Panthers on winding road
Penrith Panthers' rugby league's version of the "long and winding road" begins this Friday against Wests Tigers at Carrington Park, Bathurst.
Coach Ivan Cleary takes the squad west for the clash against the Tigers's NSW Cup and National Youth Cup players. Then the Panthers head to New Zealand for a second trial against Cleary's former club, New Zealand Warriors, at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 2pm (AEST).
On their return the Panthers prepare for the Battle of the West Cup against Parramatta at Centrebet Stadium on Saturday, February 23, at 5pm.
Penrith's open NRL game is against Canberra Raiders on Sunday, March 10, at Centrebet Stadium.
Penrith has 15 new faces in their playing squad for 2013. While not considered a top eight chance by many pundits, Cleary and the squad are confident.
Canoeist bags two gold in NZ
She hasn't literally been entitled to the sobriquet "golden girl" but she's been Penrith's metaphorical golden girl.
Now Jessica Fox can be called a literal golden girl.
The teenage slalom canoeist who won a silver medal at last year's London Olympics has gone not one but two better.
Fox has won two gold medals at the 2013 Oceania canoe slalom championships contested on the Mangahao River in New Zealand.
She triumphed in the women's K1, the event in which she won London silver, and the women's C1.
Her sister Noemie made it a family celebration by winning bronze in the women's C1.