Penrith Panthers - A stylish mullet!

Football Leagues

Penrith Panthers

Penrith Panthers
Mullets and yuppies side by side

The Penrith Panthers were established in 1967 and are the closest thing that Sydney has to an egalitarian club. Its supporters are a mix of Blue Mountain yuppies and westies sporting mullets and flannies.

The region has something for everyone: pokies, mountains, wilderness, art galleries, knackeries, air force bases, sewage works, farms, yuppies and yobbos. Its bush feel, combined with the retention of much of its colonial history gives it a strong sense of Australiana.

Perhaps it is due to these distinguishing characteristics that gives the Panthers, or Panfers as they are known in the local area, arguably the strongest community support of all Sydney NRL clubs. Although Penrith is technically part of Sydney, it is a connection in name only. It is a separate world in terms of culture and the community support for the Panthers is indicative of that.

It is not clear how the club got its name. One story goes that it came from the urban myth of panthers said to inhabit the region. According to the myth, during World War 2, panthers were imported to inspire American soldiers stationed in Sydney. When the soldiers were leaving, they were ordered to kill the animals but unable to do so, they took them out bush and set them free. A breeding colony formed and over the generations, the big cats have been sighted hunting wallabies or attacking bushwalkers.

Roy Morgan Research

2004 - When compared to other NRL supporters

63% more likely than the average person to be aged 14-24.
43% more likely than the average person to say it is important to look fashionable;
48% more likely than the average to have played the pokies in the last three months;
22% more likely to say they can't help noticing advertising on buses.

2006 - When compared to other NRL supporters

24% more likely to be a non grocery buyer

24% more likely to enter competitions run by newspapers, magazines or radio
34% more likely to buy frozen or chilled ready prepared meals
33% more likely to consider doing some of their grocery shopping on the internet in the next twelve months
34% more likely to have played computer games at home in the last three months

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Mark Geyer -Big, tough but troubled forward who was not averse to throwing a few punches. Went bald and then became a pin-up boy for advanced hair with the catch cry "ooo yeah."

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