Continuing my series of greatest teams, today we look at the Penrith Panthers.
1. Rhys Wesser
4 caps for Queensland
The enigmatic fullback was a great spark for Penrith for many years. At his best in broken play, he used his great pace to score a record 25 tries in 2003 – a record for fullbacks.
2. Luke Rooney
6 caps for Australia, 5 for NSW
Rooney was a star ever since his rookie year. A very strong runner, he famously scored the winning try in the 2003 grand final. Rooney’s later years were quite poor, somewhat diminishing his contribution to Penrith.
3. Ryan Girdler
10 caps for Australia, 8 for NSW, 2x centre of the year
Girdler constantly posed a threat for the opposition with his great swerve and step. He had a great knack for scoring tries, was dubbed the ‘Intercept king’, and is one of the few players to score a hat-trick in a State of Origin.
4. Brad Izzard
4 caps for NSW
Izzard burst onto the scene with the Panthers as a talented attacking player who backed it up with solid defence.
5. Josh Mansour
4 caps for Australia
Mansour is a very strong, gifted winger who has established himself as one of the best metre-eaters in the game, despite a career plagued by injuries.
6. Brad Fittler
38 caps for Australia, 31 for NSW, Golden Boot Award, RLW Player of the week, 2x centre of the year, lock of the year, 2x five-eighth of the year
‘Freddy’, a superstar at 16, was a super versatile player who excelled in many positions. Fittler was very smart and used his left-foot step to constantly make breaks.
7. Greg Alexander
Australia 6 caps, 4 for NSW, Dally M Player of the year, 3x halfback of the year, rookie of the year
A fast and elusive halfback, ‘Brandy’ had an excellent running game which saw him score and set up numerous tries. Well-known for his cover-tackle ability, he was key in Penrith’s first premiership win.
Alexander is the greatest to ever play for the Panthers.
8. Tim Sheens
An underrated, hard-working local junior, Sheens was a great leader and an important figure in the Panthers pack for many years.
9. Royce Simmons
10 caps for Australia, 10 for NSW, hooker of the year
The inspirational leader of the Panthers, Simmons was one of their better players when they are easy beats. Simmons famously scored two tries in the 1991 grand final win.
10. Petro Civoniceva
45 caps for Australia, 33 for Queensland. Prop of the year
Petro was one of the most consistent props in the 2000s and came to Penrith when they needed a leader after the departure of Craig Gower.
11. John Cartwright
7 caps for Australia, 8 for NSW, 2x second rower of the year
A great ball-playing forward, Cartwright had an amazing ability to offload around the corner. A great tackler, Cartwright helped change the way second rowers play.
12. Mark Geyer
3 caps for Australia, 3 for NSW
‘Loose cannon’ may be an understatement – Geyer’s aggression made him one of the most controversial players in his time. An intimidating force who ran and tackled like his life depended on it, Geyer’s most iconic moment was getting in the face of Wally Lewis during an Origin match.
13. Colin Van der Voort
A hard-working, tireless player who never played any rep games, he showed how good he was in the 1991 grand final against Canberra.
Bench
Tony Puletua, Luke Lewis, Bill Ashurst, Terry Geary
This team’s halves are extraordinary – Fittler and Alexander have the class to set up plenty of points. The dynamic backs make this team very potent, with some seriously formidable wingers.
This team has great balance all over the park, but how do they stack up against other all-time teams?
Johnno
Guest
What about "Trent Waterhouse" the Boss.
