Category: Major Players

Major Player: Glenn Matthews

Glenn Matthews
Image Source: The Panthers: Men in Black

Glenn Matthews

Accountant, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer

Few people contributed to—and witnessed—the modern development of Penrith Panthers as closely as Glenn Matthews.

Joining Panthers in March 1984, on the very day the club’s administration moved into its new Mulgoa Road premises, Matthews would spend the next twenty-six years helping guide the organisation through one of the most significant periods in its history. During that time he progressed from accountant to Chief Financial Officer and ultimately succeeded Roger Cowan as Chief Executive Officer in 2005.

His career spanned the club’s transformation from a rapidly expanding regional licensed club into one of Australia’s leading community organisations, providing a unique perspective on both its growth and the challenges that accompanied that success.

Role in the Narrative

Glenn Matthews appears throughout the middle and later pages of the Panthers, Passion & Politics narrative.

Unlike many figures whose involvement centred primarily on football or board administration, Matthews worked across almost every aspect of the organisation. His responsibilities evolved well beyond finance to include commercial development, strategic planning, football administration and executive leadership.

He was directly involved in many of the defining events covered throughout this series, including:

  • the move into the Mulgoa Road premises;
  • Panthers’ commercial expansion during the 1980s;
  • development of the organisation’s management culture;
  • the organisational restructure of the early 90s;
  • football administration;
  • the Temby Inquiry, the conflict preceding it and its aftermath;
  • Roger Cowan’s retirement;
  • the Global Financial Crisis;
  • development of Panthers Property Trust;
  • Panthers’ transition into a new phase of executive leadership.

Because his career bridged both Roger Cowan’s administration and the years immediately following, Matthews provides an important perspective on the continuity—and eventual evolution—of the Panthers organisation.

Background

Born: 17 September

Raised in Campbelltown before later settling in Western Sydney, Matthews developed an early interest in mathematics and accounting while simultaneously pursuing competitive barefoot water skiing, eventually becoming an Australian representative coach.

He also developed a lifelong passion for endurance sport. A long-time member of the Panthers Triathlon Club, Matthews completed eighteen Ironman-distance events, including the Ironman World Championship at Kona, Hawaii. His achievements earned recognition as an Ironman Legend — an accomplishment reflecting the discipline, persistence and resilience that also characterised his professional career.

He joined Panthers in March 1984 as an accountant – at the very momemnt Panthers was moving from Station Street to Mulgoa Rd.

We looked at it [the Mulgoa Road building] and thought there was just no way the place was going to be ready. But somehow it became ready … People justed pitched in and got stuff done.

from Western Weekender Podcast: On the Record 26 February 2024

That spirit of shared responsibility and willingness to step beyond formal job descriptions would become one of the defining characteristics of Panthers during Matthews’ career—and one of the organisational strengths he most admired.

Panthers Roles

  • Accountant
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Reserve Grade Trainer
  • Senior Executive
  • Group General Manager
  • Chief Executive Officer (2005-2010)

Throughout his career Matthews accepted responsibilities well beyond traditional financial management, becoming involved in commercial ventures, organisational development, football administration and strategic planning across the wider Panthers Group.

Leadership and Culture

Matthews has consistently acknowledged Roger Cowan as the greatest influence on his development as a leader.

Working alongside Cowan during Panthers’ formative years exposed him to a management philosophy built upon trust, accountability and personal responsibility. Matthews has often recalled the lessons he learnt about treating people with respect, empowering staff to make decisions and responding to mistakes with honesty rather than blame.

One incident early in his career, when he admitted to a significant financial forecasting error, became a defining leadership lesson. Rather than reacting with anger, Cowan focused on solving the problem—an approach Matthews later identified as fundamental in shaping his own leadership style.

Those experiences would later influence Matthews’ own approach to leadership as he assumed increasingly senior responsibilities within the organisation.

Contribution to Panthers

Matthews’ contribution extended well beyond finance.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he became closely involved in commercial development, organisational planning, tourism initiatives, football administration and strategic projects across the Panthers Group.

Among those projects was the development of the Panthers Cable Ski Park, where Matthews became actively involved in both management and promotion, later overseeing its redevelopment through new accommodation and tourism initiatives. His willingness to move beyond the traditional boundaries of accounting reflected the increasingly integrated management culture that characterised Panthers during this period.

Cheif Executive Officer

Matthews succeeded Roger Cowan as Chief Executive Officer in 2005 during one of the most challenging periods in Panthers’ history.

Rather than inheriting an era of rapid expansion, he assumed leadership as the organisation confronted increasing complexity, significant football decisions, the Global Financial Crisis and growing regulatory pressures affecting licensed clubs, and a Board grappling with the fallout from a major, public and damaging Inquiry.

Matthews has reflected that while Cowan’s strengths lay in innovation and growth, his own strengths were better suited to leading organisations through periods of operational and financial challenge.

Relevance to Events Described

Many of the major events described throughout this series either involved Matthews directly or occurred while he occupied senior executive positions.

His experience provides valuable insight into the reasoning behind many of the decisions discussed elsewhere in the narrative, particularly those involving organisational development, commercial strategy, football administration and executive leadership.

His experience provides valuable insight into the reasoning behind many of the decisions discussed elsewhere in the narrative, particularly those involving organisational development, commercial strategy, football administration and executive leadership.

