2015 Penrith Panthers season

The 2015 Penrith Panthers season was the 49th in the club's history. Coached by Ivan Cleary and captained by Peter Wallace, the team competed in the National Rugby League's 2015 Telstra Premiership. They also competed in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines pre-season tournament.

2015 Penrith Panthers season
NRL Rank	11th
2015 record	Wins: 9; Losses: 15
Points scored	For: 399; Against: 477
Team information
Coach	Ivan Cleary
Captain	Peter Wallace
Stadium	Pepper Stadium - 22,500
Avg. Attend.	11,544
High. Attend.	18,817 vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 8 March
Top scorers
Tries	David Simmons (9)
Goals	Jamie Soward (22)
Points	Matt Moylan (50)
Away colours
< 2014 List of seasons 2016 >

The Panthers were riddled by injury throughout 2015, and as a result, used a total of 32 players over the course of the season - the most of any club for that year.[1] The club finished the season in 11th place, managing to avoid the wooden spoon by defeating the last-placed Newcastle Knights in their final game.[2] Despite this, the Panthers under 20s team won the 2015 National Youth Competition premiership.[3]

Squad

Penrith Panthers

NRL Squad 2015								Coaching staff
Sam Anderson - PR, LK Waqa Blake - CE, WG Lewis Brown - SR, CE, LK Reagan Campbell-Gillard - PR Bryce Cartwright - SR, FE Adam Docker - SR, LK Jamal Idris - CE George Jennings - WG Robert Jennings - WG Isaac John - FE, HB Sione Katoa - HK Brent Kite - PR		Apisai Koroisau - HK, FE Jeremy Latimore - PR Leilani Latu - PR Josh Mansour - WG Sika Manu - SR Sam McKendry - PR Matt Moylan - FB Ben Murdoch-Masila - PR, SR Tyrone Peachey - FE, SR Nigel Plum - PR, SR James Segeyaro - HK David Simmons - WG		Chris Smith - WG Will Smith - FB, FE Tupou Sopoaga - SR, LK Jamie Soward - FE, HB Shaun Spence - SR, LK, PR Elijah Taylor - LK Peter Wallace (c) - HB Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - WG, FB Dean Whare - CE Isaah Yeo - SR, CE				Head coach Ivan Cleary Assistant coaches David Fairleigh Garth Brennan (NSW Cup coach) Cameron Ciraldo (NYC Coach) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice captain(s)

Player transfers

Gains Player Signed From Until End of Notes Adrian Davis Redcliffe Dolphins (QLD Cup) 2015 [4] Apisai Koroisau South Sydney Rabbitohs 2016 [5] Tupou Sopoaga Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2016 [6]

Losses Player Signed From Until End of Notes Luke Capewell Redcliffe Dolphins (QLD Cup) [7] Anthony Cherrington Redcliffe Dolphins (QLD Cup) [7] Tim Grant South Sydney Rabbitohs 2018 [8] Tom Humble Townsville Blackhawks (QLD Cup) [9] Kevin Kingston Retirement - [10] Kierran Moseley Gold Coast Titans 2016 [11] Eto Nabuli St. George Illawarra Dragons 2016 [12] Kevin Naiqama Wests Tigers 2015 [13] Wes Naiqama London Broncos (Super League) 2016 [14] Matt Robinson Gold Coast Titans [15] Ryan Simpkins Gold Coast Titans 2016 [16]

Fixtures

NRL Auckland Nines

The NRL Auckland Nines is a pre-season rugby league nines competition featuring all 16 NRL clubs. The 2015 competition was played over two days on 31 January and 1 February at Eden Park. The Panthers featured in the Waiheke pool and played the Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Storm, losing all three of their games.

Penrith Panthers Auckland Nines Squad 2015 Coaching staff 1 Will Smith 2 Isaac John 3 Adrian Davis 4 Isaah Yeo 5 Kieren Moss 6 George Jennings 7 Sika Manu 8 Ben Murdoch-Masila 9 Apisai Koroisau 10 Tupou Sopoaga 11 Brendon Attwood 12 Nathan Smith 13 Reagan Campbell-Gillard 14 Christian Crichton 15 Joshua Jay 16 Kevin Kingston (c) 17 Andy Saunders 18 Chris Smith Head coach Ivan Cleary Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice captain(s) Updated: Source(s): Team Announcement

Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts South Sydney Rabbitohs 3 3 0 0 54 20 +34 6 North Queensland Cowboys 3 2 0 1 43 35 +8 4 Melbourne Storm 3 1 0 2 32 45 -13 2 Penrith Panthers 3 0 0 3 16 45 -29 0

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals
Saturday, 31 January	Game 4	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Eden Park	4-11	Sopoaga	John (0/1)
Saturday, 31 January	Game 11	Melbourne Storm	Eden Park	20-4	Jay	Koroisau (0/1)
Sunday, 1 February	Game 20	North Queensland Cowboys	Eden Park	14-8	Jay, C Smith	Davis (0/2)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Regular season

