- Jess and Neomie Fox headed to the Panthers headquarters
- Olympic gold medallists cheered on NRL players
- Both athletes are said to be die-hard Panthers fans.
Superstar scrum-half Nathan Cleary was spotted training on Monday morning as he continues his recovery from injury, but he was overshadowed by a pair of famous sisters who brought something bright new to Penrith.
The Panthers are running out of room for all the titles they’ve racked up in recent years, but had no trouble creating some space for a pair of gold medals after the Fox sisters popped in for a chat with the premiers in a pre-finals push.
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the three-time defending champions, but Monday’s visit from Jess and Noemie Fox, both staunch Penrith supporters, put things into perspective just weeks after they dazzled at the Olympics.
The sisters were happy to share their stories of redemption with a team that is dealing with its own adversity just a couple of weeks before the finals.
“They are proud Penrith girls and they were very kind to take the time to come and talk to our boys and share their experiences, not only from the most recent Olympics but also leading up to that,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.
“They brought their gold medals, which was great, and it was amazing what they put on display. Our guys got a lot out of it.
‘I can’t tell you everything, but it was a lot about preparation, which is (important) in Olympic sports.
‘Adversity is always present in what we do as professional athletes and we’re definitely in that little phase right now.
Olympic gold medallist Jess Fox was delighted to receive a Panthers jersey from her NRL playing squad (pictured) on Monday.
Jess and Noemie Fox visited Panthers headquarters to inspire the playing group ahead of the final (pictured with co-captains Isaah Yeo and Nathan Cleary)
‘We’re probably not playing as well as we’d like with all the stakes.
“It was good to hear from other like-minded people (I hope we can be as good as the girls) and talk about the ups and downs of professional sport and how to deal with them.”
The Panthers dropped to fourth in the standings, their lowest of the season since Round 7, after being stunned by Canberra on Saturday afternoon.
They are still without superstar scrum-half Nathan Cleary, who performed light duties on Monday morning but is not expected back until the first week of finals, while youngster Jack Cole may have played his last game of the year after falling victim to a nasty hip-dropping tackle at reserve level.
No team has ever finished fourth and then won the title under the current finals format, with the last team to do so being the 2009 Melbourne Storm, who were stripped of the title for breaching the salary cap.
The 2005 Wests Tigers and 2002 Roosters also achieved the feat, and there is no doubt the Panthers have the talent and belief to defy history if they finish fourth.
But with a favourable draw and players set to return in the coming weeks, they remain in the running to move up a spot or two if the Roosters or Sharks stumble.
Whatever happens, Cleary knows his team will have to improve if they are to navigate their way through troubled waters and make it to the end for a fourth straight year.
The Fox sisters (pictured) were a sensation in Paris after both winning gold medals at the Games.
Despite falling to fourth in the NRL standings following a shock defeat at the hands of the Raiders last Saturday, coach Ivan Cleary is confident his side can win a fourth consecutive championship.
“The regular season and wherever you finish, you’ll finish where you deserve, and that’s what’s going to happen,” he said.
“I fully believe we can win, but we have to decide if we are willing to pay that price to win. Right now, there is probably a question mark on that.”
‘We weren’t playing anywhere near our best at the weekend and were probably outclassed by our opponents.
‘I know we have enough experience this season to be able to challenge (for the title), but there have been periods (in recent weeks) when it is fair to question whether we are willing to pay the price.
“It’s not easy if you want to go all the way, and you have to pay a high price along the way.”