Cullen bids farewell
Former Channel Nine broadcaster Alex Cullen, who was cut by the network earlier this year after a much-publicised controversy, has finished up his role with the Panthers.
Cullen has hosted the Chairman’s Lounge and the Director’s Club at Penrith home games for several years, and has been the first choice as MC for many corporate functions hosted by the club.
Cullen has recently moved to Melbourne, where he has joined Channel Seven and picked up a breakfast radio gig, meaning an end to his work at Penrith. His last game was against the Tigers last weekend.
Perhaps it’s an opportunity for the club to look within Penrith and select someone local to host its corporate happenings from now on.
There’s something about Mary
Matildas superstar Mary Fowler is back in Australia, and she was at CommBank Stadium last Saturday night to watch boyfriend Nathan Cleary produce a five-star performance against the Tigers.
Her appearance also helped put to bed some silly rumours about a break-up, which that bastion of journalism The Daily Mail in particular had been lapping up.
Spotted
Legendary Penrith brothers Tony and Frank Puletua both desperately scrolling through their phones outside CommBank Stadium on Saturday, trying to find their tickets to get inside.
Old mates
The May brothers as well as former Panthers Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva caught up with good mates Moses Leota, Izack Tago and Brian To’o for a happy snap in the minutes after Penrith’s win over the Tigers last Saturday.
You’d love to talk up the rivalry between all these former Panthers players and the existing crop, but there’s just no story there. They’re all great mates.
Spotted
Former Panthers flyer Robbie Beckett stopping for a selfie with a Pantherette during the Old Boys Day lap of honour at CommBank Stadium last Saturday night.
Bunker chaos
It wasn’t as obvious on the TV broadcast but there was farcical scenes in the wake of the Izack Tago ‘try’ against the Tigers at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night.
While referee Peter Gough awarded the try on the field, it appeared from the first replay that Tago hadn’t grounded the ball. So convinced were Penrith that it would be over-turned, that Nathan Cleary didn’t even want to set up the conversion.
He had to be asked multiple times by Gough to start going through the process.
The Tigers were bewildered when the decision wasn’t referred upstairs, and the try was confirmed. The Panthers themselves were baffled by the call to let the try stand.
Benji all class
Talking of that try, well done to Tigers coach Benji Marshall who refused to blow up about the decision in the post-match press conference. “I didn’t think it was a try,” he said. “But it wasn’t going to change the result, we were well beaten by then.”
Old boys show up
It was great to see a good turn out of former players for Penrith’s old boys day last Saturday. If only there was a way to announce the players as they traverse the stadium – it’d be great to properly acknowledge the individuals and their contributions.
Here’s a great shot of 1991/2 Panthers prop Paul Dunn with Jim Jones last Saturday.
Rumours shut down
It would appear the Panthers have shut down suggestions of signing Tyrell Sloan from the Dragons or Adam Doueihi from the Tigers.
The Doueihi rumour was always a little bizarre and didn’t seem to have any strength behind it.
The Sloan story certainly had more punch, but it either was off the mark to begin with or Penrith have gone cold.
Stadium upgrade
Fresh designs have been revealed showing the new-look Penrith Stadium. Below is the Eastern Grandstand design, with the red outline representing the old stand and the black showing the new look.
The stadium continues to be a huge talking point amongst fans. Nobody seems convinced about the new venue and there’s no doubt all involved have plenty of work to win over members and fans.
