Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Nathan Cleary produced an absolute Magic Round masterclass complete with a classic try that evoked memories of his 2023 NRL grand final match-winner Just before half-time against the Broncos on Sunday Cleary caught the ball close to the Broncos line then stepped off his left a couple of times and angled back in-field through a yawning gap were unable to stop the game’s best player and the fans sitting inside Suncorp Stadium and watching at home given Cleary produced something eerily similar against the same opposition – and against Reynolds – in the 77th minute of the decider a couple of years ago Even Cleary himself started to think about that wonderful night not long after he had scored ‘Dyl’ [Dylan Edwards] came up to me and said Coach Ivan Cleary added: “Watching it from the same position we haven’t been clicking together as well as we can.” Nathan was in a serious mood and sent a message to the rest of the NRL that he and his Panthers are not to be under-estimated The Panthers’ premiership hopes were on life support before they arrived in the Queensland capital after registering just two wins from their opening eight games But they survived a string of sets midway through the first half against the Broncos then grew in confidence before Cleary inspired the 32-8 triumph 7 was excellent against Brisbane.Credit: Getty Images Cleary kicked a 40/20 that led to a try for impressive young prop Luron Patea He put through a lovely chip kick for Izack Tago to score He even had a hand in Tom Jenkins first try early in the second half When Cleary’s face was beamed on the big screen before kick-off a chorus of boos rung out around the ground At some stage on their way home on Sunday night those Queenslanders in the stands would have realised the next time they see Cleary it will be in the NSW sky blue for Origin I in a few weeks also completed an embarrassing Magic Round wipeout for the Queenslanders after the Titans Dylan Edwards kept the NSW No.1 debate alive with an excellent outing while Blaize Talagi looks like he is settling into life in the halves along side the best player of the modern era Cleary said of Edwards and the debate about him potentially losing his NSW No.1 jersey to rival James Tedesco: “Dyl showed last year how good he is [on the Origin arena] and he showed it again today on a pretty big stage There were times Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt would put in early kicks and Dyl would come out of nowhere and save the day The Broncos had no answers when trying to stop 27-year-old Cleary Kotoni Staggs did his best to smash him into the turf with an excellent tackle in the first half but Cleary dusted himself off and kept going The Broncos blew yet another chance to prove they are the real deal they have one of the best teams in the premiership but you never know what you are going to get The big talking point at Red Hill this week will be whether to rush Ezra Mam back into the NRL side two clear of Canterbury legend Hazem El Masri to become the second top points-scorer of all time behind Cameron Smith (2786) Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter. were unable to stop the game\\u2019s best player would have felt a sense of d\\u00E9j\\u00E0 vu against the same opposition \\u2013 and against Reynolds \\u2013 in the 77th minute of the decider a couple of years ago \\u2018Dyl\\u2019 [Dylan Edwards] came up to me and said \\u2018I\\u2019ve seen that before\\u2019,\\u201D Cleary said Coach Ivan Cleary added: \\u201CWatching it from the same position I feel like he\\u2019s been playing well anyway we haven\\u2019t been clicking together as well as we can.\\u201D The Panthers\\u2019 premiership hopes were on life support before they arrived in the Queensland capital after registering just two wins from their opening eight games When Cleary\\u2019s face was beamed on the big screen before kick-off Cleary said of Edwards and the debate about him potentially losing his NSW No.1 jersey to rival James Tedesco: \\u201CDyl showed last year how good he is [on the Origin arena] Michael Chammas and Andrew \\u201CJoey\\u201D Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round The Panthers produced a complete performance against the Broncos in Magic Round but was not the only Panthers player to generate big numbers Luke Garner registered seven tackle breaks while Tom Jenkins made a team-high 181 run metres to go with his two tries Penrith City Council is inviting the community to share their feedback on a new strategy to build a safer more diverse and thriving 24-hour economy in the city’s two strategic centres OPEN: Penrith and St Marys 24-hour Economy Strategy 2025-2029 is on public exhibition from 5 May to 13 June Todd Carney said the strategy would help prepare for the City’s future by generating more jobs close to home more revenue for businesses and offering more captivating after dark experiences for residents and visitors “Penrith and St Marys are undergoing rapid and significant change influenced by major projects including the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line,” Mayor Carney said “This change will propel visitation to our city centres by day and by night generating a significant demand for an improved 24-hour economy “Our vision for the Penrith City Centre is to become the night-time destination of choice in Western Sydney while our vision for the St Marys Town Centre is to grow the late night economy with an evolving hospitality and service offering.  “I encourage everyone to have their say on our OPEN: Penrith and St Marys 24-hour Economy Strategy 2025-2029 to help make our city centres just as vibrant productive and diverse in the night-time as they are throughout the day.”  The 24-hour Economy Strategy forms part of the overarching Thrive Penrith framework that supports Council’s economic and cultural development connecting the Penrith Economic Development Strategy 2023-2031 The strategy has been informed by local businesses to create a shared vision and six strategic priorities to meet the current and emerging needs of the community Council will host a business forum on 23 May to brief industry leaders and local businesses on the Strategy highlight the existing trends for the 24-Hour Economy in Sydney and create an opportunity to hear from local businesses For more information and to complete the survey, go to yoursaypenrith.com.au/24houreconomystrategy Information and Events for Local Councils throughout Australia Contact us: newsdesk@insidelocalgovernment.com.au Magic Round is in the books – and it had a bit of everything a Golden Point thriller and an avalanche of tries The top of the table is very much firming with Canterbury returning to the winners circle over a pliant Titans but still rubbish Parramatta and the Raiders and Warriors eking out slim victories over the Storm and Cowboys respectively which feels just as weird typing it as it does reading it Their victory over the Broncos was very much of the statement variety powered by the sort of Nathan Cleary performance that puts the whole competition on notice Penrith have all the quality in the world and only have to finish in the top eight to have a shot at the Premierships Week to week they’re not the force they once were They were hefty favourites but didn’t get close to troubling the Panthers scoring just once – and even that was from a kick – as the line speed and aggression kept them in their box who lost a thriller to Canberra from a seemingly