Legacy

Glenn Matthews occupies a distinctive place in Panthers’ history.

He experienced the organisation as a young accountant during the move to Mulgoa Road, helped shape many of its commercial and organisational developments, and ultimately became the executive entrusted with leading the club following Roger Cowan’s retirement.

His career spans one of the most significant periods of change in Panthers’ history and provides an important link between the organisation’s formative vision and its emergence as one of Australia’s leading licensed club organisations.

Although remembered as a senior executive, Matthews’ influence extended well beyond management. His commitment to developing people, embracing new challenges and serving the organisation across multiple disciplines reflected a culture in which leadership was earned through contribution rather than position.

Related Topics

Related Themes:

Financial Management · Governance · Growth · Culture

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Editorial Note

This profile is presented as contextual background.
Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

Major Player: John Bateman

John Bateman OAM
Photo: Western Weekender 2018

John Gerard Bateman OAM

Solicitor; Penrith City Councillor and Mayor; Panthers Director; Member of the “Footy Five”

John Bateman was a highly prominent public figure in Penrith during the 1990s and early 2000s. A respected solicitor, local government leader and long-serving councillor, he combined legal expertise with extensive community and political experience. His appointment to the Panthers Board reflected both his professional standing and the growing stature of Panthers as one of Western Sydney’s largest and most influential organisations.

Within Panthers, Passion & Politics, Bateman emerges as one of the principal figures in the governance conflicts that reshaped the organisation during the closing years of Roger Cowan’s administration. Initially appointed to strengthen the Board, he later became one of the leading advocates of an alternative direction for Panthers during the Super League era, the merger debates and the internal disputes that followed.

Role in the Narrative

John Bateman’s involvement in the narrative spans much of the conflict that dominates the latter half of Panthers, Passion & Politics.

Appointed to the Panthers Board in the mid-1990s, he entered the organisation at a time when Panthers had grown from a successful licensed club into one of the largest community organisations in New South Wales. Board membership had become both influential and prestigious, attracting individuals whose professional experience and public standing could contribute to the increasingly complex governance of the organisation

Bateman quickly became an influential director. During the Super League conflict and the subsequent National Rugby League rationalisation process, he emerged as one of the strongest advocates for Panthers pursuing a stand-alone future rather than preparing contingency plans involving merger discussions. He became closely associated with the group of directors later known as the “Footy Five.”

As disagreements between management and sections of the Board intensified, Bateman became one of the central figures in debates surrounding merger negotiations, governance, Board authority and the future direction of Panthers — in particular the governance arrangements associated with Panthers’ club amalgamations. He was a prominent witness in the Temby Inquiry and he categorically denies playing any part in its calling. Bateman in one of the most significant individuals in the later chapters of this story.

Background

Profession: Solicitor

John Bateman established a legal practice in Penrith that became one of the region’s best-known firms. Admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, he built a reputation in both legal practice and community leadership, later becoming a founding partner of Bateman Battersby Lawyers.

Community Leadership:

Bateman’s public life extended well beyond the legal profession. He served for many years as a Penrith City Councillor, Deputy Mayor (1997–98) and Mayor of Penrith (1998–2000), leading the city during preparations for and staging of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, when Penrith hosted rowing and canoe/kayak events.

His community involvement also included service with the Nepean Medical Research Foundation, the Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, the Penrith Olympic Torch Relay Committee and numerous sporting and community organisations. He also served on the boards of Panthers, Penrith Rugby Club and the Western Sydney Academy of Sport, reflecting his long-standing commitment to the Penrith region.

Honours:
• Australian Sports Medal (2000)
• Centenary Medal (2001)
• Penrith Citizen of the Year (2008)
• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (2018)
• Western Sydney University Community Fellow (2019)
• Honoured Citizen of the City of Penrith (2022)

Appointment to the Panthers Board of Directors:

By the mid-1990s Panthers had become the largest licensed club in New South Wales, one of the largest employers in Western Sydney and one of the region’s most influential organisations. An appointment to the Panthers Board had become one of the most prestigious voluntary positions in the Penrith region, reflecting the organisation’s extraordinary growth and influence.

Bateman was appointed to fill a casual vacancy on the Panthers Board rather than being elected by members. Board appointments increasingly reflected the need for professional expertise alongside traditional community representation. His appointment reflected the confidence directors placed in his legal expertise, political experience and public profile. He also had longstanding interests in sport and established relationships with several existing directors.

Bateman therefore arrived at Panthers not as an unknown community volunteer, but as one of the region’s best-known civic and professional leaders. The Board regarded his appointment as strengthening its capacity to deal with the increasingly complex strategic challenges confronting Panthers.

John Bateman was appointed because he was exactly the sort of director Panthers needed — and the appointment was exactly the sort of position Bateman desired.

Relevance to Events Described

John Bateman’s importance to Panthers, Passion & Politics lies not simply in the positions he held, but in the influence he exercised during one of the most turbulent periods in the club’s history.

During the Super League conflict he became a leading advocate for the view that Panthers should focus on remaining an independent club rather than pursue merger negotiations with another organisation. Although management regarded merger discussions as prudent contingency planning in response to an uncertain future, Bateman believed that even a non-binding declaration of intent could ultimately place Panthers on a path towards losing its independence.

