Penrith Panthers is proud to unveil the 2025 warm-up tee, a striking nod to the club’s heritage.
The design draws inspiration from the Panthers’ iconic jersey worn between 1997 and 1999, which is the jersey the team donned during the inaugural NRL season. This was the year that Hall of Famer Royce Simmons served as the coach, and Panthers legend Steve Carter captained the side, marking a significant chapter in the club’s history.
The Panthers NRL squad will wear the throwback tee during warm up at all NRL matches this year, bringing a wave of nostalgia to the members and fans.
The warm up tee is available for purchase at the Panther Shop in store and online, allowing fans to own a piece of Panthers history.
Following a heart-to-heart conversation with former Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai, exciting new Panthers recruit Blaize Talagi is relishing the chance to wear his old jumper this season.
While on tour with Samoa over in England late last year, Luai spoke to Talagi about the prospect of the supremely talented 19-year-old taking over his coveted position in 2025.
“I got to know Romey pretty good,” Talagi revealed the Weekender.
“We had a few chats… a few deep and meaningful chats. He was good!
“He didn’t really say much specifically about the team, but just what it’s like being a six and using my voice and that. They were the main things that he taught me.”
While Talagi playing next to Nathan Cleary isn’t set in stone just yet, the opportunity to do so was one of the major reasons the 2024 Parramatta Eels Rookie of the Year chose to switch clubs after a stellar debut season in the NRL.
The versatile youngster, who crossed the line 11 times last year, said he’ll play anywhere for coach Ivan Cleary, but five-eighth is his preferred position.
“Nothing is guaranteed but personally, for me, I want to play six,” Talagi said.
“But if there’s a chance to play somewhere else and I’m in the team then I’ll play there. I’m not just locked down on one position.”
Talagi and Cleary’s first game together in Panthers colours could come in Las Vegas in early March when Penrith open their premiership defence against Cronulla at Allegiant Stadium.
The pair – who both underwent the same shoulder operation during the off-season – have already started working on combinations as well as getting to know each other away from the training paddock.
“We haven’t talked about our partnership much, but we have been training and working on a few combinations,” he said.
“It’s been good getting to know Nath. We’ve been spending time in rehab together and our lockers are also next to each other. “Nath’s a pretty chill guy, he knows his craft, and I’ve just been learning off him and trying to stick around him as much as I can.”
In a huge sigh of relief for Panthers supporters, Talagi, Cleary and fellow shoulder rehab patient Dylan Edwards are all “tracking well” to be fit come the start of the new season. Despite some understandable nerves when he first arrived at Panthers HQ, Talagi said he can’t wait to play alongside his new teammates after getting to know them all in recent months.
“Before I arrived, I knew a few of the younger boys like the McLean brothers, Harry Hassett and Billy Scott, but the only interactions I had with a few of the older boys was after the Parra v Penrith game [in August]. They just said a few words to me because they knew I was coming over,” he said.
“I was a little nervous when I first got here. Moving clubs is a new thing for me. I never moved schools or anything like that, I was always pretty comfortable.”
Talagi said getting out of his comfort zone was ultimately a “good thing” for his career and his relationship with the supercoach is developing nicely.
“Ivan has been really good with me; I like him a lot!” he said.