IN THE BEGINNING

“I started playing rugby league over in New Zealand, for the Mount Albert Lions in Auckland. Dad had been the head coach of the New Zealand Warriors. When we came over to Australia, I started playing for Penrith Brothers, I think in the under-15s. I had a few mates from school up at St Dom’s [St Dominic’s College, Penrith]. They were playing for Brothers, so I played there till the under-17s before going into the Penrith system.”

PANTHERS CAME KNOCKING

“The Panthers picked me up when I was playing for Brothers in my first year out here. I got an invitation to trial during that under-15s year - with the Penrith Harold Matthews squad. I played alright and ended up getting picked in the team. I was playing hooker off the bench for the first couple of games and ended up working my way into halfback. So I played the rest of that competition, went back to Brothers, then played SG Ball the year after, then SG Ball again the year after that, and then ‘20s from there.”

(Photo by Getty Images)

INSPIRING FIGURES

“I kind’ve looked up to my Dad [current Wests Tigers coach Ivan] when I was younger. And there were also the great halfbacks of the game; Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston, Darren Lockyer. I loved watching them play. Then there was Craig Gower out here when they won the comp. That was pretty crazy as well. I’ve seen highlights of that time; coming out to Penrith, just looking back on the past.

“I was never really a Penrith supporter until Dad starting coaching out here. Once I got out here, Peter Wallace was playing halfback at the time. Just being around him; he was like no one else. He was just really tough and had such great respect from all the team. As much as Wal was a great player - he probably wasn’t as skilful as some of the others of his era - it was just his toughness and respect. I just wanted to be exactly like he was. He was a pleasure to play under and play with.”

CLUB VALUES

“You see it all around the Panthers Rugby League Academy; the values of the club – being selfless and putting others before you. I think that’s really important. It’s showed on the field for us this year: everyone is really good mates and play for each other. Again, Peter Wallace is a great role model for that.

“The gym at the Academy is amazing. I don’t think you’ll find a better gym in the NRL at the moment. I also think the video room and auditorium are pretty cool. All the brain work and planning goes on in there. I love that joint.”

Inspirational former Panthers player Peter Wallace. (Photo by Getty Images)

LIFE AT THE ACADEMY

“It doesn’t feel like work because it’s such a great place. I love coming here every day. Having been away with the NSW State of Origin squad, I was excited to come back and be around the boys and see this great place again. It feels like a second home to me.

“This is a dream come true. I’ve wanted to play in the NRL for as long as I can remember, since I first started watching footy, as a three-year-old carrying a footy around. You just have to enjoy it. We’re really lucky to be in the position we are. When I get the chance, I love to muck around a bit, kicking a few balls around. I used to do it as a kid and now I’m doing it for a job. It’s pretty crazy.”

Nathan Cleary in action for the Blues in his debut Origin series in 2018. (Photo by Getty Images)

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

“It’s a respect thing with the Penrith players. We owe it to the staff. They work their arses off for us. Something as little as picking balls up after training just so they don’t have to … things like that get drilled into you. My parents have raised me like that: that whole respect aspect. Then it’s there at training, coming through the junior system. It’s really important. That’s why everyone on the team is such good blokes. And everyone gets along so well.”

(As told to James Smith)