His position reflected a fundamentally different assessment of the risks facing the club.

As the governance conflict deepened, Bateman became one of the most influential members of the group that became known as the “Footy Five.” Together they challenged aspects of the existing governance structure and increasingly opposed Roger Cowan’s leadership on several major issues.

Roger Cowan initially regarded Bateman as a valuable addition to the Board. Over time, however, their relationship deteriorated as their views on governance, strategic planning and the future direction of Panthers diverged. In later reflections Cowan came to believe that Bateman’s growing public profile and political ambitions influenced some of his decisions within Panthers. That interpretation forms part of Cowan’s perspective presented throughout this work rather than an established historical fact.

Bateman was also a key player in disputes centred on the governance of clubs amalgamating with Panthers and the subsequent Temby Inquiry making him one of the most consequential participants in the latter stages of the narrative.

Legacy

John Bateman’s contribution to Penrith extends beyond his involvement with Panthers. As a solicitor, councillor and Mayor, he played an important role in the civic development of the city and was widely recognised for his commitment to the local community.

Within Panthers, however, his legacy is inseparable from one of the organisation’s most divisive periods.

Some sections of the Penrith community regarded him as an independent director prepared to challenge existing leadership and defend the club’s independence during an uncertain period for rugby league. Others saw him as one of the principal figures behind governance disputes that consumed the organisation during the closing years of Roger Cowan’s administration.

Whatever view readers ultimately take, John Bateman’s influence on the events described in Panthers, Passion & Politics was substantial. His decisions, alliances and leadership helped shape the governance conflicts that defined a critical chapter in Panthers’ history.

Sources used to prepare this profile: Advocacy Australia Website; Bateman Battersby Website;

Related Topics

Related Themes:

Football Club · Conflict · Board Decisions · Governance

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Editorial Note

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Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

Major Player: Royce Simmons

Royce Simmons OAM

Royce Michael Simmons OAM

Rugby League Player, Coach, Mentor, Ambassador

Over more than forty years Royce Simmons has beome one of the most enduring figures in Penrith Panthers history, as player, captain, premiership winner, coach, mentor, ambassador and community leader. His player and coaching statistics alone can’t paint his true portrait or explain why generations of Panthers supporters speak of him with such affection and respect.

Royce represents something beyond football. His determination, humility, loyalty and connection with the community reflects the culture Panthers spent decades trying to build. As the club evolved from perennial battlers into premiers and one of Australia’s leading sporting organisations, Royce Simmons became its most recognisable human face.

Few individuals have become so closely woven into the identity of a sporting club.

Role in the Narrative

Royce Simmons occupies a unique place within Panthers Passion & Politics because his involvement spans many of the defining periods of the club’s history.

He first appears as one of the emerging players who would become central to the football transformation initiated during the 1983 Strategic Reset. As captain, he became the on-field leader of a club that was consciously reshaping its culture, systems and expectations. The success of those reforms ultimately culminated in Penrith’s first premiership in 1991, with Royce scoring two tries in his farewell match.

His importance to the narrative does not end there.

Returning as head coach, Royce led the football club through one of the most turbulent periods in rugby league history. The Super League conflict, the introduction of competition criteria, financial pressures and the difficult rebuilding years all form major themes within this series. Throughout those challenges, Royce provided continuity, stability and leadership at a time when the organisation faced extraordinary uncertainty.

Royce through leadership, example and an unwavering commitment to the club became one of the constants in the Panthers story.

More broadly, Royce represents one of the central themes running throughout Panthers Passion & Politics: that lasting organisational success depends as much upon culture and character as it does upon talent or strategy. Repeatedly, teammates, coaches and commentators describe him not simply as a champion footballer but as the embodiment of what it meant to be a Panther.

Country Beginnings

Born on 2 May 1959 in the small central western New South Wales town of Gooloogong, Royce grew up immersed in country sport and the values that accompanied it — hard work, resilience, mateship and community. Rugby Union initially occupied much of his attention and he represented NSW Country at under-16 level before turning his focus to Rugby League. After playing senior football for Cowra and Canowindra, he travelled to Sydney seeking an opportunity in first grade.

Trials with St George and South Sydney failed to produce a contract, but the Panthers coach, Len Stacker, got a tip about Simmons from former Parramatta teammate Barry Rushworth. It was a good tip – and would prove to be one of signings in the club’s history.

Growing with the Club

Royce arrived at Penrith in 1980 when the club was still searching for both consistency and identity. Success remained elusive and Panthers were still regarded by many as one of the competition’s easy-beats.

As Panthers undertook the organisational reforms that occurred in late 1983, Royce emerged as one of the players who best reflected those changes — in fact he played an influential role in developing those reforms, and in ensuring Tim Sheens changed his plans and stayed to coach the Panthers.

Initially playing at lock before establishing himself as the club’s first-choice hooker, he became captain in 1983 and quickly developed a reputation for leading through actions rather than words. While representative honours followed—including ten State of Origin appearances for New South Wales and ten Test matches for Australia—his greatest contribution was arguably the standards he set within the club itself.

Phil Gould would later declare:

Royce Simmons is the heart and soul of this club.

That description has been echoed repeatedly by teammates, coaches, journalists and supporters.

The Embodiment of Panthers Culture

Within the story told throughout Panthers Passion & Politics, Royce Simmons represents something more significant than an outstanding football career.

