Police are appealing for information about an early hours assault in Penrith earlier this year Cumbria Constabulary has issued the appeal today, Saturday May 3, about the incident on Sandgate on February 9 at around 2.40am. They said a man was stood with his vehicle and was harassed by a group of five to six men.One of the men from the group assaulted him, causing minor injury to his leg.Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it quoting crime number CRI00251822 or call 101.Alternatively Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox *We hate spam as much as you do. Privacy Statement Phone: 01768 862313Email: admin@cumbriacrack.com Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited No: 12475190VAT registration number: 343486488 © 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme Penrith Panthers assistant coach Ben Gardiner is being lined up to take over as St Helens head coach should Paul Wellens depart Pressure has been building on Wellens for a number of weeks and following Saints’ 17-4 defeat to Leeds Rhinos at Magic Weekend on Saturday night boiling point was reached as supporters tried to personally confront him at St James’ Park leaves Wellens’ side sat sixth on the Super League ladder: but they are only clinging on to a play-off spot on points difference as things stand having already lost five league games this term Their record of five wins and five defeats in Super League is identical to that of Catalans Dragons eighth and ninth spots on the ladder respectively Saints enjoyed a roaring start to the season winning four of their first five games in all competitions and scoring 186 points in the process they have won just two games in Super League and were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by a Warrington side they’ve now lost seven games in a row against across all competitions It comes as no surprise that rumours of Wellens’ departure from Saints have been growing stronger over the last 24 hours or so reports suggest that the Merseyside outfit could well look Down Under for their new head coach HASTINGS RETURN?: Decision made on Jackson Hastings’ future amidst Super League speculation NRL columnist Peter Lang has added fuel to the fire suggesting that Gardiner – who combines his role at Penrith as Samoa’s head coach on the international front – is being lined up by Saints’ bigwigs as the number one target — Peter Lang (@PeterVLang) May 5, 2025 Panthers assistant Gardiner joined them ahead of the 2023 campaign after spells with Wests Tigers He has gone on to help Ivan Cleary’s side to back-to-back NRL Premierships, and took on the Toa Samoa job ahead of the 2023 Pacific Championships With previous international experience on his CV as the New Zealand Kiwis’ assistant Gardiner was the man that brought Samoa on their tour of England last autumn losing the Test Series 2-0 against Shaun Wane’s side READ MORE: Josh Papali’i makes NRL contract admission as Super League links addressed © Planet Sport Limited 2025 • All Rights Reserved This Saturday’s parkrun was Penrith’s 503rd at Frenchfield The weather was cooler after some very warm days earlier in the week with some sunshine and some clouds the morning had started off chilly with a nippy breeze By 9am it was the sort of day where as a volunteer marshal I kept on taking my jacket off and putting it back on again The views of both the North Pennines and the Lakeland fells were stunning jogging or walking the 5km course and for volunteering and 341 runners joggers and walkers tackled the two-lap course at Frenchfield with 41 volunteers making the event possible Charlotte Newby was the first female to cross the finish line in 21.29 It saw seven people running their first ever parkrun and 39 participants got personal best times on the Penrith course May Day Bank Holiday weekend saw a lot of tourists tackling the Penrith course There were 65 people running the Penrith parkrun for the first time Volunteers are an integral part of all Parkruns as the events could not take place without them Ross McDonald was volunteering for the first time with his wife Amanda who often runs at Penrith Ross said he often drops Amanda off at parkrun and decided to come and try volunteering Two more new volunteers at Penrith are Will Udall and Evie Hill who have recently moved to the area and have both run a couple of times at Penrith They have been regular parkrunners for several years and plan to become regular runners and volunteers at Penrith PENRITH PANTHERS assistant coach Ben Gardiner is being linked with the head coaching role at St Helens as the pressure increases on Paul Wellens Saints went down 17-4 to Leeds Rhinos at Super League’s Magic Weekend – a result which left the club sixth with just five wins from ten games there was excitement surrounding Saints with the capture of Lee Briers as assistant coach as well as the signing of Brisbane Broncos livewire Tristan Sailor things have failed to click so far for Wellens and Saints and Peter Lang a rugby league columnist for The Western Weekender newspaper in Penrith has claimed that the Panthers’ second-in-command to Ivan Cleary is on their radar Gardiner is also the current head coach of the Samoa national side A man from Penrith has been jailed for sex offences and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life of Kirkby Thore was sentenced to nine years ten months yesterday (1 May) at Carlisle Crown Court after pleading guilty to numerous sexual offences against a child including rape and sexual assault.He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further notice The offences occurred between 2006 – 2017 and relate to incidents against one girl Sargeant was also sentenced for an ABH incident against a separate person T/Detective Constable Lee Puckrin said: “Cumbria Police take reports of this nature extremely seriously and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice “The victim in this case showed incredible bravery coming forward and reporting this to police “We understand it can be extremely difficult for victims of sexual abuse to talk about what happened to them but I would like to assure anyone who has been a victim that your report will be dealt with sensitivity and professionally “If you are a child or young person and have been affected by sexual abuse please tell someone and report this to police so that we can investigate.” from Cumbria Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team said: “Our RASSO engagement officer worked closely with the victim in this case advice and updates throughout the investigation “We hope this sentencing will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward Our team will be on hand to officer specialist support.” To report sexual abuse to police you can do so online via www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it Always phone 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress For a full list of support services available, visit: Support