction of then Head Coach Ivan Cleary. Cleary would later leave the Tigers and return to the Panthers in 2019.

In 2023, Garner was signed to the Panthers to replace the departing Viliame Kikau.

Throughout his 139 games in the NRL Garner has spent majority of them under the tutelage of Cleary, but with Peter Wallace set to replace the master coach in 2028, Garner is keen to see Wallace step into the role.

“No [it’s not daunting] because I know it is Wal,” he reflected.

“You couldn’t ask for a better replacement with Wal and everyone loves him. I’ll get a year, or at least a year with Wal so I’m really looking forward to that.”

”He’s just always been a good player and each level he goes to, he seems to be able to pick it up pretty quickly.”

THEY SAID IT...

“He’s my Origin hooker. Experience, toughness, creativity. I think you need a little bit more creativity for our yardage early in the game. I think it’s a no-brainer.”

“You know what you’re getting from Mitchell Moses.”

David Riccio on the

“I’m just so happy with the boys, they showed fight and that’s what you want to see.”

“It felt like a nightmare in the first half and then it felt like a dream.”

“The greatest mistake Laurie can make is to ignore the opening 40 minutes.”

“You won’t see that again in forever I reckon.”

“You don’t want to put pressure on him because he’s still young and he’s still got to see all those things. I just thought the way he attacked the game, that can be a tough environment for someone to go into and I was just super proud of how he attacked it, regardless of the outcome.”

Yeo on Casey McLean

NRL LADDER & FIXTURES

Face in the Crowd

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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EELS

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