The Obstruction Rule

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Latest Penrith Panthers News

Titans tried offloading Cartwright to Panthers

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Just in case you wondering if struggling Titans forward Bryce Cartwright might be returning home to Penrith, we have an answer for you: no.

According to the Western Weekender, the Titans were indeed “keen to broker a deal” to send Cartwright (and his healthy contract) back to the foot of the mountains, but were greeted with a polite ‘no returns’.

There reportedly is a clause in Cartwright’s contract that says the Panthers must be offered first opportunity in the event that he gets released, but given his struggles since arriving on the Gold Coast, you can understand why they’d decline.

Cartwright has most recently been linked to the Sea Eagles, but that’s gone quiet of late, too. It would appear that for the time being at least, Cartwright will remain at the Titans.

Cartwright has played 80 first grade games for the Titans and Panthers.

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Panthers reunite Watene-Zelezniaks

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Having lost winger Christian Crichton to the Bulldogs next year, the Panthers had a vacancy for a depth winger. That vacancy has been filled.

According to Fox Sports, the Panthers have agreed to terms with Tigers winger Malakai Watene-Zelezniak on a two-year deal.

The new deal will see Watene-Zelezniak return to the club with whom he made his first grade debut, and reunite with his brother, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

MWZ departed the Panthers in the middle of late season to take a starting gig with the Tigers, but with Wests having since added Moses Mbye, Corey Thompson and Mahe Fonua, he’s likely now to be limited to a depth role, and he might as well do that back home at Penrith.

Watene-Zelezniak has played 25 first grade games for the Tigers and Panthers.

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Panthers bring back Grant

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With the retirement of Panthers hooker Peter Wallace, there was a vacancy at Penrith for the role of “veteran Panthers junior and former representative player”. That role has now been filled.

The Panthers have today announced the signing of Tigers prop Tim Grant for 2019, on a one-year deal.

Grant’s return to the foot of the mountains has been speculated for over a year, and his return will give him the opportunity to end his career back where it all began.

After an outstanding Origin debut, Grant’s career never hit the heights many expected when he left Penrith for the Rabbitohs in 2015, and he’ll be hoping that a return to Mulgoa Rd helps rekindle some of his old form.

Grant has played 189 first grade games for the Tigers, Rabbitohs and Panthers, and 2 Origins for New South Wales.

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Panthers lock down RCG, Ellis

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The Panthers have one of the league’s best forward packs, and today they’ve moved to lock in a couple of key pieces for the future.

The club today announced the re-signings of forwards Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Kaide Ellis for a further six years and two years, respectively.

As a result, Ellis will remain at the foot of the mountains until the end of 2020, while Campbell-Gillard is locked in until the end of 2024.

Campbell-Gillard this year made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales, and has developed into one of the game’s premier front rowers.

Ellis had been rumoured on social media for a possible mid-season exit, but today’s announcement has proven those rumours well wide of the mark.

Campbell-Gillard has played 81 first grade games for the Panthers, 1 Origin for New South Wales, 5 Tests for Australia, and 1 for Fiji.

Ellis has played 4 first grade games for the Panthers, since making his debut earlier this year.

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Panthers’ Wallace retires, effective immediately

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After a weekend filled with speculation about the playing future of Paul Gallen, a little ginger bloke from Penrith has blind-sided us on a Tuesday morning.

Panthers skipper Peter Wallace has this morning announced his retirement, effective immediately.

Wallace has been out injured for over a month, and with the club evidently in good hands in his absence, he’s made the shock decision that enough is enough.

The decision is all the more understandable in light of revelations from Panthers boss Phil Gould that Wallace has been playing the past two seasons “with no ACL in his knee”.

That news is incredible, but unsurprising for a player such as Wallace, who’s the type who’d give his left nut for his teammates (and he did, in 2008).

Now, Wallace will take up a position on the Panthers’ coaching staff.

Wallace played 240 first grade games for the Panthers and Broncos, 4 Origins for New South Wales, and 4 Tests for Scotland.

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