simple position after Trent Loeiro had one of the all-time worst last five minutes Ryan Papenhuyzen’s drop goal seemed to have assured the Storm of victory only for replays to show that Loeiro had needlessly roughed up Joey Tapine on the deck before it was kicked the lock forward was the man left chasing shadows as Kaeo Weekes broke through for the equalising try it was Loeiro who gave away the penalty which Jamal Fogarty kicked to win the game The Storm had led 14-0 midway through the first half but not for the first time on this ground in recent weeks are making a habit of this type of comeback Once known as the Faders for their ability to chuck leads resurrected themselves last week against the Dolphins did the same the week before to run down the Titans and now beat the Storm in Golden Point It’s stirring stuff from Ricky Stuart’s men who are five unbeaten going into a top of the table clash with Canterbury next weekend who bestrode Women’s Origin Game 1 as the Blues claimed a statement win on enemy territory to kick off the weekend The Roosters centre has been at the elite level since there has been an elite level to be at Kelly scored the first ever Women’s Origin try in 2018 and won the first ever Nellie Doherty Medal for player of the series and was one of just four from that night at North Sydney Oval to still feature in 2025 alongside teammates Kezie Apps and Simaima Taufa and evergreen opponent Ali Brigginshaw Kelly can stay at the top for a long while yet She scored early on and set up another two for winger Jayme Fressard the first of which was the game’s standout moment a superb piece of skill where the centre caught and passed in one move was also exceptional and Kennedy Cherrington provided more than a little impact off the bench with 128m from just nine carries The Dragons backrower had one of the all-time great brain fades creating a 12 point turnaround that his side were never able to come back from Su’A found himself with the simplest of run in tries but inexplicably fumbled en route to the line the Dragons stopped still as Tigers fullback Jahream Bula picked it up and ran 105m to score It turned what would have been a 20-16 half time deficit into a 26-10 scoreline St George Illawarra did win the second half It rained a fair bit in Brisbane last week so the Suncorp ground staff laid half of a new paddock in anticipation of nine games in four days fuelled by the regular nonsense from the media This debate has accompanied every previous edition of Magic despite a lack of turf-related injuries and the somewhat obvious dual facts that a) England also play a Magic Round in far worse weather and b) playing multiple games at one venue in the considerably rainier Sydney happens every weekend with reserve grade and junior grades We should be thankful that nobody gets hurt a totally different interpretation of rugby league’s rules were in effect for Magic Round especially in terms of binning players after the fact and then going back for the penalty too He was binned last week for a high shot where his opponent was falling but on almost the same blade of grass at Suncorp Stadium this week getting stuck in a media storm and then immediately relenting is deeply unserious behaviour It’s all a bit of a comedown after the trifecta of Easter/Anzac/Magic The battle at the top continues with second hosting first in Canberra – and with a Battle of the Beaches as Cronulla head north to take on Manly Sunny Sunday footy on the Brookvale hill between two Sydney suburbs is about the platonic ideal of rugby league there’s a Knights v Titans match at 6pm on Friday officially the most Friday 6pm kick-off combination possible If the Germans have a word that translates as rubbishbrilliant © Planet Sport Limited 2025 • All Rights Reserved Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has updated his squad for the Magic Round clash against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium The Panthers will wear the 2025 Away Jersey for the match The best snaps from the Panthers resounding victory over Brisbane in Magic Round A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. This is also known as Online Behavioural Advertising. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has named his squad for the Magic Round clash against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium Luke Garner returns in the centres after missing last week due to concussion protocols while Trent Toelau has been added to the interchange The Minns Labor Government has begun construction on the $309 million redevelopment of Penrith Stadium The precinct will transform into a modern venue for sport recreation with community space and entertainment including concerts offering a superior experience for visitors and players is expected to generate around 500 jobs during construction and a further 650 jobs during operation delivering significant benefits for the Western Sydney economy This stadium redevelopment has been long awaited by the local community After being promised by the former Government for more than 5 years acquired planning approval and begun construction within 2 years The multipurpose venue is set to attract new sporting events to Penrith while continuing to support the growth of rugby league the stadium will be able to host up to 10 concerts every year with a capacity of 30,000 and smaller spaces will be available for private events such as meetings Penrith stadium redevelopment to bring pride to the community The training field adjacent to the stadium will also be remodelled to create quality open community spaces with multipurpose courts child-friendly areas and improved landscaping The NSW Government has worked with award-winning architects Populous and Tyrrell Studio to ensure Penrith Stadium will be one of Australia’s premium suburban stadiums Selected after a competitive tender process John Holland has extensive experience delivering large and complex construction projects and the NSW Government is confident they will deliver an excellent outcome for Western Sydney The project is expected to be ready for operations in 2027 Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said: “We are thrilled to see work begin on the redevelopment of Penrith Stadium as we bring to life our vision for a modern stadium and entertainment precinct that will serve as a major Western Sydney attraction for years to come “With a new stadium and community facilities the stadium will have fans cheering on better views seating and amenity as they cheer on their favourite teams this precinct won’t just be for sports fans but for the whole community with year-round access to public facilities including the playing field and multipurpose courts.” Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said: “It's an exciting day for Western Sydney as we kick off construction on the new Penrith Stadium “This project will create hundreds of jobs during construction and provide ongoing job opportunities right here in the heart of Penrith for our local community “I look forward to being back in the stands cheering on the Panthers in this newly upgraded Minister for Lands and Property and Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said: Penrith Stadium has become a cornerstone of the local community fostering a deep sense of pride and unity among fans and residents alike “Breaking ground on the redevelopment of Penrith Stadium marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we transform the venue into a modern sporting venue and entertainment precinct “Penrith is a thriving hub in Greater Western Sydney and we are proud to invest in this community’s future by delivering an upgraded multipurpose facility that will be universally accessible Panthers welcomes funding for Women’s Academy and Community Hub The Panthers returned to their scintillating best in a 32-8 thumping of Brisbane Broncos in NRL Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday A phenomenal Panthers performance was led by Nathan Cleary with his try Izack Tago opened the Panthers account off a Cleary kick then Luron Patea snatched the lead with a try in his first game of 2025 Cleary handed the Panthers a commanding lead with his try on the stroke of half-time before Tom Jenkins' second-half double completed an emphatic victory The Panthers had their backs against the wall for extended periods of a tight first half including an opening 10 minutes dominated by Brisbane The Broncos opened the scoring when Ben Hunt claimed Adam Reynolds' kick across the face of the goal posts as another poor start loomed over the Panthers A swift response settled the Panthers nerves with Cleary chipping over the defence for Izack Tago to score an equalising try Cleary put the Panthers ahead with a penalty goal then kept the Broncos at bay with his kicking game and inspiring effort plays The Panthers had to defend their red zone for the best part of seven minutes as Brisbane threatened to strike back and Reynolds eventually settled for a penalty goal to level the scores The Panthers defensive efforts were duly rewarded Luron Patea made instant impact from the bench in his first game of 2025 wrestling through five goal-line defenders to score a game-changing four-pointer late in the first half Nathan Cleary emulated his 2023 grand final heroics against the Broncos The halfback drifted left to attack the goal-line defence before stepping back inside to slice through and slide over under the sticks Even a triumphant try celebration mirrored his iconic grand final match-winner The Panthers hit the sheds with a 20-8 lead and quickly put the game to bed in the second half the quick hands of Blaize Talagi and Luke Garner created space for Tom Jenkins who exploded through the defence with a burst of speed the Panthers set their sights on Brisbane's right edge again A near-identical backline play gave Jenkins another glimpse at the try line and the Panthers winger completed the move with a spectacular finish The Panthers saw out the final 25 minutes with poise and professionalism coasting to a 32-8 triumph over the Broncos on their own turf The Panthers will set their sights on back-to-back victories in Round 10 when they return to Queensland to face the Cowboys on Saturday 10 May Panthers fans will have the opportunity to meet some of their favourite players at Panthers Penrith on Tuesday 22 April The fan event will include a signing session by Brian To'o and Liam Martin * Players are subject to change without notice Meet Brian To'o and Liam Martin at a signing session in The Basement Bring your Panthers gear or purchase an item from the Panther Shop to be signed * Signing session is limited to one item per individual Line may be cut off early in case of high demand Soni Luke and Billy Scott for a meet and greet The players will rotate between The Backyard and Kelly's Bistro + Bar Say hello and capture a selfie with the Atmosphere Pantherettes and Claws from 5pm Spend $20 or more at the Panther Shop or Kelly's between 5pm and 6:55pm for the chance to win one of four prizes Winners will be drawn at 7pm in The Basement Panthers Jersey Flegg coach Jono Rolfe has locked in his side for today's Round 9 match against the Raiders at Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub in Rooty Hill Make no mistake Ivan Cleary is facing one of the biggest challenges of his coaching career as he finds himself in a position he probably thought he would never be in again – a rebuilding phase The sample size is now big enough to make that call Ivan could be forgiven for thinking he was back in 2019 again The results at this stage are the same as they were six years ago Like in 2019 the Panthers currently have a mix of experience and up-and-coming bright young talent It was the year Cleary thought about giving it all up if the team were to start poorly again the following season I don’t think Ivan is thinking the same thing for 2026 the bloke has coached a team to four consecutive premierships and knows a thing or two about rugby league But to make Penrith a powerhouse and one that can challenge for a premiership again is not going to be easy I don’t think this team will be challenging for a premiership this season or maybe even next There’s just too much work to be done to the roster first It’s seen a championship team torn apart by other clubs and the amount of top-quality players lost has been listed time and time again I don’t think I’ve ever seen players of the calibre of Dylan Edwards Perhaps playing at such a high level for so long has finally taken its toll with at least two to three additional players out each week with suspension or injuries it’s just too much to overcome when you’ve already lost three marquee players in the off-season on top of that Quite simply the depth is just not there to cover it anymore but he probably knows he has a tough road ahead to build back a premiership-winning roster he has built this team up before and one gets the feeling he’ll do it again youngsters like Casey McLean and Blaize Talagi are going to be major stars The lower grades are performing well and look likely to deliver at least four to six genuine top quality first grade players over the next few years However to expedite the process there’s no doubt Penrith will have to go into the market and pick up some experienced heads as well Martin and Leota are all contracted until the end of 2027 and none are likely to want a release before then the club will be back on top again and vying for more premierships I expect a massive improvement and a return to Finals football next year It’s the biggest challenge Ivan Cleary has had to face in years Peter Lang is an experienced sports writer who has been covering rugby league for several decades He first wrote Lang on League for the Weekender in the 1990s and worked for Panthers on its famous Panthers Magazine for several years It’s been confirmed that a man pulled unconscious from the water at Penrith Weir last weekend has died emergency services were called to the Penrith Weir Officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command were told a 38-year-old man while a 14-year-old boy was brought to shore by Fire and Rescue NSW They were both treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before the man was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition The boy was taken to Nepean Hospital as a precaution and police commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident police were notified the man had died in hospital was placed into an induced coma but brain activity never returned This post has been published by the team in our newsroom NATHAN CLEARY treated a greasy Suncorp Stadium to a ten-out-of-ten performance as the Panthers breathed life into their season by thumping the Broncos Entering Magic Round in the unfamiliar position of dead last on the ladder the four-time reigning champs flexed their muscles on the Broncos’ home ground And Cleary was central to everything Penrith did well scoring a try and playing a hand in all four others