The companion article explained how Panthers changed the way it thought. This article asks the obvious next question: did that change in thinking actually change the club’s fortunes?
One of the earliest outcomes of the strategic reset was the appointment of Tim Sheens as Manager-Coach
The “Coach” part of Sheens’ role delivered quickly, the team performance in the 1984 season was in stark contrast to the seasons before. His impact was roundly recognised and applauded by all, including his peers.
But the “Manager” part of the Manager-Coach role was more strategic, as was the role of the Five by Five Committee.
The stated goal — to have five local juniors named as Kangaroos within 5 years — was really about something far more valuable: to shift the Club’s trajectory.
Was it successful?
Let’s look first at that main goal.
| Player | Representative Team | First Chosen | Penrith Junior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royce Simmons | Australia | 1986 | No |
| Greg Alexander | Australia | 1986 | Yes |
| John Cartwright | Australia | 1990 | Yes |
| Mark Geyer | Australia | 1990 | Yes |
| Brad Fittler | Australia | 1990 | Yes |
| Brad Izzard* | NSW | 1990 | Yes |
| Steve Carter | NSW | 1992 | No |
| Graham Mackay | Australia | 1992 | No |
*Brad Izzard had represented NSW in 1982 — before the strategic reset.
The Committee narrowly missed its stated target. More importantly, however, the effort reflected a broader ambition—to create a football club that the district could believe in and one capable of producing representative players consistently rather than occasionally.
Winning Games
The following table shows the results of the regular season games for the 10 seasons before and after the 1983 strategic reset. The Panthers won almost twice as many regular-season games during the decade following the strategic reset as they had during the preceding decade.
| 1974-1983 | 1984-1993 | |
|---|---|---|
| Games Played | 228 | 228 |
| Games Won | 66 | 123 |
| Win Percentage | 29% | 54% |
Attack and Defence (Tries Scored & Tries Against)
The following table shows the tries scored and conceded during the regular season for the 10 seasons before and after the 1983 strategic reset. Note: I’ve used tries rather than points here because the value of the try changed from 3 to 4 in 1983.
The Panthers attack improved by 4% which is inconsequential. More importantly defence improved by 38%.
| 1974-1983 | 1984-1993 | |
|---|---|---|
| Games Played | 228 | 228 |
| Total Tries Scored | 614 | 638 |
| Total Tries Against | 872 | 539 |
| Tries For – Tries Against | -258 | +99 |
The improvement in defence is extremely important – Strong defensive records are widely regarded as one of the defining characteristics of premiership-winning teams. Defence speaks volumes about the character and culture of a club – the change represents a distinct shift in both for the Penrith Panthers.
Overall, the Panthers’ tries-for-and-against differential moved from –258 to +99—a turnaround of 357 tries. In other words, they went from consistently being outscored to consistently outscoring their opponents.
Final Ladder Position
The numbers above suggest a big difference in performance of Penrith team before and after the changes put in place between the 1983 and 1984 seasons.
As to the trajectory. The graph below shows the finishing position of the Panthers for the 10 years before (red) and the 10 years after (blue) the late 1983 changes.
There is a distinct and positive difference between the two decades in being compared.
A further consequence of the change …
The following table shows average home crowd for regular season games, comparing the 10 seasons before and after the 1983 strategic reset. Crowds increased by 20%.
| Home Games | 1974-1983 | 1984-1993 |
|---|---|---|
| Played | 114 | 114 |
| Total Attendance | 871,042 | 1,047,261 |
| Average Crowd | 7,641 | 9,187 |
Conclusion
No single committee, coach or governance reform can claim sole responsibility for the transformation of Penrith Panthers during the 1980s. However, the evidence strongly suggests that the strategic reset undertaken in late 1983 fundamentally altered the club’s direction. The Five by Five Committee did not achieve its headline target exactly as written, but the broader ambition—to reshape the football club’s future—was overwhelmingly realised.
Related Topics
- Major Player: Tim Sheens
- Beyond the Book — Why One Board, One CEO
- Part 21 — The Right Structure. Finally!
- Beyond the Book — The 1983 Strategic Reset
Related Themes
Growth · Governance · Football Club · Innovation
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Panthers, Passion & Politics - The Roger Cowan Years 