after rape and sexual assault | Cumbria Police 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 Some cookies are essential to make our website work we'd like to set other cookies to show us how our website is being used and enjoy a guided castle tour at a free park open day on Sunday 4 May at Castle Park Westmorland and Furness Council is hosting the event where the public can enjoy a range of free activities throughout the day for all ages and abilities This follows the success of a similar open day on 13 April the council will be running a "Barclays Big Tennis Weekend" with free group coaching sessions and Cardio Tennis workouts from 10am until 1pm The free tennis sessions run at the following times and all equipment is provided: Castle Park Bowling Club also will be on hand to offer free bowls taster sessions on the bowling green 10am to 1pm and an English Heritage volunteer will lead a tour of the 14th century Penrith Castle ruins at 11am and there will be activity sheets available for children to enjoy during their visit There is also the option to try the classic obstacle golf course and hire tennis and bowls equipment for free during the games kiosk’s opening hours of 10.00am to 7.00pm Pre-booking the tennis sessions and court hire is recommended due to limited places being available other activities do not require pre-booking For details about the open day and tennis bookings, visit the council's website. Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities and Localities “The open day in April was a great success and our next event looks set to be another great opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy trying a new activity as well as exploring the historic castle ruins and ramparts and learning about our history I encourage you to take a look at the Free Park Tennis sessions offered by Penrith Tennis Club which ensure everyone has the opportunity to play They run every Saturday at 10am and equipment is provided so anyone can come along to give tennis a try or get tips for improving their game It’s easy to join in - just book your place online coaching and events throughout the summer so watch this space!” Subscribe today and we'll email you the latest newsletter updates about your new council Choose from a range of topics so that you only receive emails about the areas and services which interest you the most Subscribe to news updates New Help improve this site by giving feedback Only use this form to give us feedback about how the website is working - If you want to tell us about an issue or problem with our services, or you need a response to an issue, please contact us A Cumbrian-based couple have turned their attention from radiators and drainpipes to rucksacks and down jackets to take their careers in a new direction — and encourage less waste Plumbers Jane Ambler and Martin Miceli have been repairing outdoor gear from their home workshop for the last two years and have bought a former betting shop at 6-7 Great Dockray From hillwalking and camping gear to skiing and swimming kit take great satisfaction from giving damaged kit a fresh lease of life as the trend for more sustainable clothing grows Self-taught Jane said: “It is insane how much we throw away So much of what we use and wear outdoors is non-recyclable and would end up in landfill People say they love the outdoors so we should also be passionate about our kit and invest and look after it to make it last.  “We want people to have things repaired and to be as good or better than they were before It is important that we do a good and affordable repair It is not about botching something to just fix it for a little while.”  Jane and Martin repair lots of waterproofs rucksacks and down jackets as well as more unusual items such as boat spray decks and safari tents They believe tears and broken zips need not mean the end for kit that can be fixed at a reasonable price do not accept fashion items and alterations of regular clothing or curtains Around half of their work comes in the mail from the south of England “We repair lots of stuff that may not be worth a lot but it may have some sentimental value for the owner,” said Jane “People often have favourite pieces that they don’t want to lose We’ve just put a new base on a rucksack that had been used on loads of trips and the owner wanted to keep using it.” Jane works full-time in the business while husband Martin combines plumbing with two days at the workshop.  “I fell into this by accident and loved it,” said Jane I got involved with a project turning Wembley pitch covering into sports bags for charity — that got me my first sewing machine Martin became involved and the RWC Outdoor Gear Repairs was born RWC stands for Really Weird Company which refers to a nickname Jane’s family gave themselves some time ago who has a GCSE in textiles from his school days Eventually he hopes to spend more time in the workshop Martin added: “We take great pride in each piece of work and take as long as we need to get it right I think we have brought that from plumbing where you get a lot of satisfaction from doing a good job.” The workshop opens Tuesday to Saturday to enable customers to arrange drop off and collection of items Phone: 01768 862313Email: news@cwherald.com Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy © 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald The page you were looking for appears to have been moved, deleted or does not exist. You could go straight to our home page? 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 Reigning premiers the Penrith Panthers sink to the bottom of the NRL live ladder following the Sydney Roosters win over St George Illawarra Dragons on Friday night in Sydney The Roosters never looked like losing in front of a sell-out crowd of 41,021 who came out to watch the historic ANZAC day match up at Allianz Stadium It was the young halfback Sandon Smith who stole the show in the Roosters 46-18 triumph over the Dragons hauling himself 22 points of bragging rights falling two points short of the record set by injured Roosters half Sam Walker last year This comes as the Panthers snapped their losing streak of five straight defeats last week It’s an unimaginable situation for the Panthers who have won the last four straight NRL premierships Regarded by many as the best team in modern history Ivan and Nathan Cleary find themselves in unfamiliar territory Had the Roosters lost the game on Friday night they would have cemented themselves firmly on bottom of the NRL ladder after eight rounds Andrew Voss highlighted on Fox League during the final stages of the ANZAC Cup match between the Roosters and the Dragons: “With the Roosters winning this… and if you add the bye points to Parramatta already The comment seemed to startle Penrith Panthers legend Alexander insisted that they focus on the current game Sandon Smith has stepped into the Roosters squad following an ACL injury to Sydney’s young marquee playmaker