IT WAS a change of scenery for Penrith Panthers fans and players on Friday, May 23, as they swapped the outdoors for the comfort of the Panthers Bathurst Club.
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From 12:30pm, fans were invited to Bathurst's home of Panthers on Piper Street, for the annual Sportsman's Lunch.
The event, which is held each year in conjunction with the NRL match at Carrington Park, saw Panthers royalty address the crowd.
Head coach Ivan Cleary, as well as premiership-winning players Scott Sorensen and Lindsay Smith participated in a Q&A, where the crowd gained important insights into the upcoming season.
Adding to the excitement, there was signed Panthers merchandise up for grabs, and attendees even had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the NRL Premiership Trophy.
The event was held just one day after Panthers players arrived in town, where they ran a Play Like a Panther Clinic at the Jack Arrow Sporting Complex on Hereford Street.
There, kids of all ages had the opportunity to be taught by the best in the biz and learn the tricks of the NRL trade.
Hundreds of people attended the event, all for the chance to meet the famous NRL players, or just to catch a glimpse of their skills up close and personal.
Just one day prior to the clinic, on Wednesday, May 21, Students from Bathurst Public School were treated to a very special experience.
On the day, the 2024 NRL Premiership trophy was on the school grounds, where students and teachers had the opportunity to pose for a photo with the iconic Provan-Summons trophy.
The trophy, which has been in the possession of the Penrith Panthers for the past three years, stood proudly under the cover of the basketball courts on the school grounds.
The special event was hosted to heighten the excitement ahead of Saturday's NRL clash at Carrington Park.
What are the key times for gameday?
The Penrith Panthers are set to play the Newcastle Knights at Carrington Park on Saturday, May 24.
Gates will open at 2.45am, with local rivals Bathurst Panthers and St Pat's to clash in a curtain-raiser at 3.10pm.
The main game will kick-off at 5.30pm.
Are tickets still available?
Tickets are still available for the match, but there's not many left.
On Tuesday, May 13, the Western Advocate reported that there was less than 2000 tickets remaining, with last year's game selling-out completely, with an attendance of 12,000 for the match between Panthers and the Wests Tigers.
As of Monday, May 19, there are now less than 1000 tickets available for the match.
All grandstand and corporate hospitality tickets have sold out - they were snapped up within days of tickets going on sale back in February - meaning the only tickets left are general admission.
The map of road closures around Carrington Park on Saturday, May 24.
What roads will be closed?
From 6am to 9pm on Saturday, May 24, the following road closures will affect motorists:
- Closure of Howick Street, between Bentinck and Seymour Streets.
- Closure of the southbound traffic on Durham Street, between the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre entrance and Havannah Street. Northbound traffic on Durham Street will remain open with one way traffic only.
- Resident access will be available during the closure.
There'll also be no parking at:
- Along the Great Western Highway, between Durham and Havannah Streets.
- On Howick Street, between Seymour and Havannah Streets.
- On Durham Street, between the Great Western Highway and the entrance to the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre and the southern side of Durham Street between the Great Western Highway and Havannah Street.
- Within the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre carpark (parking will still be available for Bathurst Tourist Visitor Information Centre and Harvest Cafe customers only).
A drop off and pick up point for buses and taxis and private vehicles will be established on the northern side of Howick Street between the vehicle entry into the Bathurst Sportsground and Havannah Street.
A designated accessible parking zone will be available in the Bathurst Sportsground (entry via Howick Street).
Who's playing?
Both teams have locked in their lineups for the game in Bathurst, with a number of western youngsters named amongst the squads.
Penrith Panthers will face the Newcastle Knights on Saturday, May 24, in round 12 action, with the four-time reigning premiers looking to kick-start its slow start to the season.
But, with Origin around the corner, it has meant that a few key players will be missing for the clash.
There's a heap of players out for both sides, due to State of Origin commitments and injury, with seven players ruled out of the Panthers squad including Brian To'o, Dyland Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Isaiah Papali'i, Liam Martin, Luke Garner and Nathan Cleary.
The Knights will be without Kayln Ponga due to his Queensland commitments, while centre Bradman Best (hamstring), winger Greg Marzhew (knee) and prop Jacob Saifiti (calf) are all out injured.
Despite several stars sitting out of the meet, several Western juniors have made the team lists.
Origin stars out, Western juniors in
Fletcher Hunt will feature again for the Knights, after the former Warren and Nyngan youngster made his first appearance for the Newcastle Knights on Friday, May 16.
Orange CYMS junior Jack Cole has been named on the interchange for Panthers, his first appearance since round five in early April.
Forbes junior Billy Phillips has been named in the reserves, but is likely to be cut from the squad ahead of matchday.
Blayney's Liam Henry has again been named in the Panthers' second row.
PENRITH PANTHERS: 1 Daine Laurie, 2 Paul Alamoti, 3 Izack Tago, 4 Casey McLean, 5 Thomas Jenkins, 6 Blaize Talagi, 7 Brad Schneider, 8 Moses Leota, 9 Mitch Kenny, 10 Matthew Eisenhuth, 11 Preston Riki, 12 Liam Henry, 13 Lindsay Smith. Interchange: 14 Luke Sommerton, 15 Austin Dias, 16 Luron Patea, 17 Jack Cole. Reserves: 18 Trent Toelau, 19 Zac Lipowicz, 20 Jesse McLean, 21 Harrison Hassett, 22 Billy Phillips
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: 1 Fletcher Sharpe, 2 James Schiller, 3 Dane Gagai, 4 Kyle McCarthy, 5 Fletcher Hunt, 6 Tyson Gamble, 7 Jack Cogger, 8 Tyson Frizell, 9 Phoenix Crossland, 10 Leo Thompson, 11 Dylan Lucas, 12 Kai Pearce-Paul, 13 Adam Elliott. Interchange: Jayden Brailey, 15 Mat Croker, 16 Brodie James, 17 Thomas Cant. Reserves: 18 Jack Hetherington, 19 Paul Bryan, 20 Matthew Arthur, 21 Connor Votano, 22 Jackson Hastings
How is Newcastle fairing ahead of the clash?
Newcastle have had one win over Penrith in their past 16 meetings, in 2018, and a draw in 2020.
They've lost their past seven against the defending premiers.
Despite the poor record and Newcastle's current run of seven losses in eight games, experienced Knights forward Adam Elliott said his side is looking to the trip west.
"We're full of energy and we want to make sure we right that this weekend getting a win," he said.
"We're heading out to Bathurst together, so it will be a good trip. The boys are really looking forward to it.
"Just because we didn't the win on the weekend, doesn't mean we can't get on this week."
Bradley Jurd