Penrith boast a superb record against Brisbane winning eight of the last nine – including the 2023 Grand Final when they reeled in a 16-point deficit in the final 18 minutes Cleary haunted Broncos fans with a carbon copy of his match-winning score in the decider two years ago then jinking through the goal-line defence virtually untouched both sides have struggled for consistency so far this year The Broncos have only shown flashes of their brilliant best — including a white-hot 34-0 first half to end the Bulldogs’ unbeaten start to the year last week — while the Panthers have struggled to capture the sort of form that’s lifted them to the past four titles dropping six of their seven matches heading into this Magic Round showpiece But this result – and Cleary’s unstoppable form – reminds the entire competition of what the Panthers are capable of Ben Hunt leapt through a web of pink jumpers to take a probing Adam Reynolds bomb and collect the first points in the ninth minute and that was pretty much where the joy ended for Broncos fans Cleary quickly got the Panthers on the board with a crafty chip kick to Izack Tago from close range Then a late Patrick Carrigan shot on the Penrith captain gave Cleary the chance to add two more points The four-time reigning champions sustained a long period of defensive pressure that left Brisbane with just one Adam Reynolds penalty-goal to show for it following an illegal Liam Henry ball strip And in the 20 minutes either side of the break the Panthers proved they’re still a force to be reckoned with in 2025 late call-up Luron Patea grabbed his first NRL try wriggling his way over the whitewash despite three Broncos defenders hanging off him Then in the shadow of the half-time hooter the game’s premier playmaker produced that replica of his title-winning try two years earlier Some slick hands down the left flank – originating with who else but Cleary – set up Jenkins’ first an almost identical sequence gave the lanky winger a look at his second This time Jenkins had much more work to do but acrobatically surged past a diving Kotoni Staggs to find the corner Cleary’s sixth goal – this one from the sideline – finalised the scoreline with more than a quarter of the game remaining and placed an exclamation mark on his five-star display GAMESTAR: Nathan Cleary had his fingerprints all over his team’s five tries in a signature display by the NRL’s best player GAMEBREAKER: Thomas Jenkins’ second try in the left corner finished Penrith’s statement performance Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has updated his squad for the Round 8 clash against the Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium Luke Sommerton will start at hooker in place of Mitch Kenny Izack Tago will return to the starting side with Luke Garner ruled out due to concussion protocols while Mavrik Geyer has been named on the interchange The Panthers will wear the 2025 Anzac Jersey for the match TICKETS ON SALE: Secure yours today! OPPOSITION TEAM: SEE THE SEA EAGLES SQUAD A man allegedly masturbating in front of two women in Penrith has denied the act saying he was actually trying to hide drugs April 11 two young women were seated outside a major shopping centre on High Street in Penrith A 38-year-old Mortdale man made eye contact with the two women and moved to a bench closer to them the 38-year-old again made intense eye contact with the women and at the same time has placed his right hand down the front of his pants The 38-year-old then allegedly began to vigorously masturbate in front of the two women for approximately two minutes they were stopped by several witnesses who told police the man had also been trying to sell them cannabis Police caught up with the man and he was searched Police located two small resealable bags containing cannabis The man was questioned in relation to the masturbation and the 38-year-old told police he was not masturbating; he was attempting to secrete the cannabis The man was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station While in custody the man was allegedly sexually aggressive towards female officers and continued with his sexual acts Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024 and covers local news - primarily courts and politics A graduate of the University of Wollongong Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist The 2025 season for the Penrith Panthers has continued to go from bad to worse and it doesn’t get any easier in Magic Round After another heavy loss last week at the hands of the Sea Eagles the Panthers occupy the bottom spot on the ladder The Broncos hammered the previously undefeated Bulldogs last week and should come into this matchup as the heavy favourites Also, don’t forget to head to our NRL tips page for more previews analysis and betting tips for every NRL match of every round Odds and lines provided with thanks to Ladbrokes Note that odds and lines can fluctuate throughout the week and are correct at the time of writing The Panthers decided to take a home game to Suncorp Stadium for Magic Round where they get to take on the usual home team at the venue Whilst I would usually say that’s a horrible decision the Panthers have looked horrific at CommBank Stadium this season they were dominated by the Sea Eagles at “home” with the referee and bunker making some absolutely horrific decisions and they deserve their bottom spot on the ladder The Broncos were in a spot of bother coming into last week off the back of a poor round 7 loss to the Warriors and the fact they were set to be without superstar fullback Reece Walsh for a few weeks as the Broncos flew out of the gates at home against the previously undefeated Bulldogs It was what we expected all season from the Broncos and they were helped by the ill-discipline of the Bulldogs who had three players sin-binned during the game and creating a line-break / try assist play The Panthers have dominated this matchup since 2020 as they have dominated every matchup since then the Panthers hosted the Broncos at Bluebet Stadium before a couple of Broncos tries closed the gap slightly but it wasn’t enough as the Panthers easily won 34-12 They next met in round 18 at Suncorp Stadium where this time the Panthers closed 4.5-point favourites where both teams were without their halfbacks the Panthers were dominant across all statistics and deserved the victory and the Broncos were 1.5-point favourites on the look ahead It has been all Broncos’ support in the market and still don’t believe the market has got anywhere near catching up to how poor the Panthers are this season The Broncos should win this and win it convincingly in my opinion and they will want to go on with the job given the amount of pain the Panthers have inflicted on them lately it opened 46.5 and it hasn’t moved from that mark all week so do believe there is some value in the over here and will bet it the Broncos winning by margin is my best bet here Throughout the 2025 NRL season we’ll be putting together a fun same game multi for every match at BoomBet using their BetShare feature just click on the BoomBet BetShare button below and our same game multi selections will be added straight into your bet slip on BoomBet You can then enter how much you wish to wager Leg 2: D Mariner (1+ try) – Has had a stop start season but on the right wing against this woeful Panthers left-edge defence Leg 3: L Garner (1+ try) – Underrated ball runner on the left edge and whilst the Panthers don’t get left as much as right if anyone is going