Sam Walker the 176cm tall halfback led the charge on ANZAC day to score a double and slot seven shots at goal The 22-year-old left the park as the well-deserved winner of the Ashton-Collier Medal for player of the match Roosters coach Trent Robinson said he was impressed with the young players for standing up on such a big occasion praising Sandon Smith in particular for showing really good vision “When he played square and saw where Gutho [Clint Gutherson] was and took it on he was in the right spot… his positioning [during the game] was in the right spot.” “It’s a credit to Sandon that he individually prepared for the game that way,” Robinson said Penrith have the chance to escape the bottom of the table when they take on the 11th placed Many Sea Eagles on Saturday night at CommBank Stadium in Sydney Revamped tennis courts in Penrith have been named the best in Cumbria by the Lawn Tennis Association The accolade recognises the transformation of the Castle Park courts into a modern accessible facility that provides a year-round tennis hub for the Penrith Tennis Club and the wider public The courts have a ‘smart gate’ access system as well as floodlighting and improved footpaths for better accessibility – including enhanced disabled access.This ambitious redevelopment project was delivered through a partnership involving Westmorland and Furness Council It was funded by Westmorland and Furness Council Sport England via the Community Asset Fund which secured additional grants from Cumbria Waste Management Trust and The Hadfield Trust the Government and the LTA Tennis Foundation as part of the Parks Tennis Project and Penrith Town Council As part of ongoing efforts to grow the sport locally the partners have been working together to provide free tennis training offers to teachers and schools coaching programmes during school holidays and Free Park Tennis sessions every Saturday throughout the year for all ages and abilities The next Barclays Big Tennis Weekend and Castle Park Open Day will be held on Sunday 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 Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary believes his team can salvage the season despite falling 32-12 to an energetic Dolphins outfit Suncorp Stadium on Thursday with Hamiso Tabui-Fidow stealing the show with a hat-trick who have won the last four consecutive NRL titles will have to set more than one new record if they are to come back from their current form slump of losing five of the first six games to compete for a fifth straight premiership No team in the NRL’s 117-year history has ever lost five of the first six games and gone on to win the premiership That’s not to say it can’t be done: In 2006 the Brisbane Broncos lost five-in-a-row during the regular season and came back to win the premiership – as did the Melbourne Storm in 2012 equal an unfortunate record this evening – matching the 1999 Brisbane Broncos team who lost their first five games out of six when starting the season as reigning premiers But coach Cleary believes they can turn it around a faithful Cleary said it’s just a matter of time until they hit form and go on a run “Of course we can [turn it around],” Cleary said The super coach highlighted the normally bulletproof Panther’s defence as being “not up to standard.” “We’ve got to get to work and improve it “Once we get our confidence back in defence… it can change quickly.” The Panthers have had a string of injuries to key players to start the 2025 season Jack Cole and Scott Sorensen who all missed games due to the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) protocols not even the return from injury for Kangaroos fullback Dylan Edwards was enough to make the difference The inconstancy of the Panther’s spine is something that Ivan Cleary thinks is important to respect “We’ve had five different spines over six weeks as well,” he commented “There have been a lot of changes early in the season.” One of the few highlights for the visiting team came from an all-time blunder from Dolphins winger Jack Bostock when he casually tried to kick a ball dead in-goal but got it all wrong – kicking it instead back into his own in-goal and into the hands of Penrith prop Moses Leota The Panthers remain firmly the bottom of the NRL ladder with only two competition points which came their first-round 28-22 victory over the Cronulla Sharks in Las Vegas The recently redeveloped tennis courts at Penrith Castle Park have been named “Cumbria Tennis Park Venue of the Year 2025” by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) celebrating a major success for community sport in the county Westmorland and Furness Council was delighted to accept the award at the recent Cumbria LTA Volunteers and Awards Evening held on 4 April at Rheged in Penrith The accolade recognises the outstanding transformation of the Castle Park courts into a modern as well as floodlighting and improved footpaths for better accessibility - including enhanced disabled access This ambitious redevelopment project was delivered through a strong partnership involving Westmorland and Furness Council and was made possible thanks to funding from: The next Barclays Big Tennis Weekend and Castle Park Open Day will be held on Sunday 4 May I’d like to thank everyone - Penrith Tennis Club and all the many organisations and partners who have worked together for many years to create this excellent facility giving their time and expertise as well as contributing financially It just shows what can be achieved when we work together The redeveloped courts at Castle Park offer quality courts for competitive and club tennis – but everyone can book a court so they are a real asset to the town as well Playing tennis is a way people of all ages and abilities can stay active “We look forward to working with our partners to make tennis more inclusive and accessible and to grow participation in the game across Westmorland and Furness We are proud to be involved in projects like this because they promote healthy happy lives and strengthen community wellbeing.” Penrith seconds were drawn away against Wigton’s second string in the semi-final of the County Shield competition They played the fixture on Friday evening and if they thought they were going to have an easy ride because they ran their first team so close in the Cumbria League they were to be disappointed The Wigton side was a mixture of youth and experience and proved a hard nut to crack In fact it was the home side who got their noses in front taking a three-point lead following a penalty head on to the posts Penrith came back with an unconverted try following a penalty kicked into the home 22 Good lineout ball was won at the tail and there was a drive to the line the visitor’s forwards were stopped just short and Tom Kirk at scrum half sniped down the right hand side of the ruck to score Penrith lost the ball at the restart and came under pressure as the home side pushed for the try They managed to