9th July 2007
- The Panthers and Windsor Wolves have formed a joint venture to play in the Premier League from next season onwards.
The announcement was made today by Dick Prior, President of Windsor Rugby League Club Inc. and Michael Leary, General Manager of Penrith District Rugby League Football Club Ltd.The agreement is for an initial period of three years.
The main points are:
Windsor will enter a team in Premier League, bearing its name and colours
All home games will be played at Windsor
Penrith’s top grade players who are not required for 1st Grade in any given week will be made available to play Premier League for Windsor. As well, players from Penrith’s new Under 20s side who are not required for that competition will be made available to play either in Premier League or Jim Beam Cup with Windsor.
Penrith will provide the coaching and support staff for Premier League.
Penrith’s coaching structures and organisation will be duplicated at Windsor so that players coming through are schooled in the requirements of the Panthers First Grade coaching staff.
“We see only plusses for our club in this,” Dick Prior said. “We think it is a step up to another level. We will have the opportunity to work their way through Jim Beam, to Premier League we want to become an apprenticeship-style club – so that when a player comes to Windsor they will have the opportunity to work their way through Jim Beam and into 1st Grade.
"“The main advantage for Penrith is that it gives us a Premier League side in which to keep our elite players and two competitions – Premier League and Jim Beam – through which our younger players can progress to the NRL,” said Michael Leary
.“There are also considerable cost savings for us, which is good because of the need to maintain a strong squad for the new National Under 20s competition.
" The unified training will come into effect when players return to camp later this year.