Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Panthers make changes for do-or-die final
Jasper Bruce, AAP • September 9th, 2025 7:05 pm
Mitch Kenny has been dropped for Penrith's elimination final against the Warriors | Photo: Steven Markham/AAP
Mitch Kenny will miss Penrith's elimination final against the Warriors as coach Ivan Cleary drops resurgent Tom Jenkins from the Panthers' 17.
The Panthers raised eyebrows by naming inexperienced Luke Sommerton at hooker rather than stalwart Kenny as they continue their quest for a fifth consecutive premiership.
Kenny has been pivotal to the seventh-placed Panthers this season, with his leadership particularly crucial as the club revitalised its campaign during the testing State of Origin period.
But Sommerton will come in for just the 12th match of his first-grade career as the Panthers begin their push to become the first side in the NRL era to win a premiership from outside the top four.
Three-time premiership-winner Kenny has been omitted from the 22-man squad altogether, meaning he is no chance to make a late rush into the team for the trip to Auckland.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Kenny appeared to suggest he would be playing in Saturday's finals encounter.
Jenkins has been relegated to 18th man to allow Paul Alamoti to start on a wing against the Warriors.
The return of Jenkins has been one of the feelgood stories of the NRL season, with the 24-year-old plucked from Ron Massey Cup side St Marys for a second chance at the NRL over the summer.
He has gone on to score 13 tries in 21 games mostly starting on the left wing, forging a fantastic combination with centre Casey McLean.
But 2024 premiership winner Alamoti was excellent in last week's defeat of St George Illawarra and appears to have forced Cleary's hand.
Tom Jenkins' memorable 2025 has hit a bump with his relegation to 18th man | Photo: Brett Phibbs/AAP
The Warriors have shifted Kurt Capewell to the centres to cover for Rocco Berry, who suffered the latest in a string of shoulder injuries last week.
Wayde Egan returns from a hip injury to start at hooker.
Elsewhere, Brisbane have recalled Gehamat Shibasaki, who was dropped from last week's win for disciplinary reasons.
But veteran halfback Adam Reynolds will need at least another week to recover from a hamstring injury suffered late in the regular season.
Following Jahrome Hughes' wrist injury, Tyran Wishart has been named to start in the halves for Melbourne in their qualifying final against Canterbury.
Aysh searches for positives in loss to Panthers | Warriors Live
But Jonah Pezet is on the bench so could make a late charge into the halves, with Nick Meaney beating Sua Faalogo to replace the concussed Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback.
Canberra have named Josh Papalii in the front row despite an ankle injury at training last week but have Matty Nicholson and Trey Mooney on the extended bench just in case.
As expected, five-eighth Braydon Trindall is back from a minor ankle injury for Cronulla's elimination final against the Sydney Roosters.
Tune into Sport Nation for live, free-to-air commentary of every game of the NRL Finals series
<iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6VF7AUUwn73TLNKm420sgL?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="152" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe>
