WINS | [2006] Round 5: Penrith 44 Parramatta 18

Sunday 9th April at Parramatta Stadium

Penrith 44 – Tries: Wesser (2), Campbell (1), Gower, Hookey (1), Priddis (1), Rodney (1); Goals: Campbell (8) | Parramatta 18

More: themightypanthers.com/match0912.htm

Preston Campbell toed through a loose pass from dummy half to score the first try, which he converted and gave the visitors a 6-0 lead after 10 minutes.

This was followed soon after by a try to Craig Gower to have Penrith lead 12-0 after 14 minutes.

However, the home team would score the next four tries, with the only points during this run from Penrith being a penalty conversion, and Parramatta would lead 18-14 at halftime.

Shane Rodney picked up an Eels pass that went to ground and crossed over untouched to tie it up at 18-all only four minutes after the resumption, with Campbell’s conversion seeing the Panthers regain the lead.

Penrith pressed further ahead with two tries in two minutes – the first to Lee Hookey and then on the first set after the restart, Rhys Wesser dummied a pass to his right at the line and sliced through the gap to touch down, to make it 32-18 after 55 minutes.

The Panthers finished off their neighbours with two more tries in the last 10 minutes – a second to Wesser when he grounded his own grubber kick into the in goal from short range, and then with only a minute remaining Luke Priddis touched down to complete a 30-0 second half and record a convincing come from behind win over the Eels.

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WINS | [2006] Round 11: Penrith 30 Parramatta 20

Friday 19th May at Credit Union Australia Stadium

Penrith 30 – Tries: Priddis (2), Cross (1), Gordon (1), Wesser (1); Goals: Campbell (5) | Parramatta 20

More: themightypanthers.com/match0918.htm

Parramatta scored the first two tries to lead 10-0 after only seven minutes.

Luke Priddis burrowed over from dummy half in the 22nd minute, with Preston Campbell’s conversion making it 10-6.

Four minutes later, Priddis put Luke Lewis into the open space who then passed it to Rhys Wesser who raced down the left edge and grounded it just inside the dead ball line, and lock it up at 10-all. Campbell was successful with the conversion, and the home team led 12-10.

Two more tries – to rookie winger Michael Gordon in the corner and then a second to Priddis where he grounded a Luke Lewis kick into the in-goal had Penrith lead 22-10, only for the Eels to score on the stroke of half time to reduce it 22-16.

A penalty conversion from Campbell in the 46th minute made it an 8 point lead, and then was pushed out to 30-16 with 15 minutes remaining when Matthew Cross scored a converted try to make it 30-16.

An Eels try on full time was merely a consolation.

PLAYERS | Jersey Komorowski

Panther 80

8 matches [1972; 1974]

6 points [2 tries]

Stats: themightypanthers.com/players_komorowski-jersey.htm

Winger who made his first grade debut with Parramatta in 1969. Seeking greater opportunities, he signed with Penrith for the 1972 season.

Starting the season in reserve grade, he made his club debut for the Panthers in Round 9 against his former club, coming on as a replacement and scoring a try in their 19-12 loss at Cumberland Oval. He later earnt a starting spot on the wing in the 30-9 win over Western Suburbs.

In 1973, he spent the season in reserve grade. However, he had earnt a return in first grade for the opening round of the 1974 season starting on the wing versus Eastern Suburbs, crossing for a try in the 31-6 loss. He would make five more appearances across the season (including two as a replacement).

1975 was once again a season spent in reserve grade, and departed at the end of the season.

He later returned to Parramatta and was part of their coaching staff during their successful run in the 1980s. He passed away in 2022 aged 76.

PLAYERS | Tony Buckpitt

Panther 74

4 matches [1972-1973]

0 points

Stats: themightypanthers.com/players_buckpitt-tony.htm

Debuted with Parramatta in 1971 before heading further west to Penrith for the 1972 season.

He started the season as the fullback in reserve grade, before making his club debut for the Panthers as a replacement off the bench in the Round 3 match versus North Sydney at Penrith Park. He would make two more appearances later in the season, in consecutive matches versus Canterbury and then Manly, with the latter being as the starting five-eighth. Although he would spend the majority of the season in the lower grades, he showed versality by being named at fullback, in the halves and the lock forward.

In 1973, he alternated between reserve grade and the third tier Under 23s teams, and made the solitary appearance in first grade, at fullback versus Eastern Suburbs at Sydney Sports Ground.

In 1974, he was still contracted at Penrith but spent the whole season in the lower grades, before leaving the club at the end of the season. He was later named in the Windsor Wolves team of the century.

PLAYERS | Roy West

Panther 70

16 matches [1971; 1973-1975]

6 points [2 tries]

Stats: themightypanthers.com/players_west-roy.htm

Riverstone junior who started at Penrith in 1967 in the Jersey Flegg competition. In 1970, he appeared in third grade and started the 1971 season in reserve grade. He made his first grade debut in the final premiership round of the 1971 season, starting in the second row versus St. George at Penrith Park.

He would not be selected for first grade throughout the 1972 season, but would return for four matches later in the 1973 season, all in the second row, and scored a try in the 29-15 win over Parramatta.

