most naturally gifted panthers never to crack it big time.

[Fibroman]

Ross Gigg. Had it all. Pace, strength, step, acceleration, but went virtually unnoticed until picked up by the Newcastle Trotting Club where he now displays his ability for all to see.

 

[Caged Panther]

and here I was expecting this to be a thread about you fibro.

 

[murraymob]

Girdler was up there with the best ever seen at our club.Both in attack and defence .Had that freakish ability to intercept as well

 

[Fibroman]

Brad Izzard. One of the most powerful running centres in the game, got picked once or twice on the bench at rep level.

 

[Shire Panther]

Craig Trindall, He was a freak he could of had the world at his feet.

 

[Munky]

Trindall had all the skills.

He wasn't a natural athlete though.

 

[murraymob]

daniel russell

half/five eight you would all remember him as the snowy haired boy played reserves .Kids in the crowd wore blonde wigs.Had a major knee injury and stopped playing .May now play park football not sure


Grant bullpitt

a five eight penrith had huge wraps on him.Had all the skills a good playmaker..I think he also had a career ending knee injury.Was only about 19 when doctors told him to stop playing

 

[The Mighty Panther]

Gary Howell, Matty Goodwin and Brad Waugh

Trio of great forwards during the 80's. I thought Goodwin would have been the closest out of those three to make at least City/Country.

 

[Shire Panther]

daniel russell

half/five eight you would all remember him as the snowy haired boy played reserves .Kids in the crowd wore blonde wigs.Had a major knee injury and stopped playing .May now play park football not sure


Grant bullpitt

a five eight penrith had huge wraps on him.Had all the skills a good playmaker..I think he also had a career ending knee injury.Was only about 19 when doctors told him to stop playing

Grant Bullpett was a gun players a little of topic but after football he went on to mary his now wife in the nude on Kyle and jackie o:crazy:

 

[Shire Panther]

Ben Reynolds is another player that springs to mind he was going great at one stage he was going to be the next big thing then he boke his leg and was never the same, I think it was in a game against the Tigers(?) he scored something like 28 points.

 

[Nigel Highley]

Ross Gigg. Had it all. Pace, strength, step, acceleration, but went virtually unnoticed until picked up by the Newcastle Trotting Club where he now displays his ability for all to see.

Ross Gigg is a top bloke will always say G'day to a panther supporter he did show a great deal of promise when he was appointed as Penrith's rugby league boss in the late 80's, however was replaced by Don Feltis.

I remember the Penrith Press article at the time it stated something like is this a promotion for Don Feltis or is it just Roger Cowan asserting his power and authority. Whilst everyone has moved on I always felt it was the latter.

As for the most naturally gifted panther to crack the big time without a doubt for me it's Greg Alexander. I still remember a game against Wests at Lidcombe Oval where we were behind and Greg had been very quiet, well he turned it on in the last 10 minutes and we won the game.

Steve Ghosn the then Wests coach on radio after the game was absolutely devestated.

 

[Kilkenny]

I purchased a little book a year of two back which listed all the players who have ever played for the Panthers, appearances, tries scored, points scored etc etc. It makes good reading and reminds one of the many players a 40 years supporter such as I have watched over the years. Suffice to say there have been many fine Panthers who never quite made the big time either with the Panthers or on the rep stage.

If I had to pick one Panther who probably deserved higher honours or was incredibly unlucky not to do so it would surely have to be Steve Carter.

As I recall Steve Carter did get a call up for SOO as 18th man but didn't actually make the field. He was an outstanding player and was most deserving of higher honours.

 

[Kilkenny]

Should also add the Ross Gigg and Glenn West centre combination was pretty special in the 1970's. What was Glenn West's nickname? The Panthers express or something similar? Knee injuries ruined what could have been a very special career for Glenn. He was a special talent who thru injury did not realise his potential sadly.

 

[Fein]

What about The Penguin?

 

[Fibroman]

What about The Penguin?

Graeme Bradley was a very solid centre in the mould of Michael Cronin. Tall and rangey, with the ability to stand and off load at will. A very solid defender. Still nowhere in the class of Jennnings, Izzard, Girdler and Franze.

 

[PAPI]

Steve Carter. Col Bently. Col Van Der Vort.

And My Hero. Brad Drew, still carving up.