With one of the largest junior league nurseries in the world, the Panthers have a lots of talented kids to select from.

Now into its second season, the WSAS program offers local juniors an alternative pathway to playing NRL for Panthers or another NRL club. The program operates under the stewardship of former Panthers Development Officer Jim Jones.

“Judging by the quality of players that we have sent to WSAS, they should have a very successful season in the SG Ball competition,” said Panthers SG Ball Coach Alex Melville.

“The WSAS coach Chris Bradbury has been a regular at our sessions and is committed to ensuring that the quality education of our local juniors occurs through the WSAS program. I wish our boys all the very best for the season”.

Players selected to play for WSAS in the 2008 SG Ball Cup competition are:

Penrith Panthers vs Leeds Rhinos

Jamie Theoharour holding the Academy Challenge Trophy

Greg Waddell runs 60 mts to give the Panthers the lead

Michael Mate kicks to get the game underway again

Panthers celebrate Waddell's great try

PANTHERS TAKE LEED AGAINST RHINOS
Story By : Leeds Rhinos
Photo's By : & RLPhotos.com

The Panthers U19 tourists defeated their Leeds counterparts 10-6 overnight in a hard fought game.

Penrith lead 4-0 at halftime but surrendered the lead to Leeds. A brilliant individual effort by Greg Waddell - who ran nearly 60 metres to score - put them back into the lead.

According to assistant coach Matt Adamson, it was "a very good game with some excellent defence - the crowd of nearly 2,500 people got their money's worth."

The following report is from Leeds PR manager Phil Daly:

Leeds Rhinos U19s just missed out on being named the Carnegie Academy World Club Champions when they were defeated by Australian side Penrith Panthers in a closely fought contest at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

The Rhinos team, who were made up of players from the club’s two Academy sides, put in a brave performance in what proved to be a tough and even match.

Penrith put the early pressure on the Rhinos with only some last ditch tackling preventing Bradley Goodwin from grounding the ball in the sixth minute for the Australians.

The visitors were not to be denied a minute later however when Luke Clydesdale offloaded to Michael Mate who powered his way over to put the Penrith youngsters ahead. Mate missed the conversion of his own try however bringing the score to 4-0 to the visitors.

Leeds’ best chance came in the 13th minute when Ryan Hall looked like he had broken free down the right, but as the Penrith players zoned in he was forced to make an offload that was unable to find the hands of any of his supporting team mates.

The Penrith players continued to ask questions of their Leeds counterparts, but the home side’s defence was outstanding and they were able to prevent them from extending their lead further when they went close in the 18th minute.

Both teams gave their all and it was some big hits throughout that ultimately kept either team from scoring again in the half. Towards the end of the first half Leeds really began to dominate the game but they just could not force their way over and the low score was testament to how close a contest this was.

And it was not just the score that showed there was little between these two sides - with both teams wearing predominantly white shirts in the first half it was difficult to differentiate between the sides, meaning the Rhinos were forced to change into their new blue and amber kit in the second half.

The new look Rhinos showed great determination as they begun the second half and it was not long before their efforts eventually led to points on the scoreboard, with Kyle Briggs collecting a short pass before evading a number of Penrith players who were standing in his way to find space and go over on the 47th minute.

Briggs converted the try himself to give the Rhinos the lead for the first time in the game at 6-4.

In the 63rd minute it looked like the Panthers were about to score their second try when good play found Sonny Tuigamala on the wing who looked to have plenty of space to run in, but once again excellent defence stopped him short of the line.

Three minutes later though there was a moment of inspiration for the Panthers when their winger Greg Waddell, who has represented New South Wales at U17 level, was able to break away from half way and, showing fantastic pace, he sprinted his way to the tryline to go over untackled next to the posts.

This time Mate successfully added the conversion to put the Panthers 10-6 ahead.

The Rhinos did not let their heads drop however and continued to search for that winning score.

With two minutes remaining it looked like they were going to snatch a try when Ryan Hall caught a high kick.

The winger then powered his way down the right hand side but he was unable to make it all the way on his own and his subsequent offload was picked up by a Penrith player.

This proved costly for Leeds who were unable to get their fairytale ending in front of the 2,221 home crowd, with the final score ending 10-6 to Penrith Panthers ...

Penrith Panthers 10 (tries: Michael Mate, Greg Waddell; goals: Mate 1/2) Leeds Rhinos

Thanks again to Dave Williams from ourfooty meates at RLPhotos.com

Leeds Rhinos Head of Youth Performance John Bastian is backing the club’s young stars to kick start a new era at Headingley Carnegie with victory in the Carnegie Academy World Club Challenge game against Penrith Panthers on Monday night, kick off 7pm.

Bastian was responsible for developing players that filled both the Rhinos Junior Academy and Senior Academy side last season. The younger team finished the season as Champions whilst the Senior Academy lost out only in the Grand Final.

Now they face their biggest challenge when they take the Champions of Australia in the inaugural Carnegie Academy World Club Challenge at Headingley Carnegie.

Bastian believes that this is a fantastic opportunity for the Rhinos to show their strength at junior level again.

“The game is the first of its kind and is great recognition for the hard work at the club not just this year but over the last ten years.

We are constantly producing high class juniors for the Rhinos but also throughout Super League and National Leagues as players move on or spend time out on loan.

