It was August 28, 2009. Penrith just needed to beat arch rivals Parramatta to qualify for the Finals.
Penrith hadn’t reached the post-season since 2004, the year after they won the Grand Final over the Sydney Roosters.
In the years that followed those two outstanding seasons in 2003 and 2004, the Penrith fan base started to wane. Success quickly forgotten.
But here we were, on the verge of the play-offs and in with a real shot of restoring some pride into the Penrith jumper.
It was all over by half-time. The Eels led 18-0, and eventually ran riot to win 48-6.
As luck would have it, things worked out Penrith’s way and they had another ‘win and you’re in’ shot – this time against Newcastle at what was then EnergyAustralia Stadium.
A mate and I packed up the car and made the road trip up the F3 that Sunday afternoon, making audacious plans for the Finals the following weekend.
Newcastle dropped the ball from the kick-off, which was just about the only positive for Penrith that afternoon.
The Knights won 35-0.
Results and seasons like this were just the norm for anyone who supported Penrith beyond that 2003 and 2004 success.
Until the late 2010s, of course, when Finals appearances started to become more regular.
And we all know what has happened since 2020: five consecutive Grand Final appearances, four straight Premierships, tumbled records and a dominance no rugby league expert could have foreseen.
Which is why now is not the time to give up on this footy side.
The Panthers have lost five straight games and are playing the kind of football we remember from seasons like that one in 2009, among others – take your pick.
It has been disappointing to watch, but perhaps more disappointing is the reaction of some of the club’s fans.
I understand that a lot of people have only started supporting the Panthers during this dream run. Some have picked up their support again during this period, after their jerseys collected dust for a few years.
And there is nothing wrong with the so-called bandwagon supporter. As long as you stay on the bandwagon once you’re there, that is.
We all start supporting a team for a reason, and it’s generally not as a result of losing regularly or playing terribly.
Which is why it’s totally fine if you started your journey supporting the Panthers at some point in the last five years as a result of the sustained success.
What isn’t fine though is digging the knife in when times have become a little tough.
It’s been extraordinary to read and hear what some Penrith ‘fans’ are saying at the moment.
The couch coaches are in full swing, that’s for sure.
And it’s totally fine to be disappointed in a performance, or lament a loss.
But jumping up and down after this side has delivered you four straight Premierships and memories to last a lifetime? Please.
I’m finding it difficult at the moment to be all that upset with Penrith’s current predicament, largely because it is understandable.
The Panthers are in uncharted waters. No team has had to defend a fourth consecutive Premiership in the NRL era.
Heck, no team has had to try to defend a third since Peter Sterling had hair back in the 1980s.
This fall from Penrith was inevitable, though admittedly it’s been a little sharper than we would have expected.
Salary cap pressures have bitten.
The side is tired. Understandable, after being ‘up’ for so long.
The depth isn’t as good as it used to be.
Injuries have hurt.
The list goes on.
For those who haven’t been through this before, it can be hard to watch.
For us seasoned Penrith fans, this isn’t really anything new.
Except for one thing.
There’s four Premierships in the rear view mirror.
How could you possibly think about the incredible ride Ivan Cleary and his Panthers have taken us on over the past five years and still kick rocks?
After all, this is what sport is all about.
Sometimes the tough times are the best times, in a way.
Some of my favourite memories supporting the Panthers were during those tough seasons.
Heck, I remember that trip to Newcastle like it was yesterday. All part of the ride.
It’s what makes the wins so much sweeter.
Now is not the time to abandon the Panthers.
As tough as it is to get to CommBank Stadium, now isn’t the time to sit the season out.
We need to pack the joint out like we would Penrith Park.
And we certainly need to have faith in Ivan Cleary to get Penrith out of the current rut.
And if he doesn’t, that’s OK too.
As every long-time Penrith fan would know, there’s always next year.