The Panthers of the 1980s were intent on turning the club around through building a new organisational culture. The cultural values were being developed throughout the club, from the Board and administration to coaches, staff and players.

His leadership displayed the standards the club’s administrators and coaches were working to establish throughout the organisation.

John Cartwright later reflected:

Royce was our glue. He held the whole thing together.

Greg Alexander described him as:

The toughest bloke I ever played with. He never took a backward step.

Mark Geyer perhaps captured his influence most simply:

Royce taught us what it meant to be Panthers.

Those comments describe a footballer and, more importantly, a cultural leader.

Two leaders – both knock-about blokes — photo: Craig Golding (SMH)

A Fitting Farewell

Royce captained Penrith through 1980s during the Club’s transformation, an played in its first Finals Series appearance, first Grand Final appearance and first Premiership.

His two tries in the 1991 Grand Final helped secure Penrith’s first premiership and provided one of the most memorable farewells in Australian rugby league history. He retired immediately afterwards, having helped transform the club from competition battlers into premiers.

Royce’s celebration after scoring his second try in that grand final win is one of the most iconic images in Panthers’ history … and perhaps in Rugby League history.

Returning to Lead

Retirement from playing did not end Royce’s service to Panthers.

When Royce returned to coach Penrith in 1994, he inherited a club coming out of a very unstable era where club culture had drifted badly. As well, the Club was entering another period that would prove difficult to navigate.

His coaching tenure coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in rugby league history. Super League divided the game, the salary cap reshaped recruitment, and Panthers entered another rebuilding phase.

Despite those challenges, Royce guided the club to finals appearances in both the 1997 Super League competition and the 2000 NRL season. He remained fiercely loyal to his players during difficult years and was reluctant to publicly criticise individuals when results deteriorated.

At the end of the 2001 Season his tenure as Panthers coach finished but the impact he had on the Club had not. Following the 2003 premiership victory John Lang, Panthers premiership-wining coach, credited Royce Simmons with some of that victory praising the work he’d done creating the core of that winning team.

Simmons’ value as a leader during his coaching tenure should not be measured by win-loss statistics but through the stability, integrity and belief be inspired.

Beyond Football

Despite having some successful coaching stints away from Penrith — Hull (1992-94), Wests-Tigers (2003-10), as Assistant to Tim Sheens, and St Helens (2011-12) — he never lost touch with Penrith.

He has remained one of the Club’s most respected ambassadors, supporting a stack of community initiatives and continues to show the younger Panthers what it means to be a Panther.

Following his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease in 2021, Royce transformed personal adversityinto public advocacy. Through fundraising walks and awareness campaigns, he has helped raise both funds and understanding for dementia research while continuing to inspire the broader community.

His appointment as Brand Ambassador for The Royce retirement communicty reflects the qualities that have endeared him with Panthers supporters and the wider rugby league community — down-to-earth honesty, humour and humility.

Perhaps his greatest achievement has been the initiation and development of the Royce Simmons Foundation which is dedicated finding a cure to dementia and supporting those wh are affected by it. His Big Walks have very quickly eastablished themselves as legendary, just like the man hwo has choreographed them You can get involved through donation or participation — for more see https://www.roycesimmonsfoundation.com.au/.

Background

Born: 2 May 1959, Gooloogong, New South Wales

Profession: Rugby League player, coach. Ambassador.

Panthers Involvement
• First Grade Player (1980-1991)
• Club Captain (1983-1990)
• Head Coach (1994-2001)
• Club Ambassador

Representative Honours
• New South Wales (10 State of Origin matches)
• Australia (10 Tests)

Honours
• Penrith Panthers Player of the Year — 1981, 84, 86, 87 (renamed Merv Cartwright Medal in 2006)
• John Farragher Award for Courage & Determination — 1982, 85 (shared with Matt Goodwin), 89.
• 1991 NSWRL Premiership
• Panthers Life Member (1992)
• Panthers Team of Legends (2006)
• Panthers Hall of Fame (2016)
• Australian Sports Medal (2000)
• Centenary Medal (2001)
• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (2025

Relevance to Events Described

Royce Simmons presence throughout the Panthers, Passion & Politics series is significant. He features in:

  • As captain during the Club’s 1983 transformation and strategic reset.
  • Evolution of the Club’s culture — especially as Coach when his leadership positively impacted the connection between licensed club and football club teams.
  • Simmons was instrumental in the development of the “Five-by-Five” focus on local talent and leadership.
  • Super League – helped guide the Panthers through this tumultuous era, including the rationalisation trauma.

Related Topics

Related Themes:

Football Club · Leadership · Culture

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Readers who hold recollections, documents, or material relevant to this history are welcome to contribute via the Commentary & Contributions page.

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Editorial Note

This profile is presented as contextual background.
Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

Major Player: Tim Sheens

Tim Sheens
Image Source: The Panthers: Men in Black

Tim Sheens

Player, Coach, Administrator.

Tim Sheens occupies a unique place in Panthers history.

Many people remember him as the coach who guided Penrith to its first finals appearance. Yet his most important contribution may have come before a ball was kicked in 1984.

At a time when questions were being asked about Penrith’s future in first grade, Sheens chose to stay and help rebuild the club.