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance
Sunday, 8 March	Round 1	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Pepper Stadium	24-18	G Jennings, Segeyaro, Watene-Zelezniak	Soward (4/5)	18,814
Saturday, 14 March	Round 2	Gold Coast Titans	Carrington Park	40-0	Cartwright, Idris (3), G Jennings, Manu, Whare (2)	Moylan (4/6), Soward (0/2)	6,240
Monday, 23 March	Round 3	Sydney Roosters	Allianz Stadium	20-12	Idris, Segeyaro	Moylan (2/2)	10,735
Saturday, 28 March	Round 4	Newcastle Knights	Hunter Stadium	26-14	Mansour, Moylan, Whare	Moylan (1/3)	20,114
Monday, 6 April	Round 5	North Queensland Cowboys	Pepper Stadium	10-30	Segeyaro, Whare	Moylan (1/2)	8,409
Saturday, 11 April	Round 6	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Pepper Stadium	22-12	Blake, Koroisau, Mansour (2)	Moylan (3/4)	11,170
Saturday, 18 April	Round 7	Gold Coast Titans	Cbus Super Stadium	32-6	Blake	Moylan (1/1)	9,244
Sunday, 26 April	Round 8	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Pepper Stadium	26-18	Moylan, Peachey, Simmons, Watene-Zelezniak	Moylan (5/5)	12,798
Friday, 8 May	Round 9	Brisbane Broncos	Suncorp Stadium	8-5		Moylan (2/2, 1 FG)	24,566
Monday, 18 May	Round 10	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Brookvale Oval	10-11	Simmons, Watene-Zelezniak	Moylan (1/3, 1 FG)	8,025
	Round 11	Bye
Friday, 29 May	Round 12	Parramatta Eels	Pepper Stadium	20-26	Cartwright, Simmons, Watene-Zelezniak, Yeo	Cartwright (0/1), Wallace (2/3)	17,821
Saturday, 6 June	Round 13	Melbourne Storm	Pepper Stadium	0-20			11,849
	Round 14	Bye
Saturday, 20 June	Round 15	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	ANZ Stadium	24-12	Cartwright (2)	Soward (2/2)	12,476
Sunday, 28 June	Round 16	Wests Tigers	Leichhardt Oval	12-35	Mansour, Simmons (4), Wallace, Watene-Zelezniak	Koroisau (0/1), Simmons (1/1), Soward (2/5), Wallace (1 FG)	14,234
Friday, 3 July	Round 17	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Pepper Stadium	20-6	Blake, Wallace, Watene-Zelezniak, Whare	Koroisau (2/3), Soward (0/1), Wallace (0/1)	14,068
Saturday, 11 July	Round 18	Sydney Roosters	Pepper Stadium	4-24	Brown	Koroisau (0/1)	13,654
Friday, 17 July	Round 19	Melbourne Storm	AAMI Park	52-10	Blake, Peachey	Soward (1/2)	11,956
Sunday, 26 July	Round 20	Canberra Raiders	Pepper Stadium	24-34	R Jennings, Segeyaro, Taylor, Yeo	Soward (4/4)	8,048
Sunday, 2 August	Round 21	South Sydney Rabbitohs	ANZ Stadium	20-16	Brown, Cartwright, Segeyaro	Soward (2/3)	13,391
Saturday, 8 August	Round 22	Parramatta Eels	TIO Stadium	10-4	Blake	Soward (0/1)	8,340
Saturday, 15 August	Round 23	New Zealand Warriors	Pepper Stadium	24-10	Brown, Campbell-Gillard, Peachey, Simmons	Soward (4/5)	6,774
Thursday, 20 August	Round 24	St. George Illawarra Dragons	WIN Stadium	19-12	Mansour, Simmons	Soward (2/3)	9,145
Monday, 31 August	Round 25	Canberra Raiders	GIO Stadium	34-18	Brown, Segeyaro, W Smith	Koroisau (2/2), Soward (1/1)	6,717
Saturday, 5 September	Round 26	Newcastle Knights	Pepper Stadium	30-12	Mansour, Peachey (2), W Smith, Whare	Simmons (1/1), W Smith (4/5)	8,936
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Ladder

2015 NRL season
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Sydney Roosters	24	18	0	6	2	591	300	+291	40
2	Brisbane Broncos	24	17	0	7	2	574	379	+195	38
3	North Queensland Cowboys (P)	24	17	0	7	2	587	454	+133	38
4	Melbourne Storm	24	14	0	10	2	467	348	+119	32
5	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	14	0	10	2	522	480	+42	32
6	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	14	0	10	2	469	476	−7	32
7	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	13	0	11	2	465	467	−2	30
8	St. George Illawarra Dragons	24	12	0	12	2	435	408	+27	28
9	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	24	11	0	13	2	458	492	−34	26
10	Canberra Raiders	24	10	0	14	2	577	569	+8	24
11	Penrith Panthers	24	9	0	15	2	399	477	−78	22
12	Parramatta Eels	24	9	0	15	2	448	573	−125	22
13	New Zealand Warriors	24	9	0	15	2	445	588	−143	22
14	Gold Coast Titans	24	9	0	15	2	439	636	−197	22
15	Wests Tigers	24	8	0	16	2	487	562	−75	20
16	Newcastle Knights	24	8	0	16	2	458	612	−154	20

