Penrith’s 2025 first grade team. Photo: Melinda Jane.

The Penrith Cricket Club will look to build on last year’s successful season when they return to the pitch this Saturday for the opening round of the NSW Premier Cricket Belvidere Cup competition.

Penrith’s first grade team fell agonisingly short of a Grand Final appearance last season after wet weather prevented them from victory against Fairfield-Liverpool in the semi-finals.

Had the game not ended in a draw the Cats would’ve been Grand Final bound, instead the weather gods had other ideas.

“Last year was a fantastic season for us,” Penrith head coach Warren Buttigieg told the Weekender.

“To have the first grade team make a semi final and draw that match was a great season for them.”

Across the board Penrith was immense last season, with their fourth grade and fifth grade teams also making Finals appearances.

“To have two other grades make the semi finals as well was also a fantastic result. We ended up finishing eighth in the Club Championships, which was a great effort,” Buttigieg said.

Penrith at training this week. Photo: Melinda Jane.

“Considering we earmarked it as a reset season for us, so we could get our culture under control moving forward, not only did we do that but we had some really good results as well.”

Penrith will be hoping for much of the same this summer, however they will be missing some key talent from last season.

Penrith wicket keeper Tyran Liddiard and pace bowler Sam Grant will suit up for Bankstown this season, while the club will also welcome back some familiar faces.

“Tyran had been agitating for a few years to leave and whilst we want to keep all of our players, financially we were unable to compete with Bankstown,” Buttigieg said.

“We’ve brought in a young keeper in Jack Jobson from Wests. We’ve earmarked him as a future first grade keeper for us.

“We’re also welcoming back Charlie Griffith from a season in Tasmania, while Ben Tracey has come back to the club after a couple of years at Randwick.”

Penrith at training this week. Photo: Melinda Jane.

This season Penrith will once again be led by experienced skipper Ryan Gibson along with opening batsman Nick Adams and bowling sensation Liam Doddrell.

“I think it’s a really good side, predominantly made up of local juniors,” Buttigieg said.

“We’re not going to put too many expectations on them but we want them to remain competitive and we want to see our second grade, third grade and PGs do well too – that’s the focus.

“We’re a club that build from within, so we want to develop our own players and bring those guys through.”

Penrith’s opening match will be a One-Dayer against Sydney University this Saturday at Howell Oval.

Nathan Taylor

Nathan Taylor is the Weekender’s Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.