Unlike many coaches who arrive from elsewhere, Sheens understood Penrith from the inside. He had played more than a decade of first-grade football for the club and his family’s involvement in district rugby league stretched back generations.

Role in the Narrative

Although Sheens’ appearance in Panthers, Passion & Politics is brief, it acknowledges him as one of the key figures in the football club’s revival following the introduction of the unified “One Board, One CEO” structure in 1980.

By 1983 the football club faced significant challenges. Player retention had become a major problem, results remained poor, and concerns existed both within Penrith and within the NSWRL about the club’s long-term competitiveness.

Following a series of community workshops organised to identify a path forward, Sheens emerged as a central figure in the proposed football rebuilding program.

His appointment as coach in 1984 represented one of the most important football decisions made during the Roger Cowan era.

The Risk

When Penrith approached Sheens about coaching the club, his future appeared to lie elsewhere.

Sheens had already accepted a player-coach position in Queensland and was preparing to leave Sydney when Panthers approached him. The opportunity offered greater certainty than a struggling Penrith side that had won only six matches in 1983 and faced serious questions about its future.

Before making a decision on the Panthers role, Sheens spent several days discussing the decision with his wife Rhonda – whose family were in Queensland. Remaining at Penrith meant abandoning established plans and taking responsibility for rebuilding one of the competition’s most troubled football clubs.

From a football perspective, accepting the Penrith role carried considerable risk.

The Panthers had won only six matches in 1983. Experienced players were leaving. Recruiting power was limited. Media commentary frequently questioned Penrith’s ability to compete with the stronger Sydney clubs.

For an aspiring young coach, failure at Penrith could easily have damaged future opportunities.

Roger Cowan later recalled being impressed by Sheens’ contribution during the community workshops and believed he possessed both the football knowledge and commitment needed to help implement the club’s new direction.

Sheens agreed to stay.

Building From Within

Rather than rely heavily on expensive recruitment, Sheens embraced the philosophy emerging from the workshops.

The focus shifted towards local talent, player development and creating stronger pathways from junior football to first grade.

This approach aligned with the club’s Five by Five objective: producing five representative players from Penrith’s junior system within five years.

Under Sheens, young local players were given opportunities and expectations began to change. For the first time, many within the club started to believe that Penrith’s greatest resource was not money but its own district.

Sheens did more than advocate for local development. He actively worked to retain and recruit players he believed could form the nucleus of the club’s future, including Mark Geyer, Greg Alexander, Colin Van Der Voort and future champion Brad Fittler. His approach reflected a belief that Penrith’s long-term success would be built from within the district rather than purchased from outside it.

Intermediate Results

The improvement was rapid.

In his first season as coach, Penrith narrowly missed the finals and recorded its best performance since entering first grade.

The turnaround was so significant that Sheens was awarded Coach of the Year by his fellow Sydney first-grade coaches.

The following season Penrith qualified for its first finals series.

The achievement provided tangible evidence that the governance reforms, strategic planning and renewed focus on junior development were working.

Background

Born: 30 October 1950

Playing Career
• Penrith Panthers Player #62 (1970-1982)
• Club record-holder for most first grade appearances at time of retirment (174).

Coaching Career
• Penrith Panthers (1984-1987)
• Canberra Raiders (1988-1996)
• North Queensland Cowboys (1997-2001)
• Australian Kangaroos
• NSW — State of Origin
• NSW — Super League Tri-Series

Recognition by Panthers
• Life Membership, Penrith Panthers (1990)

Relevance to Events Described

The significance of Tim Sheens within this story extends beyond coaching results.

The introduction of a unified governance structure provided Penrith with a framework for success. Sheens helped translate that framework into football outcomes.

His willingness to remain at Penrith during one of the club’s most uncertain periods, and his commitment to developing local talent, played a major role in establishing the pathway that eventually led to the club’s emergence as a genuine first-grade force.

For Panthers, Tim Sheens was not simply a successful coach. He was one of the people prepared to stake his future on the club when many others doubted it had one. In helping to change the club’s future, he changed the course of his own.

Related Topics

Related Themes:

Football Club · Culture

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Editorial Note

This profile is presented as contextual background.
Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

Major Player: Don Ellks

Don Ellks
Image Source: PRLC Annual Report 1976

Donald Stanley Ellks

Senior Manager/General Manager 1980s–1992

Donald (Don) Ellks was one of the most significant operational managers in Panthers’ history.Beginning as a casual barman carrying a drinks tray, he progressed through the ranks over more than twenty-five years to become General Manager, helping guide the club through its relocation to Mulgoa Road and the rapid growth that followed.

His association with Penrith Rugby League Club began through rugby league, including playing for St Marys and Penrith A Grade and serving as a committeeman.

Role in the Narrative

Don was an Assistant Manager then General Manager for the planning, establishment and ongoing operation of the club’s relocation to Mulgoa Rd and the addition of the hotel and Cables Ski Park.

He was also instrumental in supporting the unified governance model that ultimately transformed the management of Panthers.

Background

Born: 1940
Died: 2025

Recognition by Panthers
• Life Membership, Penrith Panthers (1994)

Relevance to Events Described

Panthers was early to recognise the importance of providing pathways for talent, effort and results to progress through the ranks instead of seniority. Don was a case in point, starting as a bar attendant and progressing to General Manager.

