The Panthers Story /

The Panthers Story

After tireless campaigning from club stalwarts Merv Cartwright and Roger Cowan, Penrith Panthers was selected to enter the NSWRFL premiership in 1966 and participated in the club's inaugural season the following year.

Early years

Under the guidance of head coach Leo Trevena, the Panthers' maiden season ended with five wins to finish 11th in the twelve-team competition.

The Panthers established themselves as a tough and committed outfit during their infant years, blending the brightest young talents from rural areas with experienced first graders. However they found success difficult to come by until their first finals campaign in 1985.

Despite being humbled by Parramatta in their maiden finals appearance, it would spark an upturn in the club's fortunes and lead to more success in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Rise to inaugural premiership

A top-half finish in 1988 and a semi-finals appearance in 1989 would lay the foundation for the Panthers to make their first grand final appearance in 1990.

Under the guidance of coach Phil Gould, the Panthers faced a star-studded Canberra Raiders outfit. The Raiders recovered from defeats in the 1987 and 1989 grand finals to triumph over the Panthers 18-14.

Fast forward a year later and the Panthers would meet the Raiders once again for a shot at glory. This time the Panthers would be the ones celebrating at full-time. Hooker Royce Simmons scored two tries and steered his side to a 19-12 victory.

Return to the top

The Panthers would slip back to the pack over the next decade with finals appearances few and far between, until they shocked the competition by claiming the minor premiership in 2003.

Their joy would continue through the finals as they advanced to a grand final showdown against Sydney Roosters.

A tightly-contested encounter at Stadium Australia eventually finished 18-6 to the Panthers, who celebrated their second premiership title. The inspired performance of hooker Luke Priddis saw him win the Clive Churchill Medal.

Building a dynasty

The following decade proved difficult, before an increased focus on junior development and local talent in the 2010s put the Panthers on a path towards their most successful era.

In 2020, Panthers reached their first grand final in 17 years on the back of a club-record, 17-game winning streak. The youthful Panthers team claimed the minor premiership, but fell short of ultimate glory as they were defeated 26-20 by Melbourne Storm in the grand final.

Premiership four-peat

The Panthers premiership dream was not crushed, however. The following season they were reunited with Melbourne in a preliminary final, and overcame the heartache of 2020 to shut down a Storm juggernaut and return to the grand final arena.

The Panthers faced the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the 2021 Grand Final, and completed their premiership quest under coach Ivan Cleary. In another dramatic decider, the Panthers prevailed 14-12 with Penrith junior Stephen Crichton scoring a famous intercept try to clinch the trophy.

Picking up where they left off, the Panthers finished the 2022 season as minor premiers and reached a third consecutive Grand Final. In a Battle of the West showdown with Parramatta Eels, the Panthers put their local rivals to the sword; a dominant 28-12 win secured the club’s first back-to-back premiership victories.

The Panthers entered the 2023 season aiming to become the first team in 40 years to win three titles in a row. Once again, they reached the Grand Final as Minor Premiers, setting up a date with destiny.

The 2023 finale pitted Penrith against Brisbane Broncos on what proved a historic night. The Panthers completed the greatest Grand Final comeback of all time, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the final 20 minutes to win 26-24 and complete the premiership “three-peat”. Nathan Cleary, who orchestrated the epic victory, won the Clive Churchill Medal for a second time.

Incredibly, the Panthers’ record-breaking run was still not over. A fifth-straight Grand Final appearance followed in 2024, as Penrith came face-to-face with Melbourne Storm once more. The Panthers’ historic run came full circle in the 2024 Grand Final, as they defeated the Storm 14-6 and avenged the woes of 2020.

Coached by Ivan Cleary and co-captained by Isaah Yeo and Nathan Cleary, the Panthers became the first team since 1959 to win four consecutive premierships, and the first of the NRL era.