24 matches: 11 wins, 13 losses
Top point scorer: Jamie Soward – 159 [2 tries, 74 goals, 3 field goals]
Top try scorer: David Simmons – 19
Merv Cartwright Medal: David Simmons
Stats: http://mightypanthers.webs.com/season2013.htm
2013 saw the Panthers emerge from the premiership cellar that it had occupied in 2012, and whilst still very much in a rebuilding stage, punched above their weight by being one of the competition’s surprise packets. They were in the hunt for a top 8 position from the midway point, with only a late season fade out denying Penrith an opportunity to play finals football.
Penrith embarked on a magical 3 match winning run during May, snapping an 11 match losing streak against Melbourne (that had stretched back to 2005), then recording its second biggest ever win against the New Zealand Warriors (with Luke Walsh potting a club record 11 conversions), and then a 19-0 shut out against the Dragons at Kogarah (the first time they had ever been kept scoreless).
David Simmons’ 19 tries for the season had him as the NRL’s equal top try scorer at the end of the regular rounds, and was the club’s highest individual tally since 2006.
In the NSW Cup, it was the final season of the Windsor Wolves feeder club arrangement, and it bowed out as runners up to Cronulla. In the Under 20s, the Panthers finished second in the regular season, and qualified for the grand final, where it defeated the New Zealand Warriors in a high scoring match to win its first title.
On the representative scene, a total of four players represented the Panthers at the end of season World Cup in the UK – Cameron Ciraldo (Italy), Isaac John (Cook Islands), Sika Manu (Tonga) and Mose Masoe (Samoa).
The Mighty Panthers 