keep their line intact but in doing so conceded a penalty which the hosts kicked to move back within a point strong tackling from the home side meant they gained good possession as Penrith kept losing the ball in contact and visitors’ trump card was their lineout where Jack Huddart dominated with the help of some accurate throwing in by hooker Josh King Penrith extended their lead from a 5m scrum broke from No8 and shrugged off a couple of tackles to score The home side then ran a penalty which caught the visitors on the back foot and they conceded another penalty under the posts which was goaled for the home side to trail by one point at 9-10 Penrith looked to be easing ahead when they scored a nice length of the field just before half time the home side were on the attack and chipped towards the 22 Max Dunford got back to tidy the ball up and set up Fraser Nicolson who saw his chance and broke out to half way Quick ball came to Kirk who managed to put Olly Bibby through the narrowest of gaps on the touchline at half way and he did the the rest from there Penrith led 17-9 at the break but this Wigton side weren’t finished they kicked a penalty into the 22 in the opening minutes of the second half and scored from the forward drive from the lineout and the conversion meant they were only one point adrift The second half developed into a bit of a stalemate but the visitors did get a fourth try to seal their win instead of the expected attack from the forwards the ball was shifted through the hands quickly right and they got Dunford on the overlap on the wide outside and he wasn’t going to be caught Penrith were worthy winners but had a much harder struggle than they might have expected with some old hands keeping them honest and some youthful pace The final score was Wigton 2nds 16 Penrith 2nds 24 You’d think picking a team from the best Australian players in an Ashes year would be relatively straightforward over 20 years with the Kangaroos and before that Queensland It should be a lot harder to get into his team than out of it Penrith have provided the bulk of the talent for a long time Or does it mean that the supporting cast aren’t as good as they used to be With 12 months between fixtures in a brutal sport like rugby league several on this list are currently injured Several key stars have already suggested that they will opt for Samoa above Australia and you can guarantee that a few Tongans will do the same once the Pacific Championships move into view pick a few bolters and work out who might yet get picked for the Kangaroos at Wembley in October If you want proof that it truly is harder to get into this Kangaroos team than to get out of it He bided his time as far as rep footy is concerned and actually debuted for Australia before he’d played Origin It was pretty amazing for a bloke that’s won the Clive Churchill Medal and been a key player in four Premierships but it would be a surprise if Edwards didn’t hold onto the jersey Reece Walsh hasn’t been close to his best so far in 2025 Kalyn Ponga wants to rep the Kiwis and two other options – more on which later – can play elsewhere You’ve also got Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell elsewhere in the squad but if Zac Lomax gets picked again this year he’ll have accepted that he is actually a winger at his club he’ll have been decent enough to divorce the poor quality of his club from his own performances but that would require him to return in time from the broken foot that currently has Lomax sidelined Jack Bostock is a bolter to take over from Lomax for NSW and then there’s a chance he stakes a big enough claim for the Kangaroos as well Jacob Kiraz has committed to Lebanon but if they don’t have a game The likes of Brian To’o and Murray Taulagi will play for Samoa while Josh Addo-Carr’s time has probably come and gone for Selwyn Cobbo is now back on a wing and despite losing Mal’s favour ahead of the last World Cup Meninga will opt to recast two fullbacks into that position just to get them in the side Latrell was previously a centre and can play that role though usually by playing more like a roaming fullback than a traditional 3 he’s also shown that he can be stood up by half-decent attack something Herbie Farnworth would very much like the look of the trouble for Australia is that the best of the best play for someone else but has heavily intimated that he’s playing for Toa Samoa Matt Burton won Dally M Centre of the Year once upon a time and could come into thinking but the eight of the last ten winners of that award play for someone else – notably Samoa’s Stephen Crichton and Tonga’s Kotoni Staggs Val Holmes is the exception and might come into consideration The halves are about the easiest position to pick here Cam Munster has been selected when available going all the way back to the 2017 World Cup and Nathan Cleary is the best player in the world so the incumbency is actually with Tom Dearden and Mitchell Moses which might reflect badly on Dearden and if it does His rep career has been chequered to say the least but if Cronulla do well Ezra Mam is the forgotten man at the moment due to his drug ban but that’ll be ancient history by the time the Ashes starts He could well get the nod ahead of Dearden There’s a huge void in the front row with Payne Haas touting himself to play for Samoa rather than Australia this year That will be great for the game – and will make the Pacific Championships mandatory viewing – but leaves a gap in the Kangaroos’ pack that nobody can fill Pat Carrigan was already a front-rower for Australia even when he wasn’t for Brisbane Lindsay Collins is the archetypal good tourist and should get a gig – if he can stay fit – in some capacity the incumbents are Penrith’s Lindsay Smith and the token New Zealand Warrior They were vibes selections to some extent last year and have a tenuous grip on the jersey to say the least then Jake Trbojevic will always be in the conversation but nobody else is battering the door down assuming he wants to continue playing rep footy Reece Robson does the job for NSW but is tipped to lose that job to Api Koroisau Reed Mahoney has been excellent to start the year but is probably a liability given his discipline Cory Paix has been the breakout star in the position but it’d probably be Penrith’s Mitch Kenny just for consistency’s sake The back row is hugely strong for the Kangaroos but that was without either of Liam Martin or Cameron Murray Martin and Crichton are undroppable if fit The Souths captain might also be punished by his versatility: he can play 13 and so it’s a lot easier to start him on the bench and has a superb knack of finding himself on the end of kicks If he keeps up the form that he has shown to start 2025 Penrith could lose just about every game from here on our and Isaah Yeo would still get picked He’s the captain and the best 13 in the world and Meninga probably opts for Reuben Cotter and potentially also Jake Trbojevic elsewhere in the