The Penrith Panthers have done what many thought was impossible in the modern NRL era: five straight grand finals and four premierships in a row. They’ve carved their name into rugby league history.
And while their loss to the Broncos means they’ll miss the grand final for the first time in six years, the Panthers are far from finished. They remain one of the benchmark sides of the competition, and few would doubt they’ll be back in the fight for years to come.
While their talent is undeniable, talent alone doesn’t explain their success. Plenty of gifted squads have fallen apart under pressure. What sets Penrith apart is their culture – their locker room.
Spend any time listening to players like Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, or Brian To’o, and you’ll hear recurring themes: brotherhood, trust, selflessness, accountability.
The Panthers have built a culture where one player’s success is celebrated as everyone’s success, and one man’s mistake is owned and covered by the team.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the fruit of years of choosing the right people, encouraging one another, and holding each other to a high standard.
That struck me in a new way this past Sunday when, in the Maronite Rite, we heard the words of St Paul in his letter to the Corinthians: “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.”
In his homily, the priest reminded us how much the people around us shape our lives.
And isn’t that exactly what we see on display at Penrith? Bad company can drag a team down. Good company can lift them to greatness.
It’s easy to see on the footy field. But it’s just as real in everyday life. Who we hang out with at work, at school, or on weekends slowly shapes us. The conversations we’re part of, the habits we pick up, the values that get reinforced – all of that shapes the person we become.
If we surround ourselves with gossip, negativity or temptation, it won’t be long before it seeps into us. But if we surround ourselves with people striving to live good, holy, faithful lives – then we’re pulled in that direction too.
The Panthers show the power of a ‘holy locker room.’ They’re a picture of what we’re called to build as Christians.
Our parishes, families and friendships are meant to be places where we hold each other accountable, where we celebrate one another’s victories, and where we pick each other up after mistakes.
The Panthers remind us that greatness, whether on the field or in the spiritual life, is rarely an individual achievement. It’s born from a community committed to the right company.
St Paul’s warning still rings true: bad company ruins good morals. But if we choose the right company – if we build holy locker rooms in our own lives – then by God’s grace, we can run the race, fight the good fight, and share in the eternal reward God has prepared for us.
