2016 Penrith Panthers season

2016 Penrith Panthers season
NRL Rank	6th
Play-off result	Lost semi final vs. Raiders, 22-12
2016 record	Wins: 14; Losses: 10
Points scored	For: 563; Against: 463
Team information
CEO	Corey Payne (15 April[1] - 16 August[2])
Coach	Anthony Griffin
Captain	Matt Moylan
Stadium	Pepper Stadium - 22,500
Avg. Attend.	12,910 (regular season, Pepper Stadium only) 12,818 (regular season, all home venues) 13,573 (including finals, all home venues)
High. Attend.	15,411 vs. Sea Eagles, round 26 (regular season, Pepper Stadium only) 18,000 vs. Warriors, round 10 (regular season, all home venues) 22,631 vs. Bulldogs, elimination final (including finals, all home venues)
Top scorers
Tries	Josh Mansour (16)
Goals	Nathan Cleary (53)
Points	Nathan Cleary (118)
Home colours Away colours
< 2015 List of seasons 2017 >

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.

• 

  1967 heritage jersey

• 

  1991 heritage jersey

• 

  2003 heritage jersey

Squad

Player transfers

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

Gains Player Signed From Until End of Notes Sitaleki Akauola Wests Tigers Zach Dockar-Clay Parramatta Eels 2017 [11] Benjamin Garcia Catalans Dragons (Super League) 2017 [11] Chris Grevsmuhl† South Sydney Rabbitohs 2018 [12] Josh Hall Gold Coast Suns (AFL - Australian rules) 2017 [13] Zak Hardaker† Leeds Rhinos (Super League) 2016 (on loan) [14][15] Andrew Heffernan Canberra Raiders Peta Hiku Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2018 [16] Viliame Kikau North Queensland Cowboys 2017 [11] Te Maire Martin Wests Tigers 2018 [17] Suaia Matagi Sydney Roosters 2016 [18] Trent Merrin St. George Illawarra Dragons 2018 [19]

Losses Player Signed To Until End of Notes Sam Anderson Redcliffe Dolphins (QLD Cup) 2017 Lewis Brown Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2018 [20] Adam Docker Retirement - [21] Daniel Foster Easts Tigers (QLD Cup) 2017 [22] Benjamin Garcia† Catalans Dragons (Super League) 2018 [23] Jamal Idris Released - Isaac John Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2016 Brent Kite Retirement - Apisai Koroisau Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2018 [24] Sika Manu Hull F.C. (Super League) [25] Kieren Moss Parramatta Eels 2016 [26] Ben Murdoch-Masila Salford Red Devils (Super League) Nigel Plum Retirement - [27] James Segeyaro† Leeds Rhinos (Super League) 2016 [14] David Simmons Retirement - [28] Chris Smith† Sydney Roosters 2017 [29] Jamie Soward† London Broncos (Championship) [30] Shaun Spence Retirement - Elijah Taylor† Wests Tigers 2016 [31]

Fixtures

Auckland Nines

Rangitoto Pool
Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	+/−	Pts
North Queensland Cowboys	3	2	0	1	55	36	+19	4
Newcastle Knights	3	2	0	1	48	58	–10	4
Penrith Panthers	3	1	0	2	48	37	+11	2
Wests Tigers	3	1	0	2	36	56	–20	2

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Saturday, 6 February	Game 4	Wests Tigers	Eden Park	23 - 7	Blake (3), Mansour, Watene-Zelezniak	Cartwright (1/2), Harawira-Naera (0/1), Martin (1/1), W Smith (0/1)	37,000
Saturday, 6 February	Game 11	Newcastle Knights	Eden Park	14 - 15	Dockar-Clay, R Jennings, Latimore	Harawira-Naera (0/1), Martin (0/1), W Smith (1/1)	37,000
Sunday, 7 February	Game 20	North Queensland Cowboys	Eden Park	11 - 15	Cartwright, Garcia	Cartwright (0/1), Martin (1/1)	37,000
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Pre-season

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals
Saturday, 13 February	Trial 1	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Pepper Stadium	24 - 20	Hall, Martin, C Smith, Taylor, Watene-Zelezniak	Moylan (2/2), Harawira-Naera (0/1), Dockar-Clay (0/1), Cleary (0/1)
Saturday, 20 February	Trial 2	Parramatta Eels	Pepper Stadium	8 - 22	Blake, Mansour	Soward (0/2)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Regular season

