Reason behind Penrith Panthers throwback jersey for NRL finals revealed

The Penrith Panthers have once again secured a place in the preliminary rounds, but it was their choice of kit on Friday night that caused quite a stir.

As the Panthers took a 24-0 lead to crush the Sydney Roosters in their final match at Bluebet Stadium before the stadium was to be demolished, fans noticed that the players were wearing the same jersey as in round three of the heritage round.

The Pasifika shirt, which former players Frank Puletua and Joe Galuvao helped design, was launched earlier this year as the club’s multicultural shirt for the third round.

And the club has chosen to use it during the finals to honour departing stars Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris, who are leaving for Wests and the New Zealand Warriors respectively.

“It means a lot,” Luai said.

“Because Ivan (Cleary) does that, it adds to the emotion of the whole thing. Culture means a lot to me and Fish.

“It’s a very special addition and very thoughtful of the coach. By doing that, he shows how much his players mean to him and we are very grateful to him for that.”

Luai says Penrith could only ‘giggle’ as critics questioned their championship credentials, ahead of a convincing victory in the qualifying final following the return of Nathan Cleary from a shoulder injury.

The Panthers are now one win away from a historic fourth consecutive championship challenge, with Cleary laying the foundations for Friday’s 30-10 win over the Sydney Roosters.

The shirt was chosen to honour departing stars Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris

Penrith returned to their disciplined, uncompromising best after their ability to maintain league dominance was called into question in a mixed month without Cleary leading up to the finals.

But despite a loss to Canberra and an unconvincing six-point defeat to Gold Coast, Cleary’s half-time partner Luai said the Panthers never doubted their ability to get back to full speed.

“People should know us by now. We are a confident side,” Luai said.

“When the big opportunity comes, we’ll be ready. There was some talk about how we’re not really ready for this finals series. They’ll be looking over their shoulders now.

“(The doubt) makes us giggle more than anything. You can never rule us out, even when we’re behind in games.”

Man of the hour Cleary admitted he was ‘ashamed’ of his injury woes after his first game since suffering a shoulder injury he originally sustained in pre-season.

The 26-year-old has been plagued by injuries in his regular season in recent years, but he has returned and helped the Panthers win three consecutive NRL championships.

Before sustaining a shoulder injury a month before the finals, Cleary missed the State of Origin series with a hamstring injury.

Luai will join the Wests Tigers next season but will aim for a record fourth premiership with the Panthers before he leaves

But now the playmaker is determined to make up for lost time and lead the Panthers to a fourth straight NRL finals win.

“It was a frustrating year. The times I got hurt, I just felt bad that I wasn’t there and going to battle with my brothers,” Cleary said.

‘Sometimes it’s almost embarrassing to get those injuries and have to take another time-out.

‘It’s been a year of ups and downs, but I had my mind set on this race and just had to get over it.

‘There was no point in sulking, I had to be a positive influence on the team even though I wasn’t playing and I worked hard in the background to put my best foot forward.

‘I’m very happy with how things went tonight, but obviously there’s more to come and I have to keep working hard.’

It will be another week before Cleary’s team find out who they will face in the preliminary rounds. That last-four clash could be the halfback’s last chance at silverware, along with Luai.

Five-eighth Luai will leave for Wests Tigers at the end of this year, ending a combination that has seen the Panthers win three consecutive titles.

“I just want to enjoy the time we have left together. Obviously we’ve been playing together since we were 16,” Cleary said.

‘Of course it will be a sad moment when it is over, but that is not the case yet.’