“I am in my third year here and the depth of quality assistance we give our juniors is second to none.

Other clubs sign players of similar ability as our guys but where we probably differ is that we do everything possible to them the opportunity to enhance that natural ability.

We also have high expectations and we demand a lot from our young people which is why events like Monday are so important.

“The support we receive from our Chief Executive is an important part of that process.

You have got to give credit to Gary Hetherington, he supports not just our academy but grassroots rugby as well. That is where our young lads come from and we never forget that fact,” added Bastian.

The Rhinos success this year has been coupled with a return to winning ways for the Great Britain team which included a number of players who have come through the Academy game in Leeds and the Rhinos Academy system.

Bastian believes that exposing young players to international competition at an early stage is vital in producing players who can compete on the world stage.

“The days are gone when the game was totally dominated by Australian Rugby League. They set the bench mark for many years but we have caught up at international and youth level and whenever Australians play a British side they know they face very talented players.

“The likes of Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire came through the same systems as this Under 19 side and at the same age they played against the Australian Schoolboys and Australian Institute of Sport.

Young players need that experience in their Rugby League development, playing sides like Penrith Panthers is great for their personal development,” commented Bastian.

The Rhinos Under 19 squad reported back for pre-season training early to prepare for the clash with Penrith and Bastian believes there is no danger of them feeling fatigue for this one off match.

“Monday will be a special occasion and you can see that in the way the players have approached the game.

Their focus has been of a very high standard even though they have only had four or five weeks off since the Grand Final win. We blew the cobwebs off in the first couple of sessions and they have worked hard since then.

There is no doubt, we are taking this game very seriously. It is rare that you get the opportunity to play in Carnegie World Club Challenge and it is a great reflection on them and how we develop young people and players,” said Bastian.

As well as looking after the players signed on with the Rhinos, an important part of Bastian’s role is developing and nurturing the links with the amateur game in the City. In the build up to Monday’s game, every club in Leeds was invited down to watch the Rhinos train and speak with Bastian and new Rhinos Head Coach Brian McClennan.

Bastian believes that events like that can only strengthen the resources of players available to Headingley Carnegie outfit and is a key reason why their opponents on Monday night have been successful in recent years.

“We had 70 coaches down at the training ground on Monday to watch an open training session with the U19 squad. We always emphasise how important those links are and continue to enhance and strengthen our bond with the amateur game.

“We will not underestimate Penrith Panthers.

They have more juniors aligned to them than any other club in Australia or the UK. We know their side will be loaded with quality players and that they will be as hungry as us.

They are a very talented side and I am sure it is going to be a very good game.

I am sure the Leeds public will get right behind the event and enjoy a great night of Rugby League at Headingley Carnegie,” added Bastian.

The Leeds squad for the Carnegie Academy World Club Challenge is as follows:

1. Ben Jones-Bishop
2. Ryan Hall
3. Mike Ratu
4. Jody Broughton
5. James Archibald
6. Kyle Briggs
7. Luke Gale
8. Michael Haley (c)
9. Ben Kaye
10. Joe Chandler
11. Joe Howey
12. Liam Brown
13. Danny Allen
14. Luke Hardbottle
15. Gareth Moore
16. Simon Brown
17. John Elkington
18. Matthew Fox
19. Ben Jones
20. Tom Sheldrake

THE PASSING OF A CHAMPION
Story By : Kylie Stevens
PENRITH Panthers is mourning the death of the man who was the first Panthers junior who achieved representative honours.

Former goal kicking prop Bruce Ward died from cancer in Runaway Bay last Monday, October 1.

He was 56.

He played 65 games for the Panthers from 1970 to 1979. His impressive tally was 186 points for 10 tries, 77 goals and one field goal.

Bruce Ward was the first Penrith junior to achieve representative honours when he played for City Seconds in 1970. He was also a contender for World Cup selection that year before his chances were marred by injury.

He was selected in the City Seconds side a second time in 1974 and after a season in the country, he returned to the Panthers to see out his distinguished career.

Panthers rugby league general manager Michael Leary played with Bruce Ward during the 1970s.

"He was a very quick for a player," Mr Leary said.

"He was respected by his teammates and was a gentleman off the field."

Former teammates joined family and friends at Eastern Creek's Pinegrove Crematorium last Friday.

In an historical achievement for the club, the Panthers secured the Club Championship after finishing second in the VB Premier League, minor premiers in the Jersey Flegg and SG Ball competitions, and second in the Harold Matthews Cup.

Finishing seven points clear from the second-placed Bulldogs club, the Panthers wrapped up their first Club Championship since entering the competition in 1967, after enduring a torrid NRL season.

Penrith will be presented with the Flowers Memorial Pennant following the post-match presentation of the VB Premier League Grand Final on Sunday, 30th September.

The Flowers Memorial Pennant was first presented some 68 years ago in 1930 to perpetuate the memory of a former President of the NSWRL, the Late Hon Fred Flowers MLC.

The NSWRL wishes to congratulate the Penrith Panthers Board and Executive, the football club staff, all the players, coaches and volunteers at the Panthers on an outstanding 2007 season.

The NSWRL Club Championship is contested over the four NSWRL competitions; Harold Matthews Cup (U/16yrs), SG Ball (U/18yrs), Jersey Flegg (U/20yrs) and VB Premier League.