The Penrith Panthers’ celebrations are well and truly underway and playmaker Jarome Luai couldn’t help but once again claim the wild, wild west after a huge 28-12 victory.
During grand final week, Luai and Brian To’o declared “things have changed” explaining Penrith was the best rugby league breeding ground in the world.
In an Instagram story posted Sunday night, flanked by the Provan-Summons Trophy, Luai wrote the caption “daddy loves you” in a jab to the Eels.
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He even used Usher’s ‘Hey Daddy’ to accompany the story.
Elsewhere, departing hooker Apisai Koroisau posed with his three rings, two from his time at the Panthers and the other from the 2014 Rabbitohs victory.
In the changerooms after the contest, the Panthers team were clearly enjoying themselves with beverages flowing, signing a rendition of Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’… in a subtle jab to Mitchell Moses.
The Eels playmaker uses the song as his post-try celebration music, which wasn’t required on Sunday night.
Panthers cult hero Scott Sorensen posed with both front row enforcer James Fisher-Harris and utility Jaeman Salmon, showing off their shiny premiership rings.
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While on the field after fans had left Accor Stadium, J’maine Hopgood, Liam Martin and Mitch Kenny commandeered the ground buggy for a joy ride.
Spencer Leniu didn’t want to miss out on the action and jumped aboard as teammates watched on laughing.
Superstar playmaker Nathan Cleary capped of the stadium celebrations, posting a video to Instagram leaving the empty ground captioned “signing out… see y’all back in the riff”.
At around 7:30am this morning, Cleary emerged from Panthers Leagues Club, shirtless, and ready to speak to members of the media.
“I’m going home for an hour’s sleep,” Cleary said ahead of the club’s fan day.
“Looking forward to it. That’s why I’m going home for an hour’s sleep. I will enjoy it more. I’m blessed to be part of the group.
“I think it’s cool Parra and Penrith were able to present in a grand final, Western Sydney, you know, through and through. It’s never happened before. They’re both footy crazy. It’s pretty cool.
“This is what you work hard for. At the start of the year you have the goal to try to get to this stage just to compete for the final and you know we did that this year.”
After last year’s trophy troubles, Cleary was clear there would be no incidents this season.
Panthers chairman Matt Cameron told Channel 9 the players were “still upstairs somewhere” in the Leagues Club after a function.
“Obviously in 2020 we did it with reduced capacities at the ground and at the leagues club in 2021 they were in Brisbane,” Cameron said.
“The community didn’t get to celebrate it the way they wanted to. Last night was a great opportunity. You have heard Ivan speak before we pride ourselves on the club being a source of community pride.
“I think we were able to tick that box last night.”
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