It’s an exciting time of the year for players and fans alike in rugby league, with the 2023 finals series kicking off this weekend.
While the Panthers players are looking forward to it kicking off, they also aren’t getting too far ahead of themselves as they chase another premiership, according to co-captain Isaah Yeo.
Speaking ahead of Saturday afternoon’s qualifying final against the Warriors, Yeo spoke of the anticipation of September footy.
“It’s certainly the best time of year,” Yeo said of the finals.
“It’s just exciting, it’s a good feel. Not just in the club, but in the community as well. It’s an exciting time of the year and this is why you work so hard in the pre-season, and throughout the season, to get to this position.
“So, I’m really excited for it.”
This is the best time of the year: Yeo
As much as he’s looking forward to the challenge of defending their crown, Yeo was also quick to point out that the Panthers aren’t looking further ahead than the Warriors at this stage, even though there are numerous in-form teams hunting them.
“From day one, we’ve just spoken about one in a row,” he said.
“Don’t look back too much, the past has already happened. We’re just focusing on the here and now and that’s just what you’ve got to do. You’ve just got to focus on yourselves, focus on the new challenge and I felt this season has been a really big challenge.
“It’s obviously a lot closer and tighter than what it’s been in previous years. We didn’t really know what the top eight was going to look like until the end of that Sunday last week.
“I feel like there’s a lot of good teams playing really good football, not just over the last month, but over a prolonged period of time.
“I think that’s a good thing, that’s why it’s so exciting, that’s why fans are so invested in it, particularly this year because there’s so many challengers there, all vying for the one spot. It’s not just sort of two or three, it feels like you can come from anywhere.
“History doesn’t say it, but the bottom four, some of those teams are red-hot, so it’s making for a really fun month I think.”
With the Panthers finals campaign kicking off against the Warriors at BlueBet Stadium, fill-in five-eighth Jack Cogger said he was looking forward to the opportunity to play the big games while Jarome Luai is sidelined through injury.
Ahead of his departure to Newcastle at season’s end, Cogger spoke highly of the club, believing that he has become a better player and better person for his time at Penrith, putting it down to “Being part of a really successful here and then you go into the technical side of being able to work side-by-side by Nathan [Cleary] or Jarome [Luai] and the coaching staff.”
Even as he looks forward to the finals challenge, it’s still business as usual for Cogger across training and playing.
“It could be a couple of really exciting weeks, but you try not to think too far ahead,” he said.
“Not much will change from the Cowboys game, a few little things that we can get better at and hopefully that gives a little more confidence to the guys around us.
“Overall [personally] it’s business as usual, but I’ve probably just had a bit more of an input, which I think is pretty natural.
Match Highlights: Panthers v Cowboys
“My job is to start this week in the six and get the job done.”
For Spencer Leniu, he’s looking forward to a hard-fought game on Saturday afternoon against the club he grew up supporting.
“It’s going to be a really tough game,” Leniu said.
“They’ve been in really good form this year.
“Credit to ‘Webby’ [coach Andrew Webster] and all those boys in that team, it’s been a really good spectacle to watch.
“I was a die-hard Warriors fan, coming from New Zealand. I have a soft spot for the Warriors and this week I’m going to have to put it aside and go full throttle. This is war this weekend, so it’ll be good.”
For Leniu, there is also one other tie he has to this weekend’s opponent.
“I was there at the grand final in 2011 when Ivan [Cleary] was coaching the team.
“It’s funny how I’ve come full circle and he’s my coach now.”
