2016 Penrith Panthers season explained

Year:2016
Team Colour:
  1. B99877
League:NRL
League Rank:6th
League Wins:15
League Losses:11
Points For:603
Points Against:497
Playoff Result:Lost semi final vs. Raiders, 22–12
Ceo Title:CEO
Ceo:Corey Payne (15 April[1] – 16 August[2])
Coach Title:Coach
Stadium:Pepper Stadium – 22,500
Carrington Park – 13,000 (round 9 only)
AMI Stadium – 18,000 (round 10 only)
Avg Attendance:12,910 (Pepper Stadium only)
High Attendance:15,411 vs. Sea Eagles, round 26 (Pepper Stadium only)
Top Tries:Josh Mansour (16)
Top Goals:Nathan Cleary (53)
Top Points:Nathan Cleary (118)
Homejersey:Penrith Panthers Primary Jersey 2016.svg
Awayjersey:Penrith Panthers Alternate Jersey 2016.svg
List:yes
List Link:Penrith Panthers#Season summaries

The 2016 Penrith Panthers season was the 50th in the club's history. Coached by Anthony Griffin and captained by Matt Moylan,[3] the Panthers competed in the NRL's 2016 Telstra Premiership. They also competed in the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines pre-season tournament.

The Panthers started their season with a string of close results, but failed to win consecutive games during the competition's opening two months. Over the course of the year, new coach Anthony Griffin redefined who was already well established within the team,[4] [5] and experienced playmakers Jamie Soward and James Segeyaro would later be released from their contracts mid-season. The Panthers finished the regular season with seven wins from their final eight games, securing 6th position and a place in the finals series.[6]

Jersey and Sponsors

The Panthers' 2016 jersey, made by ASICS, was designed to commemorate the club's 50th season. The names of all those who have played 50 or more games for the club adorn the front of the jersey, while the back of the jersey features all five of the Panthers logos, past and present. Unlike the black and teal colour combination used in previous seasons, the Panthers adopted a black and golden brown colour scheme in 2016. The home jersey is black with golden brown panels and the away jersey is the inverse. OAK Milk again featured as the major sponsor, with Hertz once more on the sleeve.[7]

On three occasions during the season, the Panthers wore unique heritage jerseys to celebrate the club's history. The celebratory jerseys were based on jersey designs from previous seasons, but were remade in the style of the current jerseys. The 1967 heritage jersey, worn against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in round 2, was based on the club's 'Chocolate Soldiers' jersey from their inaugural 1967 season.[8] The 1991 heritage jersey, worn against the Canberra Raiders in round 9, was based on the jersey worn during the club's premiership winning 1991 season.[9] Likewise, the 2003 heritage jersey, worn against the Sydney Roosters in round 22, was based on the jersey worn during the club's premiership winning 2003 season.[10] Listed on each of the jerseys is the names of all those who played for the club in that respective season.

Squad

Player transfers

A † denotes that the transfer occurred during the 2016 season.

Gains
Player Signed From Until End of Notes
Catalans Dragons (Super League)
Chris Grevsmuhl
Gold Coast Suns (AFL – Australian rules)
Zak Hardaker Leeds Rhinos (Super League)
Losses
Player Signed ToUntil End of Notes
Redcliffe Dolphins (QLD Cup)
Retirement
Easts Tigers (QLD Cup)
Benjamin Garcia Catalans Dragons (Super League)
Released
Retirement
Hull F.C. (Super League)
Salford Red Devils (Super League)
Retirement
James Segeyaro Leeds Rhinos (Super League)
Retirement
Chris Smith
Jamie Soward London Broncos (Championship)
Retirement
Elijah Taylor

Fixtures

Auckland Nines

DateRoundOpponentVenueScoreTriesGoalsAttendance
Saturday, 6 FebruaryGame 4 Wests TigersEden Park23–7Blake (3), Mansour, Watene-ZelezniakCartwright (1/2), Harawira-Naera (0/1), Martin (1/1), W Smith (0/1)37,000
Saturday, 6 FebruaryGame 11 Newcastle KnightsEden Park14–15Dockar-Clay, R Jennings, LatimoreHarawira-Naera (0/1), Martin (0/1), W Smith (1/1)37,000
Sunday, 7 FebruaryGame 20 North Queensland CowboysEden Park11–15Cartwright, GarciaCartwright (0/1), Martin (1/1)37,000
Legend:

Pre-season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score TriesGoals
Saturday, 13 FebruaryTrial 1 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsPepper Stadium24–20Hall, Martin, C Smith, Taylor, Watene-ZelezniakMoylan (2/2), Harawira-Naera (0/1), Dockar-Clay (0/1), Cleary (0/1)
Saturday, 20 FebruaryTrial 2 Parramatta EelsPepper Stadium8–22Blake, MansourSoward (0/2)
Legend:

Regular season

Date Round Opponent Venue Score TriesGoals Attendance
Saturday, 5 MarchRound 1 Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium30–22Hiku, Mansour, MerrinSoward (5/5)11,297
Thursday, 10 MarchRound 2 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsPepper Stadium16–18Hiku, McKendrySoward (4/4)11,125
Saturday, 19 MarchRound 3 Brisbane BroncosPepper Stadium23–22Soward (3/5), Martin (1 FG)style=text-align:center;"12,086
Sunday, 27 MarchRound 4 St. George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium14–12Hiku, MansourSoward (2/3)style=text-align:center;"12,983
Sunday, 3 AprilRound 5 Parramatta EelsPirtek Stadium18–20Cartwright (2), Mansour, WallaceSoward (2/4)15,600
Saturday, 9 AprilRound 6 North Queensland CowboysPepper Stadium18–23Merrin, Watene-Zelezniak (2)Soward (3/4)13,725
Monday, 18 AprilRound 7 Sydney RoostersAllianz Stadium16–20Blake, Martin, Watene-ZelezniakSoward (4/4)10,117
Sunday, 24 AprilRound 8 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSouthern Cross Group Stadium20–18Fisher-Harris (2), Moylan, YeoSoward (1/3), Moylan (0/1)14,273
Saturday, 30 AprilRound 9 Canberra RaidersCarrington Park19–18Cartwright, Hiku, PeacheySoward (3/4), Wallace (1 FG)6,721
Saturday, 14 MayRound 10 New Zealand WarriorsAMI Stadium30–18Peachey (3), Soward, Watene-ZelezniakSoward (5/6)18,000
Sunday, 22 MayRound 11 Gold Coast TitansPepper Stadium24–28Latu, Mansour, Peachey, Watene-ZelezniakSoward (4/5)11,210
Round 12Bye
Saturday, 4 JuneRound 13 Melbourne StormAAMI Park24–6MansourSoward (1/1)11,116
Sunday, 12 JuneRound 14 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval24–31Cleary, Latu, Mansour, Peachey, Wallace, Watene-ZelezniakMoylan (0/2, 1 FG), Wallace (3/4)12,463
Round 15Bye
Friday, 24 JuneRound 16 South Sydney RabbitohsPepper Stadium28–26Cleary, Grevsmuhl, Latu, Mansour, Watene-ZelezniakCleary (4/5)13,080
Saturday, 2 JulyRound 17 Wests TigersANZ Stadium34–26Fisher-Harris, Mansour, Merrin, YeoCleary (5/5)10,582
Sunday, 10 JulyRound 18 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksPepper Stadium10–26Latu, YeoCleary (1/3)12,682
Saturday, 16 JulyRound 19 Parramatta EelsPepper Stadium22–18Campbell-Gillard, Cartwright, Mansour, PeacheyCleary (3/4)15,251
Friday, 22 JulyRound 20 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium12–31Blake, Fisher-Harris, Hardaker, Merrin, MoylanCleary (5/6), Moylan (1 FG)30,878
Saturday, 30 JulyRound 21 New Zealand WarriorsMount Smart Stadium20–16Mansour (2), PeacheyCleary (2/4)13,026
Monday, 8 AugustRound 22 Sydney RoostersPepper Stadium38–18Blake, Cartwright, Cleary, Grevsmuhl, Peachey (2), YeoCleary (5/7)9,653
Sunday, 14 AugustRound 23 Newcastle KnightsHunter Stadium6–42Blake, Mansour (2), Moylan, Peachey, Watene-Zelezniak (2)Cleary (7/8)style=text-align:center;"13,771
Friday, 19 AugustRound 24 Wests TigersPepper Stadium40–10Blake, Campbell-Gillard, Cartwright, Fisher-Harris, Merrin, Wallace, YeoCleary (6/7)style=text-align:center;"14,876
Saturday, 27 AugustRound 25 Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium14–15Blake, MoylanCleary (3/3), Moylan (1 FG)style=text-align:center;"18,288
Sunday, 4 SeptemberRound 26 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesPepper Stadium36–6Blake, Cartwright, Mansour (2), Wallace, Watene-ZelezniakCleary (6/6)style=text-align:center;"15,411
Legend:

Finals

Date Round Opponent Venue Score TriesGoals Attendance
Sunday, 11 SeptemberElimination Final Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsAllianz Stadium28–12Blake, Mansour, Peachey, Wallace, Watene-ZelezniakCleary (4/6)style=text-align:center;"22,631
Saturday, 17 SeptemberSemi Final Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium22–12Peachey, Watene-ZelezniakCleary (2/2)style=text-align:center;"21,498
Legend:

Statistics

Name!!style="width:3em"
App!TGFGPts
14 0 0 0 0
21 8 0 0 32
20 2 0 0 8
26 8 0 0 32
15 3 53 0 118
1 0 0 0 0
23 5 0 0 20
14 2 0 0 8
11 1 0 0 4
11 5 0 0 20
19 1 0 0 4
24 4 0 0 16
4 0 0 0 0
12 1 0 0 4
25 16 0 0 64
6 2 0 1 9
23 0 0 0 0
25 5 0 0 20
21 4 0 3 19
24 13 0 0 52
4 0 0 0 0
4 0 0 0 0
12 1 37 0 78
2 0 0 0 0
26 5 3 1 27
26 12 0 0 48
1 0 0 0 0
26 5 0 0 20
Totals 26 103 93 5 603
Name!!style="width:3em"
!
53 12 81.54
0 3 0.00
37 10 78.72
3 1 75.00
Totals 93 26 78.15

Other teams

In addition to competing in the National Rugby League, the Panthers also fielded semi-professional teams in the National Youth Competition's 2016 Holden Cup (for players aged under 20) and the New South Wales Rugby League's 2016 Intrust Super Premiership (NSW Cup). The NYC team was coached by Cameron Ciraldo and captained by Oliver Clark, and the NSW Cup team was coached by Steve Georgallis[11] and captained by Zach Dockar-Clay.

Representative

Domestic

PlayerTeamCall-up
BELeilani LatuIndigenous All Stars2016 All Stars Match
BETyrone PeacheyIndigenous All Stars2016 All Stars Match
BEJamie SowardIndigenous All Stars2016 All Stars Match
BEWill SmithIndigenous All Stars2016 All Stars Match
BETrent MerrinWorld All Stars2016 All Stars Match
PRReagan Campbell-Gillard NSW City2016 City vs Country Origin
SRBryce Cartwright NSW City2016 City vs Country Origin
PRLeilani Latu NSW City2016 City vs Country Origin
WGJosh Mansour NSW City2016 City vs Country Origin
BETyrone Peachey NSW City2016 City vs Country Origin
WGIsaah Yeo NSW Country2016 City vs Country Origin
181Bryce Cartwright New South Wales2016 State of Origin
WGJosh Mansour New South Wales2016 State of Origin
FBMatt Moylan New South Wales2016 State of Origin
BEMatt Moylan Prime Minister's XIII

International

PlayerTeamCall-up
CEPeta Hiku22016 Anzac Test
WGDallin Watene-Zelezniak2016 Anzac Test
HKSione Katoa2016 Polynesian Cup
BETupou SopoagaInternational vs. Lebanon[12] [13]
CEWaqa Blake32016 Pacific Test
SRViliame Kikau2016 Pacific Test
WGJosh Mansour2016 Four Nations
LKTrent Merrin2016 Four Nations
FBMatt Moylan2016 Four Nations
BEJames Fisher-Harris42016 Four Nations
BETe Maire Martin2016 Four Nations
FBDallin Watene-Zelezniak2016 Four Nations

1 – Selected as 18th Man, Cartwright did not play during the series.
2 – Hiku was initially selected to play but was ruled out by injury.
3 – Blake did not play in the match, despite being named in the original squad.
4 – Fisher-Harris was called up to replace injured Simon Mannering.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 15 April 2016. Panthers appoint Payne CEO. penrithpanthers.com.au.
  2. News: Nicolussi. Christian. 16 August 2016. Corey Payne has resigned as the CEO of the Penrith Panthers. The Daily Telegraph.
  3. News: Proszenko. Adrian. Encarnacion. Matt. 27 January 2016. Matt Moylan named as Penrith Panthers captain for 2016. Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. Web site: Walsh. Dan. 8 June 2016. Anthony Griffin axes 622 games worth of big name NRL talent at Penrith in 2016. Fox Sports.
  5. News: Nicolussi. Christian. 8 June 2016. Jamie Soward not getting down over Penrith's selection bombshell. Herald Sun. 22 September 2016.
  6. Web site: 4 September 2016. Magic Moylan leads Panthers over Manly. ESPN.
  7. Web site: 14 November 2015. 2016 Home Jersey Revealed. penrithpanthers.com.au. 29 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160913155413/http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2015/11/13/_2016_home_jersey_re.html. 13 September 2016. dead.
  8. Web site: 25 February 2016. Panthers launch 1967 Jersey. penrithpanthers.com.au.
  9. Web site: 27 April 2016. 1991 Commemorative Jersey Revealed. penrithpanthers.com.au. 29 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160913165023/http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2016/04/27/_1991_commemorative_.html. 13 September 2016. dead.
  10. Web site: 8 July 2016. 2003 Commemorative Jersey Revealed. penrithpanthers.com.au. 29 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160913162554/http://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2016/07/08/_2003_commemorative_.html. 13 September 2016. dead.
  11. Web site: 30 October 2015. Georgallis Joins Panthers. Triple M.
  12. Web site: 6 May 2016. Cook Islands, Lebanon squads named. NRL.com. 20 March 2017.
  13. Web site: 9 May 2016. Sport: Cook Islands criticise NRL clubs after Lebanon win. Radio New Zealand. 30 September 2016.