The Panthers are in danger of losing one of the key figures in their back-to-back premiership successes – under-rated back-rower Scott Sorensen.
The 30-year-old Sorensen has been one of the unsung heroes of the Panthers’ mini-dynasty and this season, has gone from a bench player to a starting back-rower, replacing departed back rower Viliame Kikau.
Penrith want to keep Sorensen but the forward is one of the lowest-paid players on their roster and is attracting good money offers from rival clubs.
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Sorensen could barely make the top grade in seven seasons before joining the Panthers, playing a mere 39 games at Cronulla, Souths and Canberra.
But he has thrived under Ivan Cleary’s coaching at the Panthers in his three seasons at the club.
The Panthers have held preliminary talks with the Kiwi international’s management, but with the season halfway gone, have been unable to come to terms.
Penrith have had to upgrade several of the young stars of their back-to-back premiership room and have little wiggle room in their salary cap – a situation that may see them lose the hard-working forward.
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The Bulldogs have signed a classy young outside back from Queensland.
Melino Fineanganofo from the Western Clydesdales club in Toowoomba is a blockbusting 24-year-old centre who has been scoring plenty of tries in the Hostplus Cup.
“Our scouts speak highly of him and we are giving him six weeks training prior to Christmas,” Bulldogs boss Phil Gould told Wide World of Sports.
“We will see how he goes from there. Plenty of other clubs were trying to get him away from Toowoomba as well so we believe we have got ourselves a talented player.”
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Souths sign potential Burgess successor
Souths have signed a teenage giant from North Queensland – and he could be the successor to Tom Burgess as the Rabbitohs’ main go-forward man.
Jason Hallie is just 18 but is already playing against men in the toughest spot of all – front row – in A grade in Cairns.
The 110 kg giant is still growing and bagged four tries in one game in the Mal Meninga Cup for Northern Pride prop against Mackay Cutters earlier this season to gain the attention of several NRL clubs.
“He has a long way to go, but the potential is undoubtedly there,” Rabbitohs head of pathways Joe O’Callaghan told Wide World of Sports.
“He is on a pathways contract for the next two years and we will see where he goes from there.
“Once Tom retires, we have no big body middles so he could prove very handy – but that is well down the track.”
Both O’Callaghan and Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou played A grade in Cairns and know it is a tough comp,
“The kid is playing against hard men and holding his own – that’s far from easy in the front row,” he said.
Panthers take action over ugly juniors abuse
The Panthers have been forced to take drastic action following a spate of ugly incidents involving referees being abused by unruly parents and fans in their junior league.
Clubs whose spectators abuse match officials now face expulsion from the junior competitions.
The Penrith and District Junior Rugby League Board of Management wrote to all clubs last week, spelling out the warning of being booted out if unsavoury incidents continue.
The tough step has been forced upon the club as the numbers of cases of referee abuse increases.
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“The PDJRL by- laws 4.18 will be enforced without explanation from round 6,” the club have been told via email.
“Furthermore, a punishment from round 7 on top of judiciary outcomes a team will be asked to show just cause why they shouldn’t be removed from the competition and the club to be issued a fine of $1000 with a case by case approach.
“This cause of action is being taken due to the escalation in abuse and threats towards referees by players, spectators, and officials in the first 6 rounds of the 2023 junior league competition.”
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