Don’s operational management skills and experience complemented Roger’s leadership. In the first few years after the relocation to Mulgoa Road, the club achieved strong double-digit year-on-year sales growth but remained under significant financial pressure. High interest rates, construction cost overruns and the operational demands of rapid expansion meant that increased turnover did not immediately translate into financial security. Don’s experience working in departments, managing departments and managing managers led to the development of the systems and procedures needed for the effective and efficient operation of all departments and the ultimate success of the relocation.

Don’s long history with rugby league and operations also provided Roger with valuable support in the boardroom and dealing with politics.

Don Ellks’ career reflected many of the qualities that underpinned Panthers’ growth during the Cowan era: loyalty, practical experience, operational discipline and a willingness to take responsibility.

While others often occupied the public spotlight, Don was a key figure responsible for turning vision into day-to-day reality.

Related Topics

Related Themes:

Licensed Club · Culture

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Editorial Note

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Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

Major Player: Leo Armstrong

Leo Armstrong
Image Source: The Panthers: Men in Black

Murray Leo Armstrong

Director, Chairman Penrith Rugby League Club Ltd

Murray Leo Armstrong — Leo — was one of the most significant and well-respected figures in Panthers history. A distinguished World War II veteran, respected community leader and long-serving chairman, he helped guide Panthers through some of the most important and turbulent years in its development.

Leo Armstrong (2nd from left) and crew in front of Lancaster bomber G for George. On an “away” to Canberra, the 2003 Panthers squad visited the Australian War Memorial and were inspired by this photo and the story of Leo’s service. (Photo: Australian War Memorial)

Armstrong served on the Panthers board from 1980 and became chairman in 1984, following the unification of the licensed club and football club boards. He remained chairman until 2000, making him the longest-serving chairman in the club’s history.

His chairmanship spanned many of the defining events of the modern Panthers era, including the move to Mulgoa Road, the club’s first premiership in 1991, the Super League conflict, the transition to the NRL, and significant growth in both the football and licensed club operations.

Role in the Narrative

Leo Armstrong appears throughout the Panthers, Passion & Politics narrative as chairman during many of the events described in the Roger Cowan years.

His relationship with Roger Cowan was generally characterised by mutual respect and trust. Armstrong frequently found himself chairing the organisation through periods of intense debate, organisational change and external pressure. His calm demeanour and measured approach were important stabilising influences during some of the club’s most challenging periods.

He was also instrumental in supporting the unified governance model that ultimately transformed the management of Panthers.

Background

Born: 4 November 1922, Gayndah, Queensland
Died: 22 June 2015, North Parramatta, New South Wales

Military Service:
• Royal Australian Air Force, World War II
• Served with 460 Squadron RAAF
• Navigator, Bomb Aimer and Front Gunner
• Flew 32 operational missions over Europe
• Flew the final three missions aboard the famous Lancaster bomber G for George

Profession: Commonwealth Bank of Australia, retired (1984) as Manager of the Penrith Branch

Recognition by Panthers
• Life Membership, Penrith Panthers (1991)

Relevance to Events Described

Armstrong became chairman at a pivotal moment in Panthers history. The newly unified board had adopted a radically different management structure, the Mulgoa Road development was underway, and the football club was struggling both financially and competitively.

Throughout the following sixteen years, Armstrong chaired the organisation during a period of extraordinary transformation. Under his leadership, Panthers grew into one of Australia’s most successful licensed clubs while simultaneously establishing itself as a competitive force in first-grade rugby league.

His tenure was not without controversy. Board disputes, the Super League war, questions about governance and growing political tensions within the organisation all occurred during his chairmanship. Yet Armstrong’s personal dignity and steady leadership earned him widespread respect from many who worked with him.

For many involved with Panthers during this period, Leo Armstrong represented a style of leadership that was thoughtful, measured and deeply committed to both the club and the wider Penrith community.

Related Topics

Related Themes:

Board Decisions · Governance

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Editorial Note

This profile is presented as contextual background.
Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

Major Player: Ken “Poker” Ausburn

Merv Cartwright

Ernest Kenneth “Poker” Ausburn

Foundation Member, Chairman and Long-time Penrith Clubman

Ken “Poker” Ausburn was one of the foundational figures of Penrith Rugby League Club and among the generation of local volunteers who helped transform Panthers from a small district football organisation into a major community institution.

A lifelong Penrith resident, Ausburn served the club across many years as a committee member, director and eventually chairman. Remembered for his humour, warmth and strong community spirit, he became one of the best-known personalities associated with Panthers’ formative decades.

Though he died in 1976 before the club’s later expansion into the entertainment giant it would become, Ausburn remained widely respected within Panthers history as one of the men who helped establish the culture and identity of the early club.

Role in the Narrative

Ken Ausburn appears within the early development period of the Panthers, Passion and Politics narrative — the years in which Panthers evolved from modest local beginnings into an increasingly ambitious football and licensed club organisation.

He represents the generation of volunteers and local administrators who laid the foundations upon which later Panthers success would be built.

Ausburn is closely connected to Panthers’ long campaign for admission to the NSW Rugby League first grade competition, and to the club culture that developed during the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. His involvement reflects an era when Panthers depended heavily upon local personalities willing to contribute time, energy and leadership to both football and licensed club activities.