to hit the edge hard and score SGM Odds: $9.00 at BoomBet Ben earns a living working for the NSW Government but his real passion lies in sports and sports betting Ben has spent years developing sports betting models for various sports and has been using these models for the past few years creating articles for Before You Bet across NRL Ben has finally seen some rewards for his years of loyal support with the Panthers chasing a fourth straight NRL Premiership in 2024 Editor’s note: Take care when signing up to new sports betting agencies Be sure to read all terms and conditions of any bonus offers deposit/withdrawal requirements and identification verification on each respective site as some of the information on this page may be outdated Before You Bet will do their best to keep this page up to date but takes no responsibility for any information on this page being incorrect Our team of expert horse racing analysts bring you regular horse racing tips from major horse racing meetings in Australia and internationally The highlight of the Australian horse racing calendar is the Spring Carnival and we'll be there riding every winner home with you with our free racing tips and best bets stay tuned into Before You Bet as we provide previews and AFL betting tips for every match of every round as well as coverage of the AFLW Women's competition Brownlow Medal vote predictions and a rolling Brownlow Medal leaderboard then you'll enjoy following our AFL betting tips NRL tips for every match of the 2025 NRL season The National Rugby League is the biggest rugby competition in Australia and we have previews and NRL betting tips for every game plus best bets for special events like the State of Origin NBA betting is very popular in Australia and we have free NBA betting tips all season long with our best NBA tips for the biggest games every week The 2025 Paddle Australia Canoe Slalom National Championships get underway at Penrith Whitewater Stadium this Thursday 24 April President of the Western Sydney Whitewater Club Chris Tubb is looking forward to an exciting weekend of racing on home soil before the international season begins “Hosting this event is a fantastic opportunity for the club,” Tubb said “Over the last couple of years the club has been growing and we have some excellent younger paddlers coming through “Having the Nationals in Penrith gives these paddlers the chance to compete at a national level “It is great to see them representing the club and it will be really exciting to see how the young paddlers go against their interstate compatriots “I am most excited to see the racing – the courses at Penrith are always technically challenging “It is great to watch Australia’s best showing how it is done and it is also great to see the up and coming paddlers “Of course it is always exciting getting on the water and trying the course out myself – there is always a hotly competitive masters competition within the race.” As the final event on home soil before the 2025 ICF Slalom World Championships in September/October the canoe slalom community is looking forward to welcoming the world to Penrith “Of course the Canoe Slalom community is extremely excited for the World Championships to be held in Australia,” he said “It is always great to see the top international paddlers when they come over for the Australian Open and the Oceania competitions but having this main event on our door step is monumental “A chance to see all the best paddlers in the world it is a chance to catch up with canoeing friends from all over Australia.” To stay up to date with all the action and live results from the 2025 Canoe Slalom National Championships – click here Of all of the crazy results in the mixed-up shook-up world that is the NRL this season the sight of the champions going from the penthouse to the outhouse is the most outrageous “The ladder doesn’t really matter until July or August but I guess it’s a talking point,” said Panthers coach Ivan Cleary to a Manly side that snapped a three-game losing streak Three players - Manly’s Siosiua Taukeiaho and Penrith pair Scott Sorensen and Paul Alamoti - spent time in the sin bin watched it whittle away during a horror period after the break in which they had only about 20 per cent of the football and then regrouped to record just their second win in 11 attempts against the Mountain Men “We’re playing against a team that’s won the last four premierships and playing away from home,” said Manly coach Anthony Seibold “We sort of had to navigate that little period there and our leaders were great tonight In perhaps the best Manly news of the night Tom Trbojevic came through his comeback match unscathed who will shift to five-eighth if the club’s pursuit of Jamal Fogarty proves unsuccessful Like Mitchell Moses showed in his return for Parramatta this is a man who makes his teammates better Tolutau Koula celebrates scoring a try.Credit: Getty Images Sometimes it was just a decoy run or the organisation of his defence from the back “Tommy Turbo” doesn’t always need to come up with a big play to make a difference where Haumole Olakau’atu constantly terrorised Casey McLean “Really influential,” Seibold said of Trbojevic “I thought Turbo and Chez [Daly Cherry-Evans] led our team exceptionally well It was great to have him back on the park.” In a match where the momentum swung wildly - the pendulum shifted towards the Panthers when Nathan Cleary kicked a contentious 40-20 - the Sea Eagles were better for longer “We’ve got to put bigger periods of good play together,” Ivan Cleary “We’ve got to start the game better than we did tonight so that’s not going to win you too many games but too many times this year so far that’s happening you look back and you’ve just got to play better There is still time for Penrith to make the long It will need to begin against Brisbane in Magic Round and the Panthers are officially last on the 2025 NRL ladder...yikes but they let Manly take back control in the final 20 minutes of the game who will now get two free points with the bye next week as all the other teams head up to magic round Nothing ground breaking from Tom Trbojevic on his return tonight but you can see that the Sea Eagles are far more settles when he’s on the field The calls on high tackles have gotten a bit out of hand tonight...in this blogger’s humble opinion Belinda Sharpe calls a high tackle from Jazz Tevaga on Tom Jenkins and the Sea Eagles send it up for a captain’s challenge who is put through a hole in the Panthers defence by Daly Cherry-Evans Tolutau Koula scores for the Sea Eagles.Credit: Getty Images who are in complete control of this match now and have an extra man on the field for another three minutes The first miss from Reuben Garrick tonight The momentum shifts in this game has been crazy The big edge forward goes up to contest a Daly Cherry-Evans kick and he gets beats Dylan Edwards to the ball to score Reuben Garrick puts the conversion through to make it a 12-point lead Siosiua Taukeiaho has about two minutes left in the sin bin Sidenote: Gordon Chan Kum Tong has failed his head injury assessment and won’t return to the Sea Eagles tonight Manly make a break up and Daly Cherry-Evans looks like a sure thing to score after a kick back on the inside from Tom Trbojevic But Cherry-Evans is taken out by Paul Alamoti which is a professional foul and sends the Panthers outside back to the bin but they opt to kick for the extra two points \\u201CThe ladder doesn\\u2019t really matter until July or August but I guess it\\u2019s a talking point,\\u201D said Panthers coach Ivan Cleary you\\u2019re going to be down there somewhere.