Penrith winger Tom Jenkins has made the surprise admission that he backed coach Ivan Cleary's brutal call to drop him for last year's finals series, declaring he will use it as motivation throughout 2026.
Jenkins was one of the leading lights for the Panthers following his return to the club from Newcastle last season, proving a reliable performer as the team clawed their way back from a poor start to surge into the finals.
However, Cleary made the tough call to drop the outside back for the elimination final against the Warriors, with Tonga international Paul Alamoti favoured on the wing.
Jenkins - nicknamed Milky - was also overlooked for the next two finals games, including the pulsating preliminary final loss against Brisbane, but through it all maintained a team-first attitude.
Jenkins silences Suncorp
“Ivan was always open with communication,” Jenkins said.
“He makes the toughest calls in the game when it comes to our team, so I just back him 100%.
“He's always open, he's always honest, and that's what I need as a player and he's always given me that.
“I have full faith in him and he gives me full confidence that I can go out there and do a job if I'm picked.
“I have so much faith, so much trust in Ive, we had a pretty long conversation after it (the call to drop him for the finals) and we both agreed that it was the right call.
“I wasn't playing up to standard, Pauly was in such good form, he was playing so well, he 100% deserved to be there, and I totally backed his call.
“I trusted (Cleary) 100% and hopefully it’s just one of those things where this year I can do a role again and when it comes that time, to be there then.
“There's definitely motivation there, but it's more motivation to how I can fill my role in the team and what I can do to help us win and make us better.
“So that was probably a big thing, not really looking too far ahead, more just thinking where my feet are and taking every day as it is, every week as it is, and it'll work out."
His forward-focused attitude has already paid dividends and in Round 1 against the Broncos, Jenkins was a late call-up to the starting side to play outside centre Casey McLean, moving Izack Tago to the extended bench.
Jenkins rewarded his coach’s faith in him with a strong performance that featured plenty of big moments, including two tries – one an intercept – and an impressive defensive display to help neutralise the attacking threat of Brisbane and Kangaroos fullback Reece Walsh.
All Tries - Broncos v Panthers - Round 1, 2026
“I think it more just comes down to the training, it's been a long pre-season, working on different things and different combinations,” Jenkins said of his performance.
“Casey and I worked a lot last year on how we can be better and what we can do.
“We know each other's game really, really well.
“I think I've just been just trusting the process and trust in the system.
“Wal (assistant coach Peter Wallace) puts a lot of faith in us and the people around us, so you always got to feel comfortable …
“When the big moments come, you want to take a hold of them and that obviously came off tonight and it's part of the game, so I like it.”
The Panthers will next face fellow Round 1 winners the Sharks, hosting Cronulla as Bathurst's Carrington Park on Saturday.
Match: Panthers v Sharks
Round 2 -
home Team
Panthers
3rd Position
away Team
Sharks
2nd Position
Venue: Carrington Park, Bathurst
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
