How do we bid farewell to this remarkable Panthers team? The only way we know how. Regardless of what unfolds from this point forward, the team will inevitably change. Yet, Penrith fans are acutely aware of how fortunate we’ve been. I can still recall the beginning. Perched high in the stands, the cold concrete pressing against my back, I found myself with my head in my hands as the players trudged off at half-time. The 2020 NRL grand final felt like a lost cause, the dream already extinguished. True fandom isn’t built on celebrating victories alone. It’s shaped in the crucible of disappointment. We’ve experienced our share of heartache, enduring the lean years and coming close on multiple occasions. In that moment, it felt as though we were witnessing the end of something special—another near miss. One thing was clear: opportunities like this are rare, and you never know when you might find yourself in this position again.