squad © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner and enjoy a guided castle tour at a free park open day on Sunday 13 April at Castle Park The free tennis sessions run at the following times and all equipment is provided:  Castle Park Bowling Club also will be on hand to offer free bowls taster sessions on the bowling green and an English Heritage volunteer will lead a tour of the 14th century Penrith Castle ruins at 11am For details about the open day and tennis bookings, visit the council's website. “This looks set to be a great opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to have a bit of fun and learn more about our historic castle ruins Police are appealing for sightings of missing brothers Alan and Aland Hiwa were last seen on April 26 when they got on a train to Carlisle that evening Alan was last seen wearing a black shiny puffer jacket and blue ripped jeans Aland was last seen wearing a navy and grey tracksuit with a Trapstar man bag They two brothers have links to Birmingham If anyone sees either brother they are asked to call officers on 101 If either brother sees this appeal they are asked to call officers on the same number Paul Wilson and Petrina Cassell displaying the buffs There was also an array of cakes and biscuits for the participants after the event many of them homemade This included a “birthday” cake made by Ruth Evans Harry Patrick who also sadly passed away last year was a regular attendee at Penrith both as a participant and a volunteer He labelled himself the “token fairy” because he would sort out the tokens at the end of the event The inscription on the bench requires no explanation “Harry Patrick’s parting gift to his Parkrun Friends” and it was lovely that his partner Liz was able to join us Harry Patrick';s Commemorative Bench and his partner Liz with Doug Huggon Mike Parker and Andrew Richardson who were all at the first Penrith Parkrun results and volunteers can be found at www.parkrun.org.uk/penrith/results/latestresults/ Penrith completed the second half of their double header against Kendal They had a superb second half scoring 24 unanswered points after giving themselves a mountain to climb with a poor first 40 minutes they were gifted an attacking lineout 15m out when a kick was cleared directly into touch after the ball played back into the 22 The Kendal forwards didn’t need a second invitation and worked the catch and drive from the lineout nicely for an early converted try.  whose kicking was excellent in the first half with the wind at his back There was a scramble to keep it in play then the attempted clearance kick was charged down and Kendal regained possession they were on the front foot and added a second converted try Archie Rattray took a high restart kick in the air and his forwards rumbled forward into the 22 where the defenders were penalised The penalty was kicked to the corner where the lineout ball was won and Kendal were penalised again this time on their own line George Graham opted for the scrum from the penalty Sam Wilson broke from No8 and was just short there were other drives till the ball came to Adam Howe and he opened up the defence to power over Penrith were to score a second try in similar circumstances the defenders were again penalised on their own line the scrum was opted for again and this time it was Rattray in the No8 berth and he almost made the line from his break off the back of the scrum With the defence in disarray Graham threw a long ball out to Matty Boustead who bustled over between two tacklers to score The game moved into the second quarter and Kendal had almost complete control they extended their lead with a penalty following a high tackle scored a third converted try following a strong break in midfield by their centre and a fourth when they were gifted possession five yards out when there was a mix up at the back of a lineout They led 31-12 and had further chances to score but some resolute defence kept them out and in hindsight that was the beginning of the Penrith fightback they couldn’t afford to let the deficit grow any greater Half time brought a stern team talk from David Preston and the second period started with his side in the ascendancy Wilson stood off a set scrum on the 22 and ran the ball up deep into the red zone the score didn’t come straight away but the forwards worked away until Luke Coulston was in space five yards out Graham found him and he forced his way over Ten minutes into the second half Penrith a couple of substitutions and the introduction of Joe Kirkup swung the game in his first run he burst five tackles and being on fresh legs Kendal really struggled to contain him Penrith’s fourth try came from another penalty deep in the 22 Graham tapped this one and set up his forwards Andy Rogers and Kirkup all went close but it was Rattray who finally burst the defensive line The deficit was now only seven points but time was running out and the game went into the final 10 minutes Graham tidied loose lineout possession on the 22 and fed Kirkup he and Lancaster drove the ball up in midfield Howe made a few more yards and the ball went wide to the right Richy Dadley drew in the last two men and Rattray had a run to the corner with the cover flooding across He was strong enough to hold them off and make the corner The conversion off the touchline would have levelled the scores but it was wide Four minutes to play and still behind but they kept their nerve they gathered the restart at the second attempt and the forwards kept it tight and drove upfield a lung busting Kirkup drive burst a few more tackles and made 15 yards The ball came smartly down the backline and Rob Coward was taken out high Graham had tapped the ball and gone before the defenders reacted and made another 15 yards into the Kendal half The ball went right down the back line and again Rattray was out wide he cut inside and was hauled down some 10m short The forwards again kept it tight and inched forward Kirkup burst through the line again and looked as if he might make the line but was just short scooped up the ball and dived over to the delight of his team mates Coward knocked the conversion over and there was still time to restart the game Graham checked with the referee and gleefully banged the ball into touch to end the game It was a near run thing but great credit must go to the Penrith side for hanging on in there when they were under the cosh late in the first half and then having pride heart and spirit to overturn a 19-oint half time lead The future of Penrith Panthers star Scott Sorensen is back on the transfer agenda: with multiple clubs in Super League reportedly chasing his signature Sorensen was linked with a move to England last month with speculation that St Helens were lining up a move to sign him for the 2026 season have reportedly had no contact with Sorensen or his management over a switch ahead of what will be a major recruitment overhaul at the Totally Wicked Stadium But