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Penrith take pride those who have come and gone

3 minute read

Penrith's list of former players during their dynasty sits at 31 players, but somehow the Panthers are still preparing for a fifth-straight NRL grand final.

Penrith take pride in the 31 men who aren't there to be picked for this year's NRL grand final.

From the likes of Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau, to the more recent departures of Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu.

Come Sunday night's grand final showdown with Melbourne, less than half of Penrith's team were there for the start of their dynasty.

And only eight players remain from their first grand final against the Storm in 2020.

"It does give me pride," captain Isaah Yeo said.

"Not pride just within the playing group but pride within the club, and the pathways they've got.

"Whether it's recruitment or pathways. The club's done a wonderful job to be able to give us an opportunity to have a squad that can compete.

"Then off the back of that, the players who are still here and have stayed, they've really grown as leaders of the club."

In total, Penrith have used 61 players through their dynasty, dating back to an upset win over two-time defending premiers Sydney Roosters in round one of 2020.

Caleb Aekins was the fullback that night, before he was later let go to Canberra after being usurped for the No.1 jersey by Dylan Edwards.

He is one of 31 men to have played first grade for the club and left since the start of 2020.

Some went in the same fashion as him, while others like Kikau, Koroisau, Crichton, and Leniu served as bigger body blows to the Panthers.

Most have been planned for, with Penrith knowing they are unable to compete with players signing their biggest contracts of their careers on leaving the club.

It's part of the reason why each year when an all-star side of ex-players from departees during Penrith's dynasty, it appears strong enough to make the top eight.

And by the time Jarome Luai, Sunia Turuva and James Fisher-Harris are added next year, it would potentially be good enough on paper to be top-four contenders.

Penrith's challenge in the salary-cap era is also shown that when South Sydney reached five straight deciders between 1967 and 1971, they used only 38 players.

"I don't like when you lose players, particularly after you go through such good times and experience what we have," Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said.

"But at the end of the day we are a development club, and if you're going to develop players, you can't have the same guys all the time.

"It shows that we're doing some things well. We just want to be a consistent and reliable team. It's a never-ending challenge."

PENRITH'S ALL-STAR DEPARTEES:

Stephen Crichton, Charlie Staines, Paul Momirovski, Tyrone May, Robert Jennings, Matt Burton, Sean O'Sullivan, Zane Tetevano, Api Koroisau, Spencer Leniu, Kurt Capewell, Viliame Kikau, J'maine Hopgood. Bench: Jack Cogger, Zac Hosking, Tevita Pangai Junior, Jaeman Salmon. 18th man: Jack Hetherington.

* All players still active in NRL/Super League

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