PLAYERS | Chris Mortimer

Panther 276

59 matches [1988-1990]

48 points [6 tries, 12 goals]

Stats: themightypanthers.com/players_mortimer-chris.htm

One of the famous Mortimer brothers, Chris debuted at Canterbury in 1978.

After 251 matches for the Bulldogs, including three premierships, he arrived at Penrith in 1988, adding valuable experience to a young and rather inexperienced squad. Whilst not appointed club captain, he would fill in on occasion in this role.

Mortimer would play all 23 of Penrith’s matches in the 1988 season, starting off in the centres before being shifted to five-eighth halfway through the season.

Whilst not blessed with blinding pace, he was an aggressive runner and was fearless in defence.

Mortimer had achieved every available representative honour in his time at Canterbury, and whilst he was not able to make a return to Test football at the Panthers, he made a return for the New South Wales team in 1989 as well as leading the Country team in the annual City Country Origin match.

Having sustained a thumb injury late in the 1989 season, he defied doctor’s orders after removing the pins holding the bones together in a bid to play in the finals series. Whilst he was rather controversially benched in favour of Brad Fittler for the starting five-eighth position in the first week of the finals, he would return to the starting side in the second week, but the Panthers would be eliminated with a second finals loss.

In 1990, Mortimer would play 24 of the 25 matches, and would make a shift to the forwards where he would play either second row or lock. It was at lock where Mortimer would play his final match for the Panthers – their maiden grand final appearance, where they would gallantly go down to Canberra 18-14.

It is reported that Mortimer chose to leave the Panthers at the end of 1990 so as to not block the progress of younger players coming through.

Mortimer would have one last hurrah in England with Wakefield Trinity in the 1990/1991 season, but would soon retire after succumbing to a knee injury.

Whilst he has kept a low profile since retirement, there is no doubt that Mortimer is rightly viewed as one of the most important recruits and best signings in the Panthers history, playing a large role in Penrith’s rise in the late 1980s and early 1990s which ultimately finished in their maiden premiership.