fresh reports about Sorensen have now emerged through the Wide World of Sports who say that Sorensen is being courted by a number of teams in England He has one year remaining on his contract with the Panthers and it is unclear whether or not he would be granted a release as things stand the report states that Super League clubs are primed and ready to make an approach should he come on the market Sorensen has been an integral part of Penrith’s success featuring in multiple NRL Grand Final triumphs he would likely still have something to offer a top-flight English club going into 2026 the report reiterates that no talks have been held with Sorensen and the Panthers about a release: and that he is happy at the club and content to remain there in 2026 But the prospect of a potential long-term deal with Sorensen having just one year left at the reigning NRL champions He joined Penrith at the beginning of the 2021 season and had an instant impact with the club He has subsequently featured in all four of their Grand Final victories as the Panthers made history in the NRL But his future could yet lie in England beyond this year according to fresh reports 👉🏻 NRL supremo backs Super League takeover as London ‘key’ explained 👉🏻 Ten-team Super League on cards as NRL set out conditions for deal 👉🏻 Brad Arthur makes Leeds future admission amidst passionate response on 2026 plans  A body has been found after a major search was launched for a Cumbrian missing man Daniel Taylor left his Penrith home on Thursday at 5.30pm for work but his employer called at 8pm to say he had not arrived Police said this morning that his body was found on Sunday in the Troutbeck area by a member of the public Cumbria police added: “His death is not being treated as suspicious and his family have been updated “Thank you to all who shared the appeals and assisted in efforts to locate Daniel.” Drivers in Penrith are set to face delays for up to three weeks as roadworks are carried out in the town Several road closures are in place across the town The A592 – Cromwell Road has been closed from the roundabout at the B5288 The mini roundabout at the junction of Ullswater Road and Cromwell Road has also been closed Contractors are on site to carry out carriageway reconstruction on Ullswater Road from its junction with Cromwell Road to the McDonald’s entrance Work is scheduled to take place from today Castlegate is closed from Great Dockray to Cromwell Road for safety reasons to prevent traffic driving up Castlegate and getting to closure point and not being able to turn around due to Castlegate being one-way It is estimated Castlegate will be closed to traffic for 10 days Penrith Panthers and New Zealand international back-rower Scott Sorensen has been dealt an extra blow after his appeal to have a grade two shoulder charge charge downgraded at the NRL Judiciary was unsuccessful Sorensen will now have to serve a three-match suspension following his tackle on Nathan Brown during the round eight clash against Manly according to a Penrith Panthers press release on Tuesday night The incident occurred in the 33rd minute of the match with Manly prop forward Brown charging hard off the back fence directly into the path of the waiting Sorensen The Panthers forward attempted to stop Brown’s momentum with a shoulder charge but the impact sent the Sea Eagles forward to the ground and Sorensen was penalised and sin-binned by referee Belinda Sharpe While it was Sorensen’s first offence in a rolling 12-month period shoulder charges are now heavily punished by the NRL’s judiciary code he would have accepted a two-match suspension with an early guilty plea the 32-year-old chose to challenge the charge in light of the recent backlash over the harsh hoping to get it downgraded to avoid suspension altogether and instead face just a fine In a hearing that lasted less than 90 minutes the NRL judiciary panel upheld the grade two charge meaning Sorensen’s suspension was extended to three games the forward will miss Penrith’s Magic Round clash against the Broncos as well as upcoming matches against the Cowboys and Knights Sorensen is expected to return in round 13 when the Panthers face the Parramatta Eels The shoulder charge was one of several controversial moments in a fiery first half at CommBank Stadium Penrith teammate Dylan Edwards was also put on report for a trip on Manly’s Tommy Talau Edwards later accepted a $750 fine after pleading guilty to the offence In the heat of the action Fox League commentator Andrew Voss didn’t hold back giving his two cents [but] I love that collision,” he said This was backed up by NRL legend Kevin Walters who said: “That’s what the fans come to see.” Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga saw the hit differently “Unfortunately Sorensen got it wrong … and deserved 10 minutes in the bin,” he said Rugby league immortal Andrew Johns heavily criticised the decision begging the NRL to answer the questions of what is Sorensen is supposed to do in that situation “We need to know what [Sorensen and others] can do and he’ll probably dislocate his shoulders,” Johns exclaimed on The Sunday Footy Show but if Scott Sorensen goes low on Nathan Brown he’s gonna knock himself out as cold as a spud.” he will dislocate his shoulder – he has to brace and get himself into space.” “I have no idea what the NRL want this tackle to be and they have to come out tomorrow and explain what tackle they want in this situation,” he said The Panthers face an uphill climb without their experienced pack leader, Sorensen, adding to their struggles this season, which see’s the four-peat champions sitting last on the NRL table IN RELATED NEWS: Penrith Forward Scott Sorensen has been linked to many Super League clubs Nominations have opened for the Kendal Highgate Kendal Nether and Penrith East Town Council by-elections The Notices of Election were published on Thursday 20 February allowing candidates’ time to complete their nomination papers before the deadline of 4pm on Friday 28 February Assuming there is more than one candidate in the wards by-elections for all three will be held on Thursday 27 March If you currently live in either ward and are registered to vote then you do not need to register your details again or changed address within either ward since responding to the voter registration form you will need to re-register you details before the Tuesday 11 March deadline to be eligible to vote in the by-election Nomination papers can also be obtained from the offices of the Returning Officer at South Lakeland House LA9 4DQ for the Kendal Highgate and Kendal Nether wards and from Voreda House Completed nomination papers must be returned to the correct office before 4pm on Friday 28 February The rules for postal voting have now changed and postal voters are encouraged to use the Royal Mail envelope provided with the postal vote pack Anyone returning a postal vote by hand to the Returning Officer must complete a postal vote return form A postal vote returned by hand that is not accompanied by a postal vote return form will be rejected.  