The Penrith Panthers’ remarkable climb up the NRL ladder has been a team effort, but the story of one player’s journey from a small country town back to the top-tier competition has captivated fans. Thomas Jenkins, a 24-year-old from Boorowa, has emerged as a key figure in the Panthers’ resurgence, with his comeback story highlighting the deep-rooted connections that define the club’s success.
Jenkins’ path to the NRL began far from the bright lights of Sydney. Growing up in the tight-knit community of Boorowa, he played his junior rugby league for the Young Cherrypickers. It was this country upbringing that instilled in him the grit and determination needed to chase his dreams. His parents dedicated countless hours to driving him across the state, and Jenkins eventually joined the Penrith Panthers’ junior system, where he honed his skills and found a second home.
After making a handful of appearances for the Panthers in 2022 and 2023, Jenkins sought a more consistent role, signing with the Newcastle Knights for the 2024 season. His time in Newcastle was short-lived, however, as he was dropped from the first-grade side after just five matches and eventually released from his contract.
With his NRL career in jeopardy, Jenkins returned to western Sydney and began training with the St. Marys Ron Massey Cup team, a feeder club for the Panthers. It was there that he made a pivotal phone call to the man he’d always considered a mentor, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
I called Iv,” Jenkins told SEN’s The Run Home with Joel and Fletch. “I just sat down with him and had a coffee and basically just said, ‘This is my last stop kind of thing, what would you want to see out of me?'”
Cleary’s advice was direct. “He just said, ‘Look, I can’t sit here and give you a contract, but in saying that, the door is not closed.'” Cleary told him to put his head down, work hard, and if the club liked what they saw, they would re-evaluate.
Jenkins took that advice to heart. He found a part-time job and trained with the Ron Massey Cup squad in the afternoons. His dedication quickly caught the attention of Panthers’ NSW Cup coach Benny Harden, who invited him to join the senior training group.
“I trained all arvo with the squad for the whole pre-season,” Jenkins recalled.
His consistent effort paid off when he was offered a trial match and, just two days later, a development deal for the remainder of the season and into the next.
Since that trial, Jenkins has played 19 games for the Panthers, becoming a dynamic presence on the wing and in the centre. His impressive stats—12 tries, 2,852 running meters, and 51 tackle breaks—tell the story of a player who has found his rhythm and a team that has found a vital piece of its premiership puzzle.
For Thomas Jenkins, the path to redemption wasn’t a matter of finding a new team but of returning to the community and the club that helped shape the young man from Boorowa.
– Tully Potts
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