![\"Panthers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/a602a751-28b0-45a9-84e3-45f21c0da85a.jpg\")
A trip to Auckland is no yolking matter for Panthers coach Ivan Cleary. (Dan Himbrechts\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\nPenrith coach Ivan Cleary is worrying about eggs not “Fish’\u2019 as the Panthers look to block out a hostile welcome to Auckland and keep their premiership dynasty alive. <\/p>\n
Penrith\u2019s glory-laden run will go on the line in Saturday\u2019s elimination final against a Warriors side containing former Panthers prop James Fisher-Harris. <\/p>\n
And it\u2019s not just the intimidating front-rower the Panthers have to concern themselves with in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Fish’ is pretty simple-minded and we know exactly what we\u2019ll get, we\u2019ll have to play well. I\u2019m not (scared of him) in the box, I\u2019m just worried about eggs, not \u2018Fish\u2019,\u201d Cleary said. <\/p>\n
A trip to Auckland is no yolking matter for Panthers coach Ivan Cleary. (Dan Himbrechts\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
A post on a Warriors supporter Facebook page in recent days urged the Kiwi club\u2019s fans to give the Panthers a raucous reception and put the four-time defending premiers off their game.<\/p>\n
\u201cFireworks, burnouts and screaming outside the hotel is highly recommended,\u201d the post read, before calling for Warriors supporters to \u201cbring eggs into the game and egg the panther (sic) coach box\u201d. <\/p>\n
The Warriors have been keen to stress the page has no official link to the club.<\/p>\n
But Cleary, a former Warriors player and coach, took it in good jest. <\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve some experience with the Warriors fan base, they’re a good-natured lot and very passionate,\u201d Cleary said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat actually happened to us a couple of years ago in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were staying in Parramatta before the prelim and Parra beat the Cowboys up in North Queensland and we were pretty much kept up all night. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat one worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n
As his side go in pursuit of a fifth straight premiership with potentially four weeks of sudden-death football, Cleary has left no room for sentiment.<\/p>\n
Winger Tom Jenkins, whose return to the NRL after being cut by Newcastle has been one of the feel-good stories of the 2025 season, has been dropped for Paul Alamoti.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat (telling him he\u2019s dropped) is not a fun part of the job,\u201d Cleary said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one of those things around finals time, you can\u2019t pick everyone. <\/p>\n
![\"Jai](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2614254d-8f9d-44af-898f-c790e6d7c3f2.jpg\")
Tom Jenkins (left) has been dropped, but his season has impressed coach Ivan Cleary. (Dan Himbrechts\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n
\u201cTom’s had an amazing year, one of the greatest stories of our season, he\u2019ll be ready when he\u2019s needed.” <\/p>\n
Penrith will also be without dependable hooker Mitch Kenny, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and will be replaced by Luke Sommerton. <\/p>\n
Kenny\u2019s bone-rattling defence has been a big factor in Penrith completing a remarkable turnaround from the start of the season to keep alive their dream of a fifth straight premiership. <\/p>\n
Penrith were last on the ladder after a round-12 defeat to eventual wooden spooners Newcastle, a loss Cleary pinpoints as a turning point in the Panthers\u2019 rise up the ladder to finish the regular season in seventh. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe were just so disgusted with how it was going,\u201d Cleary said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to be real with ourselves, and the boys, to their credit, took it from there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn’t like where we were, and there was only one way to fix it up, and that was to go and do something about it. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe were probably getting sucked into a vortex of self-pity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe turned things around, got on a bit of a roll \u2026 and here we are.\u201d <\/p>\n