\\u201D Three players - Manly\\u2019s Siosiua Taukeiaho and Penrith pair Scott Sorensen and Paul Alamoti - spent time in the sin bin \\u201CWe\\u2019re playing against a team that\\u2019s won the last four premierships and playing away from home,\\u201D said Manly coach Anthony Seibold \\u201CWe sort of had to navigate that little period there and our leaders were great tonight who will shift to five-eighth if the club\\u2019s pursuit of Jamal Fogarty proves unsuccessful \\u201CTommy Turbo\\u201D doesn\\u2019t always need to come up with a big play to make a difference where Haumole Olakau\\u2019atu constantly terrorised Casey McLean \\u201CReally influential,\\u201D Seibold said of Trbojevic \\u201CI thought Turbo and Chez [Daly Cherry-Evans] led our team exceptionally well It was great to have him back on the park.\\u201D \\u201CWe\\u2019ve got to put bigger periods of good play together,\\u201D Ivan Cleary \\u201CWe\\u2019ve got to start the game better than we did tonight so that\\u2019s not going to win you too many games \\u201CIt\\u2019s all stuff we know how to do but too many times this year so far that\\u2019s happening you look back and you\\u2019ve just got to play better you\\u2019ve got to play better for longer but you can see that the Sea Eagles are far more settles when he\\u2019s on the field The calls on high tackles have gotten a bit out of hand tonight...in this blogger\\u2019s humble opinion and the Sea Eagles send it up for a captain\\u2019s challenge This time it\\u2019s speedster Tolutau Koula Sidenote: Gordon Chan Kum Tong has failed his head injury assessment and won\\u2019t return to the Sea Eagles tonight Casey McLean and Dylan Edwards have been charged by the NRL Match Review Committee following Saturday night’s Round 8 clash against the Sea Eagles Sorensen faces a Grade 2 shoulder charge for his tackle on Sea Eagles forward Nathan Brown in the 33rd minute Sorensen is looking at a two-match suspension with an early guilty plea or a three-match ban if he chooses to contest the charge and is unsuccessful McLean and Edwards have both received fines for Grade 1 offences McLean was cited for a careless high tackle on Tom Trbojevic while Edwards was charged with tripping Sea Eagles player Tommy Talau The Panthers have until 12pm on Monday to enter pleas Judiciary Update: Sorensen seeks downgrade Error: no decision tree source folder detected Penrith Panthers is delighted to confirm Col Bentley has been named an Honorary Life Member of the club Bentley was awarded the honour at Penrith District Rugby League Football Club's 2025 Annual General Meeting Col Bentley played 114 games for the club including the 1991 grand final when he helped the club win its first premiership He made his first grade debut with the Panthers in 1986 and quickly established himself as a reliable Bentley was a key figure for the Panthers as the club reached its first grand final in 1990 and then won its first premiership in 1991 Following a brief stint at Manly from 1993 to 1994 he returned to Penrith for his swansong season in 1995 before retiring Bentley also made significant off-field contributions to the Panthers working for the club in sponsorship and marketing across the 1980s and 1990s he was elected to the board of the Penrith District Rugby League Football Club Penrith Panthers congratulates Bentley on being named an Honorary Life Member Penrith Panthers is proud to unveil the 2025 warm-up tee The design draws inspiration from the Panthers’ iconic jersey worn between 1997 and 1999 which is the jersey the team donned during the inaugural NRL season This was the year that Hall of Famer Royce Simmons served as the coach and Panthers legend Steve Carter captained the side marking a significant chapter in the club's history The Panthers NRL squad will wear the throwback tee during warm up at all NRL matches this year bringing a wave of nostalgia to the members and fans The warm up tee is available for purchase at the Panther Shop in store and online allowing fans to own a piece of Panthers history SECURE YOURS TODAY! Credit: Fox SportsReigning NRL premiers Penrith have suffered another blow in their season of struggle with valuable back-rower Scott Sorensen hit with a three-game suspension Sorensen said he was disappointed by the verdict after he headed to the judiciary on Tuesday accompanied by coach Ivan Cleary and Panthers football manager Matt Cameron He was seeking a downgrade to a grade-two shoulder charge after the 32-year-old had been cited for an illegal hit on Manly prop Nathan Brown in the Panthers’ 26-10 loss on Saturday Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.If successful in having his charge reduced to grade one Sorensen would have escaped with a $1000 fine and would have been free to play Brisbane at Magic Round on Sunday But the trade-off was that the New Zealand Test forward who pleaded guilty to the tackle and was sin-binned by referee Belinda Sharpe on the night risked adding a further one-week suspension to a two-game ban And Penrith’s worst-case scenario came to fruition after just 15 minutes of deliberation by the panel of Bob Lindner and ex-referee Sean Hampstead who upheld the match review committee’s grade-two charge I completely understand the process and what’s happened,” Sorensen told AAP I appreciate their support through it all and it’s disappointing but that’s the way it goes.” Sorensen will now miss games against Brisbane at a time when the Panthers’ season (2-6) is on life support Bottom-placed Penrith will have to defy history if they are to make it to September given that over the past 30 years no team placed last from round eight onwards has recovered to make the finals The absence of Sorensen is another headache for Penrith coach Cleary but the suspended forward is backing his teammates to turn a corner “I have complete faith in our team and our squad who are excited and ready to prepare for a big game on Sunday,” Sorensen said but I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure they are prepared and ready to go.” The NRL’s legal representative Patrick Knowles argued across an hour-long hearing that Brown had no time to react and protect himself from a shoulder charge Knowles said Sorensen’s shoulder charge could have had far greater consequences - Brown suffered no known injury - and argued the grading was higher because of the potential risk to the Manly forward He said Sorensen’s attempts to wrap his right arm were an indication of the care he showed for himself and Brown. But that did not wash with the panel, who stuck solid with the match review committee’s findings. Bench forward Mavrik Geyer looms as the most likely replacement for Sorensen in Sunday’s clash with Brisbane. Sorensen will be free to return in the Panthers’ round 13 clash with bitter rivals Parramatta. Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T The mighty Penrith Panthers have anchored themselves to the bottom of the NRL ladder following a 26-10 defeat to the Manly Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night The four-time defending premiers will now sit outright last for the end of round eight recording only two wins in the 2025 the season It marks a dramatic fall from grace as the most dominant force in rugby league now become contenders for the wooden-spoon in a matter of months It’s the likes of which have not been seen since the Brisbane Broncos’ horrible season start in 1999 following their back-to-back premiership victories of 1997 and 1998 “The ladder doesn’t really matter until July or August,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said post-match Manly ended a three-game losing streak with the victory The win was also their first away from Brookvale Oval this season The Sea Eagles controlled the opening half leading 14-0 at the break with tries to Blaize Talagi and Gordon Chan Kum Tong Penrith struggled with ill-discipline and execution with multiple errors and penalties stalling any early momentum Nathan Cleary sparked a likely Panthers comeback early in the second half producing a remarkable 40-20 kick that led to two tries within five minutes from the boys in black Cleary’s successful sideline conversion narrowed the scoreline to 14-10 Manly responded through a penalty goal and two late tries Daly Cherry-Evans was taken out off the ball resulting in a professional foul and two points for Manly before back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu out-jumped the probable New South Wales fullback Dylan Edwards to score off well-placed Cherry-Evans bomb Tolutau Koula iced the match when he broke through untouched on the right edge with eight minutes to play Manly coach Anthony Seibold praised his side’s composure after what he described a “challenging month.” The match marked the successful return of Tom Trbojevic from injury Manly’s superstar fullback showed positive signs for New South Wales fans ahead of the State of Origin series contributing in keys areas in attack and defence “The body is feeling good,” Trbojevic told Fox League post-match “I wouldn’t be playing footy otherwise,” he said Manly maintained battled hard to win the arm wrestle the Panthers had a try to Luke Sommerton overturned by the bunker and then lost forward Paul Alamoti to the sin bin during tense period in the game “We’ve got to start the game better than we did tonight,” Ivan Cleary said That’s not going to win you too many games.” Penrith’s downfall might not get easier coming into the Origin period next month and having already been stripped in terms of talent depth Maroons star Cameron Munster said the Panthers could struggle further when players like Nathan Cleary Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin are called up to play for their state it’s Ivan and that four-time premiership winning team,” Munster said Panthers record points scorer Nathan Cleary admitted post-match that the team is in a difficult situation but didn’t show any signs of panic but it is what it is — we got ourselves in this position “I still have full faith in this group and what we’re doing at training “It’s just about getting that little bit of faith in the game “We’re not looking at the ladder at the moment — it’s about putting back-to-back performances together and seeing how we go.” Penrith will now take on the red-hot Brisbane Broncos at Magic Round next week as they try and claw their way from the bottom Fox League commentator Andrew Voss summed up the gravity of the situation late in the broadcast “The four-time champions are going to be last at round eight “Could you imagine Liverpool or Arsenal being at the bottom of the ladder one-third of the way through the season.” others have had the benefit of the bye – but just reading that… unbelievable,” he said Panthers players will join the Trophy Tour for an appearance at Westfield Penrith on Friday 28 March Luke Sommerton and Soni Luke* are scheduled to appear at Westfield Penrith as Panthers takes the 2024 NRL Trophy on tour * Players are subject to availability and may change without notice Panthers players will be joined by Atmosphere Pantherettes and Claws at Westfield Penrith Soak up the Panthers glory by getting a photo with the 2024 NRL Trophy in its rightful place at the foot of the mountains The first 200 Westfield members in line will receive a special goodie bag - be sure to arrive early for your chance to score some Panthers merchandise Chat with the Panthers friendly staff about membership options and benefits See here for more information from Westfield Penrith. It would have been unthinkable at the start of the season but Penrith appear in danger of joining a rare list of clubs to slump from NRL premiers to finals spectators in the space of a year After Saturday’s 26-10 loss to Manly at CommBank Stadium the defending four-time champions inexplicably find themselves occupying the last rung on the competition ladder with just two wins from their first eight games That leaves them with 16 regular-season rounds to claw their way back into the top eight and avoid the unfortunate fate of Canterbury (2004) Wests Tigers (2005) and Melbourne Storm (2009) – the three premiership-winning teams of the NRL era (since 1998) who missed the play-offs the year after clinching the title The Bulldogs nosedived from champions to 12th the Tigers slipped from the penthouse to 11th while the Storm ended up with the 2010 wooden spoon after being stripped of all their points that season – as well as having two grand final triumphs annulled – over a now-infamous salary cap scandal while frustrated with a run of six losses in seven games that has caused his team to plummet from first to worst replied “absolutely” when asked on Saturday night if they were still alive in the finals race But as Channel Nine commentator Billy Slater noted on Sunday: “We’re only eight rounds in but that’s a third of the way into the competition and they’ve only clocked up two wins for the year Nathan Cleary has been frustrated by Penrith’s patchy form.Credit: Getty Images “We’re all waiting for the Panthers to click “Last week they had a good win against the Roosters but then back to the losing form line again … time is starting to run out for the Panthers.” Adding to Penrith’s concerns their next two games are road trips to play in-form Brisbane and North Queensland and then they face the prospect of being decimated by State of Origin selections As for how many more wins Penrith will need to make the top-eight cut-off the Warriors qualified eighth in the play-offs with 15 regular-season victories Gold Coast needed only 10 wins to claim the last berth in the finals Penrith have ground to make up but are only two victories adrift of the top eight they have drifted from $4.50 second favourites for the title in the pre-season to $15 They are now paying $2.25 to make the eight Cleary maintains there are still enough games remaining to launch a run that culminates in finals qualification before we need to worry about that … we’ve got to put bigger periods of good play together,” he said He was bemused when asked if the points table was a true reflection of how his team have been performing “The ladder doesn’t really matter until July or August or something He suggested the solution to Penrith’s problems was straightforward Penrith’s champion playmaker and co-captain had no doubt the Panthers – one of only three teams in history to win four titles in a row – were close to finding their mojo “I’m still super-positive about what this group can do because I feel like in every single game we’ve had patches of the footy we want to play,” the halfback said “They’re just too few and far between at the moment instead of going after the game and making it easier “It’s just finding that consistency through a game actually building on it rather than giving it up.” back-rower Scott Sorensen is facing a two-game suspension after being charged with a grade-two shoulder charge