There are also new limits on the number of postal votes that can be handed in by one person Electors who wish to hand their postal vote in at the polling stations or designated council offices must complete a postal vote return form for the postal vote to be accepted Postal votes should not be put through the council letter boxes or via internal council mail boxes as these will have to be rejected.  Anyone voting in person will have to show a form of photo ID Anyone without an eligible form of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) Applications for a VAC or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for these elections must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 19 March Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate can be made online www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate The deadline to register to vote in the Kendal Highgate Kendal Nether and Penrith East Town Council by-elections is midnight on Tuesday 11 March.  The postal vote application deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 12 March The deadline for proxy vote applications is 5pm on Wednesday 19 March The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 19 March For more information, visit the Westmorland and Furness Council website at www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/voting-and-elections Westmorland and Furness Council is delighted to announce progress on an exciting project to enhance Penrith Castle Park a historic place as well as a valued local green space Thanks to funding secured from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) the Council will soon be producing a development plan and outline designs for Penrith Castle Park The Council has recently awarded a contract to architectural design firm Architects Plus and their partner Landscape and Urbanism practice A variety of engagement activities are planned over the coming months when everyone is invited to get involved in influencing the park's future The engagement aims to gather valuable insights and views from residents and stakeholders to ensure that future plans for Penrith Castle Park align with the community's aspirations and needs In-person events where you can share your thoughts experiences and aspirations will take place on the following dates: These sessions will focus on people’s experiences of Castle Park how they use the park and the qualities they value and how these could be designed.There is no need to book to attend Further engagement will be sought in February when we will be inviting feedback on the draft development plan For those unable to attend any of the in-person events there will be an opportunity to feedback online to ensure everyone has a chance to have their say The plan and designs will be used to support and inform a business case for the Penrith Castle Park Restoration and Improvement Project enabling the release of funds from the Borderlands Place Programme Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities and Localities Castle Park has played an important role in the Penrith community sports and play for adults and children alike We really value Castle Park and are committed to improving and shaping the park’s future for the next hundred years “Everyone is invited to contribute their best ideas - residents and visitors adults and children - not to mention their dogs We will of course also have in depth conversations with the Town Council and other interested parties who want the best for Castle Park too and activities to ensure we deliver a scheme that has been informed by and reflects the voices and visions of the community “We’re thrilled to be working with the community of Penrith on behalf of Westmorland and Furness Council to shape the future of Castle Park we’re ensuring this Development Plan truly reflects local needs and values inclusive park that will thrive for generations to come.” the Council part funded a £400,000 project to refurbish the tennis courts securing the future of Penrith Tennis Club and providing year-round facilities for residents to enjoy the park was also recognised with a prestigious Green Flag Award the international quality mark for parks and green spaces A Referendum on the adoption of the Penrith Neighbourhood Development Plan is being held on Thursday 28th November 2024 The 2011 Localism Act introduced a new set of tools for neighbourhoods to come together and shape the future of their local areas One of those tools was to bring an optional new tier of plan into the planning system otherwise known as a Neighbourhood Development Plan A Neighbourhood Development Plan enables Town and Parish Councils to prepare The purpose of a Neighbourhood Development Plan is to empower local people to take a proactive role in shaping the future of the areas in which they live and to give local people greater ownership of the plans and policies that affect their local area the Independent Examiner issued his report on the examination of Penrith Town Council’s Penrith Neighbourhood Development Plan The report concluded that the Plan should proceed to referendum subject to amendments being made in line with the Examiner's recommended modifications All but two of the Independent Examiner’s recommended modifications were accepted and a public consultation was held earlier this year on the two rejected modifications.  Westmorland and Furness Council is satisfied that the current Plan meets the legal requirements and basic conditions as set out in legislation the council has determined that the Plan should proceed to a referendum If more than 50% of the votes cast are in favour of the Plan it will be adopted by the council and used in the determination of planning applications in Penrith.  If more than 50% of the votes cast are against the Plan the Plan will not proceed and it will not be adopted by the Council.  A copy of the Penrith Neighbourhood Plan, as well as a range of associated and supporting documents, can be found on the Westmorland and Furness website at www.eden.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/neighbourhood-planning/penrith-neighbourhood-planning-area/  The documents are also available to view at the following locations during normal opening hours: The deadline for applications to be included in the register of electors for the referendum is Tuesday 12 November 2024 The deadline for new applications to vote by post or to change existing absent vote details is 5pm on Wednesday 13 November 2024 The deadline for new applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or Anonymous Elector Document is 5pm on Wednesday 20 November 2024 The deadline for new applications to vote by proxy is also 5pm on Wednesday 20 November 2024 The deadline for new applications to vote by proxy on grounds of medical emergency is 5pm on Thursday 28 November 2024 or lost postal ballot papers is 5pm on Thursday 28 November 2024 The deadline to issue a temporary Voter Authority Certificate is 10pm on Thursday 28 November 2024 A copy of the Notice of Referendum is available to view at www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/voting-and-elections/elections/penrith-neighourhood-planning-referendum For more information about the Penrith Neighbourhood plan, please visit www.eden.