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Saturday, 5 March	Round 1	Canberra Raiders	GIO Stadium	30 - 22	Hiku, Mansour, Merrin	Soward (5/5)	11,297
Thursday, 10 March	Round 2	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Pepper Stadium	16 - 18	Hiku, McKendry	Soward (4/4)	11,125
Saturday, 19 March	Round 3	Brisbane Broncos	Pepper Stadium	23 - 22	Cartwright, Hiku, Latimore, Martin	Soward (3/5), Martin (1 FG)	12,086
Sunday, 27 March	Round 4	St. George Illawarra Dragons	WIN Stadium	14 - 12	Hiku, Mansour	Soward (2/3)	12,983
Sunday, 3 April	Round 5	Parramatta Eels	Pirtek Stadium	18 - 20	Cartwright (2), Mansour, Wallace	Soward (2/4)	15,600
Saturday, 9 April	Round 6	North Queensland Cowboys	Pepper Stadium	18 - 23	Merrin, Watene-Zelezniak (2)	Soward (3/4)	13,725
Monday, 18 April	Round 7	Sydney Roosters	Allianz Stadium	16 - 20	Blake, Martin, Watene-Zelezniak	Soward (4/4)	10,117
Sunday, 24 April	Round 8	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Southern Cross Group Stadium	20 - 18	Fisher-Harris (2), Moylan, Yeo	Soward (1/3), Moylan (0/1)	14,273
Saturday, 30 April	Round 9	Canberra Raiders	Carrington Park	19 - 18	Cartwright, Hiku, Peachey	Soward (3/4), Wallace (1 FG)	6,721
Saturday, 14 May	Round 10	New Zealand Warriors	AMI Stadium	30 - 18	Peachey (3), Soward, Watene-Zelezniak	Soward (5/6)	18,000
Sunday, 22 May	Round 11	Gold Coast Titans	Pepper Stadium	24 - 28	Latu, Mansour, Peachey, Watene-Zelezniak	Soward (4/5)	11,210
	Round 12	Bye
Saturday, 4 June	Round 13	Melbourne Storm	AAMI Park	24 - 6	Mansour	Soward (1/1)	11,116
Sunday, 12 June	Round 14	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Brookvale Oval	24 - 31	Cleary, Latu, Mansour, Peachey, Wallace, Watene-Zelezniak	Moylan (0/2, 1 FG), Wallace (3/4)	12,463
	Round 15	Bye
Friday, 24 June	Round 16	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Pepper Stadium	28 - 26	Cleary, Grevsmuhl, Latu, Mansour, Watene-Zelezniak	Cleary (4/5)	13,080
Saturday, 2 July	Round 17	Wests Tigers	ANZ Stadium	34 - 26	Fisher-Harris, Mansour, Merrin, Yeo	Cleary (5/5)	10,582
Sunday, 10 July	Round 18	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Pepper Stadium	10 - 26	Latu, Yeo	Cleary (1/3)	12,682
Saturday, 16 July	Round 19	Parramatta Eels	Pepper Stadium	22 - 18	Campbell-Gillard, Cartwright, Mansour, Peachey	Cleary (3/4)	15,251
Friday, 22 July	Round 20	Brisbane Broncos	Suncorp Stadium	12 - 31	Blake, Fisher-Harris, Hardaker, Merrin, Moylan	Cleary (5/6), Moylan (1 FG)	30,878
Saturday, 30 July	Round 21	New Zealand Warriors	Mount Smart Stadium	20 - 16	Mansour (2), Peachey	Cleary (2/4)	13,026
Monday, 8 August	Round 22	Sydney Roosters	Pepper Stadium	38 - 18	Blake, Cartwright, Cleary, Grevsmuhl, Peachey (2), Yeo	Cleary (5/7)	9,653
Sunday, 14 August	Round 23	Newcastle Knights	Hunter Stadium	6 - 42	Blake, Mansour (2), Moylan, Peachey, Watene-Zelezniak (2)	Cleary (7/8)	13,771
Friday, 19 August	Round 24	Wests Tigers	Pepper Stadium	40 - 10	Blake, Campbell-Gillard, Cartwright, Fisher-Harris, Merrin, Wallace, Yeo	Cleary (6/7)	14,876
Saturday, 27 August	Round 25	Gold Coast Titans	Cbus Super Stadium	14 - 15	Blake, Moylan	Cleary (3/3), Moylan (1 FG)	18,288
Sunday, 4 September	Round 26	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Pepper Stadium	36 - 6	Blake, Cartwright, Mansour (2), Wallace, Watene-Zelezniak	Cleary (6/6)	15,411
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Finals