on Manly forward Nathan Brown If the Panthers opt to contest the charge at the judiciary Channel Nine commentator Andrew Johns felt Sorenson had been harshly treated “For that to get two weeks is farcical,” Johns said NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now Wests Tigers (2005) and Melbourne Storm (2009) \\u2013 the three premiership-winning teams of the NRL era (since 1998) who missed the play-offs the year after clinching the title while the Storm ended up with the 2010 wooden spoon after being stripped of all their points that season \\u2013 as well as having two grand final triumphs annulled \\u2013 over a now-infamous salary cap scandal replied \\u201Cabsolutely\\u201D when asked on Saturday night if they were still alive in the finals race But as Channel Nine commentator Billy Slater noted on Sunday: \\u201CWe\\u2019re only eight rounds in but that\\u2019s a third of the way into the competition and they\\u2019ve only clocked up two wins for the year \\u201CWe\\u2019re all waiting for the Panthers to click \\u201CLast week they had a good win against the Roosters but then back to the losing form line again \\u2026 time is starting to run out for the Panthers.\\u201D before we need to worry about that \\u2026 we\\u2019ve got to put bigger periods of good play together,\\u201D he said \\u201CThe ladder doesn\\u2019t really matter until July or August or something He suggested the solution to Penrith\\u2019s problems was straightforward \\u201CYou\\u2019ve just got to play better,\\u201D he said Penrith\\u2019s champion playmaker and co-captain had no doubt the Panthers \\u2013 one of only three teams in history to win four titles in a row \\u2013 were close to finding their mojo \\u201CI\\u2019m still super-positive about what this group can do because I feel like in every single game we\\u2019ve had patches of the footy we want to play,\\u201D the halfback said \\u201CThey\\u2019re just too few and far between at the moment \\u201CIt\\u2019s like we want to make it hard \\u201CIt\\u2019s just finding that consistency through a game actually building on it rather than giving it up.\\u201D \\u201CFor that to get two weeks is farcical,\\u201D Johns said Tickets are now available for every Panthers home game at CommBank Stadium in 2025 All remaining six home games at CommBank Stadium are officially on sale beginning with ANZAC Round against Manly Sea Eagles and the Battle of the West with Parramatta Eels BUY TICKETS TODAY The Panthers reignite their rivalry with the Eels in Round 13 hosting the Battle of the West on a Sunday afternoon at CommBank Stadium Rabbitohs (Round 20) and Wests Tigers (Round 21) pay visits to the world class venue The Panthers final home game at CommBank Stadium comes in Round 24 (Indigenous Round) when they are pitted against Melbourne Storm in a grand final rematch There will be a members pre-sale for the Round 25 showdown with the Raiders at Glen Willow Oval in Mudgee on Thursday 1 May with tickets being made available to the general public on Friday 2 May Premium ticketing is also available for purchase 1967 Lounge presented by Turner Freeman Lawyers Allam Homes Director's Club and Outdoor Corporate Reserved packages Panthers fans will have the opportunity to meet some of their favourite players at Panthers Penrith on Monday 31 March The fan event will include a signing session by Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards Meet Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards outside the Panther Shop for a special signing session or purchase Sport Heads from the Panther Shop merchandise van located outside the club Preston Riki and Luron Patea for a meet and greet The four players will be spread between the Panther Shop and Kelly's Bistro + Bar Enjoy live music and capture a selfie with the Pantherettes and Claws from 5pm Winners will be drawn at 7pm in the main foyer near the Panther Shop The Panthers suffered a 26-12 loss to Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup season-opener at Parker Street Reserve on Saturday There were signs of promise for the Panthers highlighted by Tom Jenkins' two tries in his first game back with Penrith but errors and penalties proved costly as the Jets came away with victory The Newtown Jets have overcome the early loss of boom fullback Liam Ison to record an impressive 26-12 win over a Penrith Panthers side at a wet and slippery Parker St Reserve this afternoon The defending premiers made plenty of errors early on and one stage trailed 12-10 early in the second half when centre Thomas Jenkins scored the second of his two tries on his return to the Panthers Billy Burns and Riley Pollard played key roles in the Jets' comeback victory each scoring a try except for the latter who nonetheless impressed with a couple of try assists After a nervous start from the both sides it would be the Jets who would score first a quick shift left put winger Eli Clark down the eastern flank before finding halfback Niwahi Puru backing inside to score in the south eastern corner Puru missed the sideline conversion attempt but the Jets lead 4-0 after 23 minutes of play Penrith hit back almost immediately when centre Tom Jenkins swooped on an attacking kick from Brad Schneider to score next to the posts and with Schneider’s successful conversion the home side took a slender 6-4 lead after 25 minutes  Interchange forward Brad Fearnley put the Jets back in front when he barged his way over from close range to score underneath the posts and with Puru’s easy conversion the visitors led 10-6 with six minutes remaining to the break A penalty to the Jets right on halftime could have seen the visitors extend their lead but Puru's attempt to convert the penalty hit the post leaving the Jets leading 10-6 at the main break An Asu Kepaoa long-range line-break off a Jets error resulted in a second try a few plays later to Jenkins who scored from close range with off a short pass from Schneider It proved to the turning point of the game as an ensuring penalty and six again deep in Panthers territory resulted in a try to winger Kristian Dixon who finished off a slick backline movement from the Jets putting the visitors back in front 14-12 despite Puru again missing a sideline conversion attempt The Jets scored again from the next set back when Rajab broke through the line and linked up with his halves partner to score his second try of the afternoon underneath the posts to give the visitors the biggest lead of the game 20-12 The Jets capitalised moments later on attack when skipper Billy Burns crashed over out wide from close range and with Puru’s conversion Newtown were finally in firm control of the game leading 26-12 Penrith continued to throw plenty at the Jets' defence over the closing stages but were unable to reduce the gap with the Jets running out convincing winners in the end 26-12 Panthers coach Ben Harden has named his NSW Cup squad for Saturday's season-opener against Newtown Jets at Parker Street Reserve Six members of the Las Vegas travelling squad from the NRL season-opener have been named to play The Panthers will host the game at Parker Street Reserve in Penrith forming a double-header with the earlier Jersey Flegg match See the Jersey Flegg squad for Round 1 Panthers Jersey Flegg coach Jono Rolfe has named his squad for Friday night's Round 6 match against the Sea Eagles at Parker Street Reserve NRL: Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary spoke to the media following their Magic Round win victory against the Broncos