Thomas Jenkins would presumably have been a handful for opponents in the Ron Massey Cup this season.
But instead of running around with St Mary’s Saints in the state’s third-tier competition, Jenkins has not only salvaged his NRL career with four-time premiers Penrith, he is now in camp and training with NSW as they prepare for Origin II next week.
It has been a remarkable few months for the 24-year-old utility back, who feared his days of earning a living as a professional rugby league player ended last year when he parted company with the Newcastle Knights, halfway into a two-season deal.
After scoring five tries in six NRL games for Penrith in 2022 and 2023, Jenkins was signed by Newcastle to replace Roosters-bound flyer Dominic Young last year.
“We see Tom as a long-term NRL player and we are thankful he chose the Knights,” Newcastle football director Peter Parr said at the time. “He has a skill set we believe complements our style of play and will add valuable depth to our outside backs.”
By the end of his first season on the Hunter, after five underwhelming top-grade appearances, a release was mutually agreed and Jenkins returned to western Sydney to start working with a mate in the disability support industry.
Meanwhile, he signed with St Mary’s and was preparing to play in the Massey Cup, before fielding a call from Penrith’s NSW Cup coach Ben Harden, offering him a chance to train and trial.
In a matter of months, Jenkins had shown enough in reserve grade to earn a promotion to the Panthers’ NRL squad for the round-three clash with Melbourne, filling in as a makeshift fullback – a position he had never previously played.
Since then, he hasn’t missed a game for the champions, stringing together 11 appearances, culminating in a career-best performance in Penrith’s 18-14 win against Wests Tigers last week. Jenkins scored a hat-trick of tries, made five line-breaks, 12 tackle-breaks and carried the ball 253 metres in attack.
Just when he thought life could not get much better, he was called into the NSW squad this week as a development/shadow player to help the Blues prepare for Origin II in Perth on Wednesday.
Thomas Jenkins trains with the NSW squad at Leura on Wednesday.Credit: NRL Photos
“Oh, I think we’ve just enjoyed his enthusiasm,” NSW coach Daley Laurie said, explaining the decision to invite Jenkins into camp.
“He seems like he’s gotten better and better … he was a guy that we sort of had down the middle of last week that we wanted to bring him into camp, and to see him play the way he did [against the Tigers], yeah, it was tremendous.
“So to come from where he has and just to come up here for a couple of days and mingle in around the squad, I think it’s a great opportunity for him.”
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said the “humility” Jenkins showed during the pre-season convinced him he was worth another chance.
Thomas Jenkins has scored seven tries in 11 games this season, including a hat-trick against Wests Tigers last week.Credit: Getty Images
“He went down to Massey and did his time, trained hard – in our afternoon squad, as well,” Cleary said. “And then when he got a chance in [NSW] Cup, he was too good for Cup as well. So he just did everything we asked, and he’s still doing it.”
Whatever he achieves this season and beyond, Jenkins said he will always be grateful to St Mary’s.
“I was so happy to go back there and play for them,” he said. “They’re such a good club. I knew I’d enjoy my footy there. I’ve got a lot of mates there, and that’s what it was about.
“It was about enjoying footy. It wasn’t about how high I was playing or what I was doing. It was about enjoying it. But yeah, things have worked out, and I ended up enjoying it here.”
Jenkins’ train-and-trial deal has since been upgraded into a full-time contract until the end of next season.
“The goal was always to come and play in NRL, but like I said, it was about coming back and enjoying my footy,” he said.
“I feel like at St Mary’s, it was a step in the right direction. “I knew a pathway back to the Panthers was there. Nothing was promised, nothing was guaranteed, but I was happy to take that chance. I wake up every day feeling blessed, being grateful. I’m lucky for the position I’m in and the things that have fallen my way.
“I do pinch myself. I find myself lucky, but in saying that, like I said, I’ve got to keep my feet on ground and take it week by week.
“Like I said, nothing’s guaranteed. There’s so many good players that are coming up underneath, so I can’t take my position for granted.
“Nothing’s secure ever, so it’s about playing good week to week. It’s up to me to keep doing that job.”
