Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has named four club debutants for Saturday night’s match against North Queensland Cowboys.
Get to know the next-gen quartet before they run out for the Panthers in Round 25.
Tom Jenkins
Hailing from Boorowa in the Hilltops Region of southern NSW, Jenkins first made the move to Panthers ahead of the 2020 season.
However, the cancellation of the state representative competitions due to COVID-19 saw him return home to play Group 9 First Grade for his junior club Young Cherrypickers.
On return to Penrith, Jenkins hit the ground running and has been a standout outside back in Peter Wallace’s NSW Cup side this season – scoring 20 tries.
| PLAYER PROFILE | |
|---|---|
| Junior Club | Young Cherrypickers |
| Date of Birth | 16 March 2001 |
| Position | Wing/Centre |
| Height | 188cm |
| Weight | 94kg |
Liam Henry
A Blayney Bears junior, Henry will make his NRL debut after playing for the club’s pathways teams over the past two seasons.
The 20-year-old prop trained with the Panthers NRL squad during pre-season before linking up with Peter Wallace’s NSW Cup side.
He was promoted to a development player for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and will progress to the Top 30 squad in 2024.
| PLAYER PROFILE | |
|---|---|
| Junior Club | Blayney Bears |
| Date of Birth | 24 July 2001 |
| Position | Prop |
| Height | 186cm |
| Weight | 101kg |
Jack Cole
An Orange CYMS junior who played in the Western Division competition, Cole joined the Panthers ahead of the 2019 season.
Starting out in Harold Matthews, the playmaker progressed to the club’s SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup sides, before earning his NRL debut. Still eligible for SG Ball, he has also played representative games for NSW U/19s and NSW City U/18s.
Five-eighth by trade, Cole has also filled in a centre this season, and has been named on the interchange for Saturday's NRL clash against the Cowboys.
| PLAYER PROFILE | |
|---|---|
| Junior Club | Orange CYMS |
| Date of Birth | 3 July 2003 |
| Position | Five-eighth/Centre |
| Height | 187cm |
| Weight | 88kg |
Eddie Blacker
Blacker played his junior rugby league at the Pine Rivers Bears in Brisbane before making his NRL debut for St George Illawarra against Melbourne Storm in 2020.
The prop joined Panthers in 2021 and has been a key player in Peter Wallace’s NSW Cup team this season.
After a strong season, Blacker has been rewarded with a club debut in the NRL side this weekend.
| PLAYER PROFILE | |
|---|---|
| Junior Club | Pine River Bears |
| Date of Birth | 15 December 1999 |
| Position | Prop |
| Height | 195cm |
| Weight | 116kg |