	Qualifying / Elimination finals					Semi-finals						Preliminary finals				Grand final
		QF1: 10 Sept, AAMI Park
	1	Melbourne	16
	4	North Queensland	10			SF1: 16 Sept, 1300SMILES Stadium
						North Queensland	26
		EF1: 9 Sept, Suncorp Stadium				Brisbane	20					PF1: 24 Sept, AAMI Park
	5	Brisbane	44									Melbourne	14
	8	Gold Coast	28									Canberra	12			GF: 2 Oct, ANZ Stadium
																Melbourne	12
		EF2: 11 Sept, Allianz Stadium										PF2: 23 Sept, Allianz Stadium				Cronulla	14
	6	Penrith	28									Cronulla	32
	7	Canterbury	12			SF2: 17 Sept, GIO Stadium						North Queensland	20
						Canberra	22
		QF2: 10 Sept, GIO Stadium				Penrith	12
	2	Canberra	14
	3	Cronulla	16

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Sunday, 11 September	Elimination Final	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Allianz Stadium	28 - 12	Blake, Mansour, Peachey, Wallace, Watene-Zelezniak	Cleary (4/6)	22,631
Saturday, 17 September	Semi Final	Canberra Raiders	GIO Stadium	22 - 12	Peachey, Watene-Zelezniak	Cleary (2/2)	21,498
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Ladder

2016 NRL season
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Melbourne Storm	24	19	0	5	2	563	302	+261	42
2	Canberra Raiders	24	17	1	6	2	688	456	+232	39
3	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (P)	24	17	1	6	2	580	404	+176	39
4	North Queensland Cowboys	24	15	0	9	2	584	355	+229	34
5	Brisbane Broncos	24	15	0	9	2	554	434	+120	34
6	Penrith Panthers	24	14	0	10	2	563	463	+100	32
7	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	14	0	10	2	506	448	+58	32
8	Gold Coast Titans	24	11	1	12	2	508	497	+11	27
9	Wests Tigers	24	11	0	13	2	499	607	−108	26
10	New Zealand Warriors	24	10	0	14	2	513	601	−88	24
11	St. George Illawarra Dragons	24	10	0	14	2	341	538	−197	24
12	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	9	0	15	2	473	549	−76	22
13	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	24	8	0	16	2	454	563	−109	20
14	Parramatta Eels	24	13	0	11	2	298	324	−26	181
15	Sydney Roosters	24	6	0	18	2	443	576	−133	16
16	Newcastle Knights	24	1	1	22	2	305	800	−495	7

¹ Parramatta were deducted 12 competition points and their for/against tally accumulated between rounds 1-9 for gross long-term salary cap breaches.

Statistics

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^[33] and captained by Zach Dockar-Clay.

Representative

Domestic

Pos.	Player	Team	Call-up
BE	Leilani Latu	Indigenous All Stars	2016 All Stars Match
BE	Tyrone Peachey	Indigenous All Stars	2016 All Stars Match
BE	Jamie Soward	Indigenous All Stars	2016 All Stars Match
BE	Will Smith	Indigenous All Stars	2016 All Stars Match
BE	Trent Merrin	World All Stars	2016 All Stars Match
PR	Reagan Campbell-Gillard	NSW City	2016 City vs Country Origin
SR	Bryce Cartwright	NSW City	2016 City vs Country Origin
PR	Leilani Latu	NSW City	2016 City vs Country Origin
WG	Josh Mansour	NSW City	2016 City vs Country Origin
BE	Tyrone Peachey	NSW City	2016 City vs Country Origin
WG	Isaah Yeo	NSW Country	2016 City vs Country Origin
181	Bryce Cartwright	New South Wales	2016 State of Origin
WG	Josh Mansour	New South Wales	2016 State of Origin
FB	Matt Moylan	New South Wales	2016 State of Origin
BE	Matt Moylan	Prime Minister's XIII	2016 Prime Minister's XIII match

International

Pos.	Player	Team	Call-up
CE	Peta Hiku2	New Zealand	2016 Anzac Test
WG	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	New Zealand	2016 Anzac Test
HK	Sione Katoa	Tonga	2016 Polynesian Cup
CE	Waqa Blake	Fiji	2016 Pacific Test
SR	Viliame Kikau	Fiji	2016 Pacific Test
	Josh Mansour	Australia	2016 Four Nations
	Trent Merrin	Australia	2016 Four Nations
	Matt Moylan	Australia	2016 Four Nations
	Te Maire Martin	New Zealand	2016 Four Nations
	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	New Zealand	2016 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.

References