His life and reputation also provide insight into the strong community identity that surrounded Panthers during its formative decades.

Background

Born: 9 February, 1921, Penrith
Died: 6 May, 1976, Penrith

Profession: Boilermaker; long-time employee at the St Marys Munitions Factory

Panthers Roles:
• Foundation member
• Director
• Chairman
• Hon. Secretary Penrith Rugby League Golf Club

Community Involvement:
• Supporter of local sporting and youth activities
• Associate with support for Police Boys Club initiatives.
• Long-time Penrith community volunteer

Recognition by Panthers:
• Life Membership, Penrith Panthers (1964)
• Poker Ausburn Award – for most improved Panthers player (now discontinued).

In 2017 Penrith City Council named Ausburn Reserve — between Nepean St and Annett St, Emu Plains — to honour the contributions to the Penrith region from the Austbun family and specifically “Poker” and his brother, Bob.

Known As: “Poker” — a nickname reportedly derived from the poker face he adopted while telling stories, joking with friends or “spinning a yarn”.

Relevance to Events Described

Ausburn belonged to the generation that guided Panthers through its difficult formative years.

He witnessed — and helped contribute to — the club’s evolution from football played at very basic local facilities to the construction of larger licensed club premises and ultimately the development ambitions that would reshape Panthers in later decades.

Bruce Turner’s Footprints on the Banks of the Nepean reproduces the cover of Ausburn’s copy of the proposal supporting Penrith’s elevation to first grade competition in 1967. Although the full submission itself does not appear to have survived publicly, the surviving cover reflects the determination among local administrators to secure top-level rugby league representation for the growing Penrith district.

Contemporaries consistently remembered Ausburn not simply as an administrator, but as a personality. Family members and friends recalled his humour, generosity and capacity to engage people socially. Those qualities appear repeatedly in recollections of early Panthers culture.

His life was also marked by resilience. Following a serious motor vehicle accident, Ausburn endured long-term injuries and health complications, yet continued working and remained active in club affairs.

When he died unexpectedly in 1976 at the age of 55, Panthers tributes described him as one of the “small band of men who pushed the club onto its feet in the very beginning.”

Funeral procession for Ken “Poker” Ausburn, May 1976. The accompanying tribute panel reflects the respect held for Ausburn within the Penrith community and Panthers organisation. (Click image to enlarge)

Legacy

Ken “Poker” Ausburn is remembered as one of the local figures who helped give early Panthers its personality and community identity.

He represented an era when the club relied heavily upon volunteers, local businessmen, tradesmen and sporting enthusiasts whose commitment extended well beyond formal administrative duties.

Although later Panthers history would become associated with major commercial development, political influence and large-scale expansion, figures like Ausburn reflected the grassroots community culture from which the organisation originally emerged.

His reputation for humour, sincerity and loyalty ensured that his contribution remained warmly remembered long after his death.

Related Material

Related Themes

First Division Admission · Licensed Club · Football Club

Editorial Note

This profile is presented as contextual background.
Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

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Major Player: Leo Trevena

Leo Trevena

Leo “Trapper” Trevena

Premiership-winning halfback / five-eighth (Wests,1952), Penrith Panthers first coach, Licensed club management team

Leo “Trapper” Trevena was a highly regarded rugby league footballer and coach whose involvement with Penrith spanned both its formative years in the Parramatta District Junior League and its early seasons in the NSWRL competition.

A member of Western Suburbs’ 1952 premiership-winning side, Trevena brought first-grade experience and leadership to Penrith at a time when the club was beginning to define its identity and ambitions.

Role in the Narrative

Trevena’s presence in the Panthers, Passion and Politics narrative extends beyond the early development of the club into the period immediately preceding and following its entry into the NSWRL in 1967.

His recruitment as captain-coach — at a reported £500 for the season — reflected a willingness by the club to invest in experience and leadership well before its entry into the NSWRL competition. His time at Penrith coincided with the emergence of a more assertive and self-directed club culture.

He represents a continuity of leadership across eras — from the club’s emergence within the Parramatta district competition to its establishment as a first-grade entity, and into the early years of the licensed club.

Background

Born: 1929
Died: 2013

Playing Career:

  • Western Suburbs (First Grade) — 1950-53, Premiership winner, 1952
  • Canterbury (First Grade) — 1954
  • Young (Maher Cup) — Captain-Coach, premierships 1955–56

Penrith (Junior & District Era):

  • Captain-Coach, A Grade — 1957–1959
  • Premierships — 1958, 1959

Coaching (Senior Level):

  • Penrith — 2nd Division Premiership, 1966
  • Penrith Panthers — First Grade Coach, 1967
  • Penrith Panthers — First Grade Coach, 1973

Club Administration:

Assistant Manager, Penrith Leagues Club — 1968–1973

Recognition by Panthers
• Life Membership, Penrith Rugby League Club (1981)

Relevance to Events Described

An early and defining episode in Trevena’s time at Penrith occurred in 1957.

After just three matches with the club, he was called upon by Parramatta to return to first grade for a match against St George. Trevena refused, choosing instead to honour his commitment to Penrith. Parramatta responded by banning him from playing in the junior competition, a decision supported by the NSW Rugby League.

The consequence was that Trevena was unable to take the field for the remainder of the season, continuing only in his coaching role. Penrith were subsequently beaten in the final.

