Penrith Panthers will be hoping that history repeats itself when they line up for the Grand Finals of the state’s premier competition, The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, and the Jersey Flegg Cup as part of NSWRL Grand Final Day at CommBank Stadium on Saturday 26 September.
The deciders will be settled for three competitions, with the NSW Women’s Premiership kicking off the day before matches for Jersey Flegg Cup and The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup. The final game will be played at night for the first time in NSWRL’s 119-year history.
The NSW Women’s Premiership will feature Minor Premiers Newcastle Knights against Mounties, Penrith and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will battle it out in the Jersey Flegg Cup, while the Panthers will face foundation club Newtown Jets in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
The Panthers made history in 2022 when they captured titles across NSWRL and NRL competitions – UNE SG Ball Cup (Under 19s), Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s), The Knock-On Effect Cup and the NRL Premiership.
The premiership-winning Flegg team was steered around the park by No.7 Isaiya Katoa, who has gone to forge a successful NRL career at the Dolphins, while the Cup team included a host of now NRL regulars including Isaiah Iongi, Sunia Turuva, Lindsay Smith and Liam Henry.
NSW Cup winger Nick Murphy, who was named the club’s Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year in 2024, said it could be another big week for the club with the NRL team also facing Newcastle Knights in a Preliminary Final on Sunday.
The Jets won’t be an easy assignment with the team boasting NRL experience in captain Jayden Berrell, Sam Stonestreet and Braden Uele.
The Panthers are also strong with NSW Cup Player of the Year Jaxen Edgar, who was called in to replace the injured Dylan Edwards in the NRL team this year, Jesse McLean, the brother of True Blue Casey McLean, and Buster Hindmarsh, the son of Parramatta Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh.
“It’s been a good week, and the boys have been good,” Murphy said.
“For us, it’s about getting around each other and getting that connection going.
“These weeks don’t come around very often so it’s just about enjoying it and making sure we're having fun and going out there and do it together.”
Jersey Flegg Cup captain Judah Galuvao, the son of 2003 Penrith premiership-winner Joe Galuvao, was part of the Panthers Harold Matthews Cup team in 2022 that missed out on a title but remembers the hype around the club after they made history with four premierships.
He was part of the Jersey Flegg Cup team last year that missed out in the Grand Final to Melbourne Storm and knows they face a tough assignment against the Bulldogs, who are coached by True Blue Josh Jackson and won the competition in 2023-24.
“The week’s been really good,” Gulavo said. “You know, last year we were there too and it’s just been exciting. All the boys are excited, and the vibes are just through the roof.
“We know the Doggies are going to show up so we’ll just focus on us and control what we can control, start fast and hopefully get the win.”
Tickets to NSWRL Grand Final Day are only $15 for adults, $10 for concession card holders, $5 for juniors (4-15) and $30 for a family of four and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Click here to purchase tickets.
NSWRL GRAND FINAL DAY SCHEDULE
NSW Women’s Premiership
2.45pm: Newcastle Knights v Mounties
Jersey Flegg Cup
5pm: Penrith Panthers v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
7pm: Penrith Panthers v Newtown Jets