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/neighbourhood-planning/ or contact the Planning Policy Team on 0300 373 3300 or email: Neighbourhood.Planning@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk Penrith Panthers boss Ivan Cleary watched Wigan Warriors demolish Warrington Wolves 48-24 and then admitted: “It’s probably a good job we didn’t play them… they’re a juggernaut!” Reigning NRL champions Penrith should have faced Matt Peet’s 2024 quadruple winners in this year’s World Club Challenge but it was shelved due to the Panthers’ season-opener in Las Vegas The four-time premiers faced Cronulla Sharks at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday and showed their class to eke out a close-fought 28-22 win Yet Cleary stated afterwards that he would like to potentially play Wigan in Sin City next year if both sides manage to retain their domestic crowns There is talk that the World Club Challenge could be incorporated into the 2026 Vegas schedule and Cleary raised a glass to that prospect The Penrith head coach, whose side lost 16-12 at Wigan in last year’s World Club Challenge said: “I honestly think we should play it here “It’s a shame that game didn’t happen this year and you saw how well Wigan played today – they are a juggernaut at the moment so it’s probably good we didn’t play them actually “I think it’s a really good concept and we didn’t have to go [to Wigan] last year but we really wanted to it was such a good experience and I think it probably helped us for this week “I definitely think that’s a part of rugby league that needs to survive Penrith are going for five-in-a-row this season and Cleary has great respect for Wigan adding: “The whole thing was just amazing and I thought I was run really well too We knew we would have to be adaptable and do things we’ve never done before any of the teams thinking about whether they should come It’s an honour actually to be able to come here and be part of something so special “I’m stoked to be part of this extravaganza 👉🏻 Las Vegas 2025 crowd confirmed as record set and Super League contribution noted 👉🏻 Wigan Warriors ratings as star claims perfect 10 against Warrington Wolves in Las Vegas 👉🏻 Sam Burgess questions Warrington Wolves players after Las Vegas defeat 👉🏻 Rugby League in Vegas: Assessing the five Super League teams likeliest to head to Sin City in 2026 The league is booming but there’s a wrinkle: one team has overcome built-in anti-dynasty safeguards and the game threatens to become predictable Read moreSince 2021, the NRL has been asking one question: “Who can beat the Panthers?” Every year Penrith have now won four premierships in a row They’ve seemingly overcome the NRL’s built-in anti-dynasty safeguards like the salary cap and could well fulfil Phil Gould’s prediction in 2023 that they will win five or six in a row Comparisons between the Panthers and the Parramatta Eels of the early ‘80s are over Comparisons with the St George Dragons side that won 11 (eleven) in a row in the ‘50s and ‘60s are less than useful – back then rugby league didn’t have four-point tries five-tackle sets or the 10-metre offside rule Two AFL clubs have won three-peats this century – Hawthorn in 2013-14-15 and the Brisbane Lions in 2001-02-03 Collingwood managed to win four in a row during the Great Depression Steph Curry in his prime took the Golden State Warriors to three non-consecutive NBA championships between 2015 and 2018 Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s Lakers won a three-peat from 2000 to 2002 The almighty ‘90s-era Chicago Bulls won two and probably would have stitched together eight championships in a row if it weren’t for Michael Jordan’s two-year stint in minor-league baseball Whatever the reasons for it, Man City’s dominance over the last 13 years has been undeniable. For everyone besides diehard City fans, the numbing predictability of their supremacy has also been tortuous. Free newsletterGet a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk But the gap between the top of the comp and everyone else is now very wide With the core of Penrith’s squad signed until at least 2027 While they’ve lost James Fisher-Harris and Jarome Luai there are very few teams that have a realistic chance of challenging for the premiership With two more teams due to enter the comp by 2028 the NRL’s pool of players is only going to get stretched thinner And the Panthers’ production line of young homegrown talent is still without equal The NRL’s greatest strength is that it can still tell compelling stories Watching the Warriors go on a dream run in 2023 or the Bulldogs finally make the finals last year was enormous – not only for fans of both teams But sports leagues live and die on their competitiveness If the Panthers juggernaut keeps on rolling sooner or later it’s going to get harder to keep casual and potential fans interested V’landys and co must be quietly hoping that 2025 is the year someone – anyone – finally ends the Panthers’ dream run An M6 motorist found unconscious inside his crashed pickup near Penrith who was four times the legal drink-drive limit has been sent to prison James Black’s criminal conduct came to light just after 9am on August 18 last year Police received reports of a Ford Ranger travelling north between junctions 39 and 40 Prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court: “There were several calls reporting a vehicle all over the road “They found the vehicle had crashed through traffic cones on to a grass embankment at the side of the road,” said Mr Shelley “On approach (to the scene) police have passed three separate collision sites with debris over three lanes of the carriageway “Several empty alcohol bottles and cans were found within the vehicle Mr Black was roused and has been able to provide a (breath) reading,” said Mr Shelley Black was transported to hospital and gave a blood sample which showed 320 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood He pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol Magistrates considered a wealth of background information and heard Black was addressing alcohol issues by regularly attending a clinic since October “He must stop drinking entirely,” revealed his solicitor “It is perhaps this offence that has opened his eyes entirely to that “This could well be the rock bottom that some people have to hit,” added the lawyer was given an immediate 12-week prison sentence by magistrates He must serve a 34-month driving ban when released © 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.