He would make the solitary appearance in 1974 (at lock early in the season), and would make 10 appearances in this first half of the 1975 season, mostly at lock. His final appearance in first grade was versus St. George in Round 11.

WINS | [1985] Round 8: Penrith 16 South Sydney 11

Sunday 28th April at Penrith Park

Penrith 16 – Tries: Gonzales (1), Simmons (1); Goals: Alexander (4) | South Sydney 11

More: themightypanthers.com/match0414.htm

Both teams traded penalty conversions to be 2-all after 18 minutes, before the Rabbitohs pulled ahead with a field goal.

Two more penalty conversions from Greg Alexander in the 29th and 38th minutes had Penrith hold a 6-3 lead, but South Sydney pulled it back to a 1 point lead on the stroke of half time.

A two try burst midway through the second half saw Penrith draw further ahead – the first was to winger Ben Gonzales when he crossed in the corner, and was quickly followed up by Royce Simmons when he picked up a loose ball from a Panthers bomb and ran 20 metres o touch down under posts to make it 16-5.

Second rower Brandon Lee was sent off with 15 minutes remaining, and the visitors soon after scored a converted try reducing it to a less than converted try margin, but the home team held out to record victory.

WINS | [1971] Round 19: Penrith 12 South Sydney 5

Sunday 1st August at Redfern Oval

Penrith 12 – Tries: Elliot (1), Sing (1); Goals: McKechnie (3) | South Sydney 5

More: themightypanthers.com/match0107.htm

Two penalty conversions off the boot of Ian McKechnie had Penrith lead 4-0 after 30 minutes, and this lead was further extended just before half time with a try to Rod Elliott to make it 7-0 at half time.

South Sydney were the first to score in the second half with a penalty conversion to make it 7-2.

Noel Sing ran around the defence to touch down with 9 minutes remaining to make it 10-2, with McKechnie’s conversion giving the visitors a 10 point lead.

A Rabbitohs try minutes later only reduced the Panthers final winning margin.

PLAYERS | Tom Wilson

Panther 17

21 matches [1967-1968]

0 points

Stats: themightypanthers.com/players_wilson-tom.htm

Gilgandria junior who made his first grade debut for North Sydney in 1963.

He signed with then second division team Penrith for the 1965 season. He became a regular member over the next three seasons, and played on the wing in their grand final win over Wentworthville in 1966.

He stayed at the club when they were promoted in 1967 to the Sydney premiership. He was in the reserve grade team for their first ever premiership match versus Canterbury, but would soon get selected in the first grade team, making his debut versus North Sydney in April at fullback, and making a total of 19 first grade appearances.

He would be limited to two first grade matches in 1968 – his final appearances in first grade – as he spent the majority of the season in reserve grade. He would continue playing in the lower grades until 1970 – that year he was appointed as captain-coach in third grade. Post retirement as a player, he continued in that role in 1974, however that year he was also part of the short lived four man coaching panel where he was also the backs coach for the entire club. In 1975, he was appointed director of coaching, a role he held until he left the Panthers at the end of the 1977 season.

WINS | [1990] Round 20: Penrith 18 Brisbane 2

Sunday 12th August at Penrith Stadium

Penrith 16 – Tries: Fittler (2), Willis (1); Goals: G. Alexander (3) | Brisbane 2

More: themightypanthers.com/match0547.htm

Brisbane led 2-0 early through a penalty conversion.

Penrith posted the first try when John Cartwright put Barry Walker into a gap, and then went through a number of other hands before winger Darren Stewart ran down the left edge to pass back inside to Brad Fittler to cross over.

Soon after, Greg Alexander slotted a penalty conversion to make it 6-2.

Soon after Fittler had a double with an individual effort, starting around the halfway line – he stepped off his left foot to evade one defender, busted another tackle, stepped again to beat the defending fullback and then dragged a defender over the line. Alexander’s conversion from right in front extended the home team’s lead to 12-2 heading into half time.

Penrith scored first in the second half, swinging the ball to the right, and Steve Carter whilst falling in a tackle was able to offload to Darren Willis in support, who powered his way over the line and managed to ground the ball.

A second penalty conversion to Alexander with less than 10 minutes remaining secured the two premiership points for the Panthers.

WINS | [1994] Round 20: Penrith 22 Brisbane 6

Sunday 14th August at Penrith Stadium

Penrith 22 – Tries: Mackay (2), P Adamson (1), Nalagilagi (1); Goals: Mackay (3) | Brisbane 6

More: themightypanthers.com/match0640.htm

The Panthers opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Peter Jorgensen carried a number of Broncos defenders over the try line with him. Ryan Girdler’s conversion made it 6-0.

Five minutes later, the fullback was in again when Mark Geyer popped an offload only metres out, finding Jogensen in support and having a clear run for the line. Girdler added the extras to make it 12-0.

With four minutes remaining in the half, Brisbane slotted a penalty conversion to make it 12-2.

With 10 minutes remaining, the home team secured the two premiership points over the previously undefeated Brisbane when the ball was quickly moved to the left and Robbie Beckett finished it off with a try in the corner.