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The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Penrith at risk of 72-year low in NRL grudge match
Penrith will sit last on the ladder later in the regular season than any defending premier for 72 years if they lose to local rivals Parramatta in round 13. Not since Western Suburbs, who went from grand final winners in 1952 to wooden spooners a year later, has an NRL premier struggled to ignite their season for as long as the four-time reigning champions. The only exception is Melbourne in 2010 but the Storm's 2009 premiership was declared void amid salary cap breaches that barred them from accruing competition points as defending premiers. Penrith fell back to bottom place on the ladder with last Saturday's 25-6 loss to fellow strugglers Newcastle, leaving coach Ivan Cleary to warn the Panthers they must begin realising their potential. The playing group is focusing on a first win since adopting CommBank Stadium as their home ground this year, not their lowly ladder position. "I'm not losing sleep over it," said winger Tom Jenkins. "I care about winning games and winning premierships and stuff like that. But if you're too focused on that (ladder position), it's just going to make you play bad. It's that simple. "(Cleary) also spoke about - it's seeing how far away you are from those top teams. We don't feel like we're that far away. It's about things going right and making things go right." The Panthers' season risks slipping away amid the always disruptive State of Origin period but the club is hopeful their five representatives - Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To'o, Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin - will face the Eels on Sunday. Veteran second-rower Scott Sorensen did not feel the Panthers' situation was becoming more urgent as the season approached its halfway point. "You want to win every week," he said. "There might be a little bit (of urgency) there but I just think everyone's very level-headed, very grounded. "We might be out there and the story might be that we're here on the ladder but for us, it's honestly just what's in front of us right now and that's Parramatta." Sorensen returns from the three-game suspension he received for his shoulder charge on Nathan Brown in round eight and has been named to line up on the left edge. "I got a little bit of time there to take a breath, reset, get some quality training in and I'm excited to get back into it this weekend," he said. Penrith will sit last on the ladder later in the regular season than any defending premier for 72 years if they lose to local rivals Parramatta in round 13. Not since Western Suburbs, who went from grand final winners in 1952 to wooden spooners a year later, has an NRL premier struggled to ignite their season for as long as the four-time reigning champions. The only exception is Melbourne in 2010 but the Storm's 2009 premiership was declared void amid salary cap breaches that barred them from accruing competition points as defending premiers. Penrith fell back to bottom place on the ladder with last Saturday's 25-6 loss to fellow strugglers Newcastle, leaving coach Ivan Cleary to warn the Panthers they must begin realising their potential. The playing group is focusing on a first win since adopting CommBank Stadium as their home ground this year, not their lowly ladder position. "I'm not losing sleep over it," said winger Tom Jenkins. "I care about winning games and winning premierships and stuff like that. But if you're too focused on that (ladder position), it's just going to make you play bad. It's that simple. "(Cleary) also spoke about - it's seeing how far away you are from those top teams. We don't feel like we're that far away. It's about things going right and making things go right." The Panthers' season risks slipping away amid the always disruptive State of Origin period but the club is hopeful their five representatives - Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To'o, Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin - will face the Eels on Sunday. Veteran second-rower Scott Sorensen did not feel the Panthers' situation was becoming more urgent as the season approached its halfway point. "You want to win every week," he said. "There might be a little bit (of urgency) there but I just think everyone's very level-headed, very grounded. "We might be out there and the story might be that we're here on the ladder but for us, it's honestly just what's in front of us right now and that's Parramatta." Sorensen returns from the three-game suspension he received for his shoulder charge on Nathan Brown in round eight and has been named to line up on the left edge. "I got a little bit of time there to take a breath, reset, get some quality training in and I'm excited to get back into it this weekend," he said. Penrith will sit last on the ladder later in the regular season than any defending premier for 72 years if they lose to local rivals Parramatta in round 13. Not since Western Suburbs, who went from grand final winners in 1952 to wooden spooners a year later, has an NRL premier struggled to ignite their season for as long as the four-time reigning champions. The only exception is Melbourne in 2010 but the Storm's 2009 premiership was declared void amid