The episode highlighted an early tension between district authority and club autonomy, and reflected a developing sense of identity within Penrith — one grounded in loyalty and commitment.

Trevena returned to playing the following season, contributing to consecutive A-grade premierships in 1958 and 1959. His influence, however, extended well beyond this period.

As first-grade coach, he guided Penrith to a Second Division premiership in 1966 — an achievement that immediately preceded the club’s entry into the NSWRL competition. He then took on the role of first-grade coach in Penrith’s inaugural season in 1967, and again took the role in 1973.

In parallel with his coaching responsibilities, Trevena also served as Assistant Manager of the Penrith Leagues Club from 1968 to 1973, contributing to the early development of the licensed club during a critical phase of its growth.

Related Material

Related Themes

Football Club · First Division Admission · Milestones

Additional Material

Editorial Note

This profile is presented as contextual background.
Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

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Major Player: Merv Cartwright

Merv Cartwright

Mervyn Earl Cartwright

Founding figure in Penrith rugby league; Secretary, Penrith District Rugby League Football Club (1967–1970)

Mervyn Earl Cartwright was one of the key figures in the early development of rugby league in Penrith. A local player, administrator, and advocate for the game, he played a central role in the campaign that led to the Penrith Panthers’ admission to the NSWRL competition in 1967.

He served as the club’s inaugural secretary and was widely recognised as a driving force behind rugby league’s establishment in the district.

Role in the Narrative

Merv Cartwright appears in the early phases of the Panthers, Passion and Politics narrative as a key figure in the club’s formation and early direction.

His contribution sits primarily within the “growth” stream of the story — the push to establish Penrith as a first-grade rugby league presence. At the same time, his period of influence overlaps with the emergence of tensions between football ambition and financial governance — a theme that would become increasingly significant as the club developed.

Background

Born: 1927
Died: 2011

Cartwright grew up in the Penrith district and was closely connected to local rugby league from an early age.

• Played junior and senior football in the district
• Became club secretary in the 1950s while still a player
• Continued as Secretary of the Penrith Rugby League Football Club from 1967 to 1970
• Returned to Club governance as a Board Member 1992 – 1998

He was one of the signatories to the formation of the Penrith Rugby League Club Ltd in 1967 .

Recognition by Panthers
• Life Membership, Penrith Panthers (1955)
• Merv Cartwright Medal is awarded to the best player each season (named 2012)
• Named a Panthers Legend (2026)

Relevance to Events Described

Cartwright was a driving force in the campaign to bring Penrith into first-grade competition. He played a visible role in promoting the club, including maintaining a strong media presence during its early years .

During his time as secretary, the club operated in an environment where expectations between football operations and financial governance were not aligned. By the end of the 1960s, these pressures had intensified. Expenditure on football activities exceeded agreed limits, and tensions developed between football operations and the licensed club board over financial oversight and decision-making.

In 1971, Cartwright resigned from his role as Secretary of the Football Club. The circumstances surrounding his resignation were more complex than this summary suggests, particularly in relation to the Club’s financial position and governance arrangements at the time.

This conflict echoes through later sections of the Panthers, Passion and Politics narrative.

Related Material

Related Themes

Conflict · Football Club · First Division Admission

Editorial Note

This profile is presented as contextual background.
Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

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Major Player: Ron Mulock

Ron Mulock
Source: Parliament NSW

Ronald J Mulock OA, KCSG

Deputy Premier of New South Wales; Founding Member and Patron, Penrith District Rugby League Football Club

Ron Mulock was a long-serving member of the Australian Labor Party who served as councillor, mayor, state parliamentary representative, senior minister, and Deputy Premier of New South Wales. He was a founding member and Patron of the Penrith District Rugby League Football Club.

Role in the Narrative

Ron Mulock has a significant presence in the Panthers, Passion and Politics narrative.

His association with Panthers dates to the earliest days of the club, and he emerges as an influential figure during the conflicts that unfolded in the later years of Roger Cowan’s tenure. He also contributed to the efforts supporting the award of the Order of Australia Medal to Roger Cowan.

Background

Born: 1930
Died: 2014

Profession: Lawyer – admitted as Solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1955.

Public Roles:
• Mayor of Penrith: 1968–71
• NSW State Parliamentarian: 1971–1988
• Deputy Premier of NSW: 1984–1988

Honours:
• Officer of the Order of Australia (1988)
• Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great (2013)

Recognition by Panthers
• Life Membership, Penrith Panthers (1989)
• Ron Mulock AO Room, Panthers Events Centre (2012)

Relevance to Events Described

Mulock is closely connected to one of the central strands of this story.

During the late 1990s, he opposed aspects of the expansion strategy undertaken by Panthers and was aligned with the group of five directors who became known as the “Footy Five”. The four minority directors were referred to as “Roger’s Four Kinsmen” — a phrase that drew on the name of a well-known musical group closely associated with Panthers.1

Mulock’s long-standing connections within the Australian Labor Party, and his prominence in public life, contributed to a broader perception at the time that he was influential in political attention being directed toward Panthers.

Related Material

Related Themes:

Football Club · Governance

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Additional material may be introduced as the narrative progresses.

  1. The Four Kinsmen were a popular Australian vocal group who performed regularly at Panthers over many years and developed a close association with the club. ↩︎