Albo
Guest
As a Panther fan from day one , back in 1967, I have seen a lot of good, bad and indifferent players come through the Panthers ! Their strength has been the quantity of handy first grade players that they have produced to go onto careers at Penrith and plenty of other clubs. Through that time they also had some very key imports to the club that were vital to producing major development eras for the club . Mike Stephenson & Bill Ashurst were major components of the 70"s development for the Panthers, and the imports of Chris Mortimer, Peter Kelly & Paul Dunn in the late 80"s provided the spine for group of young talented players like Alexander, Izzard, Geyer, Fitler & co that led to their first premiership in 1991. My greatest Panthers team, based on both major influences \in the club's development and in winning performances would be : 1. Wesser 2.McIndoe 3. Girdler 4. Chris Mortimer 5 .Rooney 6. Fitler 7 Alexander(c) 8. Tim Sheens 9. Royce Simmons 10. Peter Kelly 11. John Cartwright 12. Lew Zivanevic 13.Col Vandervoort 14. Brad Izzard 15 Mike Stephenson 16. Paul Dunn 17. Steve Carter
Johnno
Guest
No big Phil Adamson, or Jamie Oljenik, but boy those 2 had talent, they never lived up to the hype. Andrew Leeds was a damn good full-back too
anddecent
Roar Rookie
No Anthony Xuereb ?
jamesb
Guest
In 2011, Illawarra named its team of the century. That was to coincide with the first competition commencing in the Illawarra in 1911. Here was the side: 1. Graeme Langlands -Wollongong 2. Ian Moir -Port Kembla 3. Harry Wells Jnr -Wollongong 4. Paul McGregor -Dapto/Steelers 5. Rod Wishart - Steelers 6. Bob Fulton -Western Suburbs 7.Trent Barrett -Steelers 13. Noel Mulligan - Port Kembla/Collegians 12. Ron Costello -Collegians/Port Kembla 11. Craig Fitzgibbon - Dapto/Steelers 10.Steve Roach -Western Suburbs 9. Kevin Schubert - Wollongong 8. Craig Young - Thirroul/Corrimal 14. John Dorahy -Western Suburbs/Steelers 15. Shaun Timmins -Steelers 16. Bruce Olive -Western Suburbs/Dapto 17. Ben Creagh- University of Wollongong/Dragons
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahaha...mean but funny
The Barry
Roar Guru
Adamson was in the Dane Carlaw mould of looks like Tarzan plays like Jane...
Rellum
Roar Guru
I hope to see him in the Illawara side then, oh wait.
Bear54
Guest
Given this Panthers side get ready to see Daniel Tupou, Blake Ferguson and Dylan Napa selected.
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
When you come to do the Roosters XVII, will Fittler be in there? He played more games at the Roosters than he did for the Panthers
JVGO
Guest
Maybe Matt Adamson?? Where does he fit. He had a couple of good seasons. And you have forgotten the Big Marn. He needs to be the mascot or on the injury list at least.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Mansour is a massive stretch. Luke Rooney didn't have a long time at the top but when he was good he was very good. Part of the NSW team that won three in a row. Aaaah those were the days. Remember how we thought the origin concept might die because we'd won three in a row...
bear54
Agreed but I always see him as more of an Illawarra player than a Panther....... same with Petero and the Bronco's.
bear54
"Louie" Mortimer played in a GF for the Panthers and you're right he was more of a back-rower for them Van Der Voort is a good choice at lock. Same here with Sheens. Never heard his career mentioned in any league discussions until it comes to coaching.
Renegade
Roar Guru
No Luke Lewis but Luke Rooney and Josh Mansour are in the team.... I've enjoyed these articles but this is probably the worst team put up so far.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Although Geyer played a pivotal part in their first GF win so it's hard to leave out that in a greatest13 And wesser is reigning top club try scorer. Lewis prob should be more than bench whether backs or forwards. Gower I agree was a great servant of the club. Petero prob didn't do enough in his time there. I'd even have Joe Galavau (?) in front Even sneak young Preston Campbell on the bench, had a successful 100games or so
jamesb
Guest
One of my favourite players in that era.
Rellum
Roar Guru
How does McIndoe not make the wing/ He was selected in Both Penrith and Illawarra teams of the centuries.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Carter to 5/8, Fittler to centres. Lewis and Mackay on the wing, even McIndoe Kelly, Clarke, Dunn all had better careers at Penrith then listed Geyer was a very overrated player Gower has to be on the bench. An arguement could be made to put him at half and Alexander to fullback
jamesb
Guest
What about Geoff Gerard, Matt Sing and Alan McIndoe? In the early days, many suggest that Bob Landers was a very good winger.