salary cap breaches that barred them from accruing competition points as defending premiers. Penrith fell back to bottom place on the ladder with last Saturday's 25-6 loss to fellow strugglers Newcastle, leaving coach Ivan Cleary to warn the Panthers they must begin realising their potential. The playing group is focusing on a first win since adopting CommBank Stadium as their home ground this year, not their lowly ladder position. "I'm not losing sleep over it," said winger Tom Jenkins. "I care about winning games and winning premierships and stuff like that. But if you're too focused on that (ladder position), it's just going to make you play bad. It's that simple. "(Cleary) also spoke about - it's seeing how far away you are from those top teams. We don't feel like we're that far away. It's about things going right and making things go right." The Panthers' season risks slipping away amid the always disruptive State of Origin period but the club is hopeful their five representatives - Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To'o, Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin - will face the Eels on Sunday. Veteran second-rower Scott Sorensen did not feel the Panthers' situation was becoming more urgent as the season approached its halfway point. "You want to win every week," he said. "There might be a little bit (of urgency) there but I just think everyone's very level-headed, very grounded. "We might be out there and the story might be that we're here on the ladder but for us, it's honestly just what's in front of us right now and that's Parramatta." Sorensen returns from the three-game suspension he received for his shoulder charge on Nathan Brown in round eight and has been named to line up on the left edge. "I got a little bit of time there to take a breath, reset, get some quality training in and I'm excited to get back into it this weekend," he said.
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Why Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall is sick and tired of the Lachlan Galvin saga - 'why would I care what people say'
A testy Benji Marshall has declared he doesn't care if people query his surprise decision to recall Lachie Galvin, side-stepping questions as to whether the five-eighth had regained trust at the Wests Tigers. Coach Marshall is 'sick of talking' about the saga that began earlier this month when the Tigers announced generational talent Galvin had declined to review their offer of a contract extension. The rejection triggered public ridicule from teammates on social media and has meant the man touted as a linchpin of the club's rebuild will leave after 2026 - if not sooner. In consultation with senior players, Marshall last week dropped the 19-year-old prodigy, claiming he needed to regain the playing group's trust and respect. Marshall was non-committal as to whether Galvin had done that after playing reserve grade for Western Suburbs. 'Yeah, look, I'm just focused on the game, really, to be honest,' the coach said ahead of Sunday's clash with Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval. Marshall is 'sick of talking' about the saga that began earlier this month when the Tigers announced Galvin had declined to review their offer of a contract extension 'I'm sick of talking about that (the Galvin saga). I've said it every week, I'll pick the team that I think is best. 'I know everyone wants to talk about all of these things, but we are moving on to the game. That's our focus.' Pressed as to what he would say to those questioning the sudden change of heart, the 2005 premiership hero was terse. 'Why would I care what people say?' he responded. 'Everyone wants to know why (I decided to recall him). I pick the team, you don't need to know why. 'This is the team I've picked that I think is best for us this week and we'll go with it.' Marshall is hopeful Galvin will not be booed by the Tigers' home crowd on Sunday given almost two weeks have passed since news of his impending exit broke. 'Pretty positive, I'd say,' Marshall said of Galvin's anticipated reception. 'The dust has settled a bit since last week so we're just going to get behind him, we're expecting him to do his usual thing and play the way he plays. 'If he sets up a try early or scores one, that will help.' The Tigers fell to wooden spoon favourites Parramatta in Galvin's absence on Easter Monday, notably leaking three tries in six minutes just after half-time. Marshall did not expect emotions to be running so high this weekend at Leichhardt Oval. 'Last week with all the distractions and up and downs of what happened, everyone can just chill now and just play,' he said. 'No doubt last week was a big week for everyone so just move on and get on with our footy.' The Tigers gave Galvin the option to take last weekend off rather than play reserve grade - but he was eager to front up. For all the divide between the club and Galvin's agent, Isaac Moses, Galvin has impressed Marshall since his decision to reject the contract offer. 'He's handled it incredibly well, given his age. To go through all this stuff and be so public with everything, it's quite hectic for him but he handled it really well,' Marshall said. 'He tried really hard (in reserve grade) and had a really good attitude and we want him to do that for us on Sunday.'