Statistics

Name	App	T	G	FG	Pts
Sam Anderson	1	0	0	0	0
Waqa Blake	18	5	0	0	20
Lewis Brown	21	4	0	0	16
Reagan Campbell-Gillard	24	1	0	0	4
Bryce Cartwright	21	5	0	0	20
Adam Docker	1	0	0	0	0
Jamal Idris	6	4	0	0	16
George Jennings	5	2	0	0	8
Robert Jennings	5	1	0	0	4
Isaac John	7	0	0	0	0
Sione Katoa	1	0	0	0	0
Brent Kite	6	0	0	0	0
Apisai Koroisau	16	1	4	0	12
Jeremy Latimore	24	0	0	0	0
Leilani Latu	6	0	0	0	0
Sam McKendry	24	0	0	0	0
Josh Mansour	12	6	0	0	24
Sika Manu	18	1	0	0	4
Matt Moylan	11	2	20	2	50
Tyrone Peachey	22	5	0	0	20
Nigel Plum	14	0	0	0	0
James Segeyaro	18	6	0	0	24
David Simmons	13	9	2	0	40
Chris Smith	1	0	0	0	0
Will Smith	9	2	4	0	16
Tupou Sopoaga	5	0	0	0	0
Jamie Soward	16	0	22	0	44
Elijah Taylor	20	1	0	0	4
Peter Wallace	13	2	2	1	13
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	16	7	0	0	28
Dean Whare	13	6	0	0	24
Isaah Yeo	21	2	0	0	8
Totals	24	72	54	3	399

Representative

Domestic

Pos.	Player	Team	Call-up
FB	Matt Moylan	NRL All Stars	2015 All Stars Match
SR	Tyrone Peachey	Indigenous All Stars	2015 All Stars Match
CE	Waqa Blake	NSW City	2015 City vs Country Origin
BE	Reagan Campbell-Gillard	NSW City	2015 City vs Country Origin
FB	Matt Moylan	NSW City	2015 City vs Country Origin
LK	Tyrone Peachey	NSW City	2015 City vs Country Origin
20^1	Matt Moylan	New South Wales	2015 State of Origin

International

Pos.	Player	Team	Call-up
HK	Apisai Koroisau	Fiji	2015 Melanesian Cup
SR	Sika Manu^2	Tonga	2015 Polynesian Cup
BE	Ben Murdoch-Masila	Tonga	2015 Polynesian Cup
BE	Lewis Brown	New Zealand	2015 New Zealand tour of England
CE	Dean Whare	New Zealand	2015 New Zealand tour of England

1 - Selected as 20th Man, Moylan did not play during the series.
2 - Manu captained the Tongan side during their match against Samoa.

References

1. Brock, Dominic (7 September 2015). "Panthers 2015 season review". NRL.com.
2. "Penrith Panthers beat Newcastle Knights 30-12 to dodge NRL wooden spoon". ABC. 6 September 2015.
3. Webeck, Tony (4 October 2015). "Panthers win second Holden Cup title". NRL.com.
4. Keeble, Brett (21 October 2014). "Panthers offer Davis opportunity to shine". The Herald.
5. "Apisai Koroisau leaves South Sydney to sign with NRL contract with Penrith". ABC. 3 June 2014.
6. Brown, Andrew (11 November 2014). "Tupou Sopoaga signs two year deal with Penrith Panthers". Penrith City Gazette].
7. Luca, Rocco (17 November 2014). "Redcliffe sign Panthers duo". Rugby League Week.
8. "Rabbitohs Sign Tim Grant for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Seasons". rabbitohs.com.au. 18 April 2014.
9. "Blackhawks unveil 2015 signings". QRL.com.au. 16 October 2014.
10. "Penrith Panthers co-captain Kevin Kingston to retire at season's end". ABC. 6 June 2014.
11. Badel, Peter (17 November 2014). "The Titans have signed rising star Kierran Moseley on a two-year deal". Courier-Mail.
12. Horne, Ben (7 October 2014). "Fijian Nabuli signs with NRL Dragons". NRL.com.
13. Heydon, Craig (10 October 2014). "Wests Tigers sign backline duo". weststigers.com.au.
14. "Wes Naiqama quits Penrith Panthers for London Broncos". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 August 2014.
15. "Titans sign promising back-rowers". titans.com.au. 4 September 2014.
16. "Titans sign Ryan Simpkins". Rugby League Week. 9 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.