When Penrith recruitment guru Jim Jones takes a break from his desk and strolls out to observe the NRL facet practice, there’s all the time one participant who provides him a wave and a shout from the sector.
It is sensible the overwhelming majority are too centered on their work to acknowledge passers-by; unflinching self-discipline has received the Panthers three straight premierships, they usually’re gunning for a fourth.
However most gamers aren’t Liam Henry – the loveable prop who has quietly turn out to be the Panthers’ breakout participant of 2024.
It’s fairly the psychological picture: 105kg Henry, the person they name ‘Smiley’, hollering from the coaching paddock to the person who introduced him all the best way to the NRL.
That journey started within the sleepy city of Blayney greater than 5 years in the past, and it’s now solely 80 minutes away from the intense lights of the NRL grand last.
After dropping out of college in 12 months 10, Henry started a profession as a steel fabricator, welding collectively ute trays in his 3,000-strong hometown on the highway from Bathurst to Cowra.
Henry saved up his footy – he liked it an excessive amount of to stop – and was picked for native consultant facet the Western Rams as a 17-year-old in 2019.
Win a Ziggy BBQ for Grand Closing day, due to Barbeques Galore! Enter Right here.
That was when Jones first noticed Henry, “a stringbean” in these days with loads to study and loads of growth in entrance of him.
However having scouted the likes of Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo and Matt Burton, Jones is aware of potential when he sees it.
“It’s all the time a little bit of a punt,” Jones stated.
“However he (Henry) regarded like he was going to get greater, which he has. He had good leg velocity and he was powerful, his toughness and work price had been superb.
“He appeared like a very nice child and his household appeared like good individuals.”
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Jones had invited Henry and his dad and mom to make the 180km drive all the way down to Penrith for a tour of the Panthers’ centre of excellence.
“I may’ve signed there after which,” Henry stated.
“(Jones) stated, ‘See what you reckon and are available again in case you’re comfortable’. I believe we rotated and got here again right away.”
For the primary few years, Henry continued to ply his commerce as a steel fabricator in St Marys, juggling the apprenticeship with footy within the Panthers’ decrease grades.
He lived with then-teammates Burton, Charlie Staines and Tom Jenkins on the so-called “Panthers Home”, a shared lodging in Cranebrook for the starry-eyed nation youngsters scouted to Penrith.
Loads of the Panthers’ regional recruits battle with the transition to the large smoke, with the membership open to giving their nation juniors a spell again dwelling if the load turns into too heavy.
However Henry has all the time rolled with the punches.
“He may’ve been a bit homesick or he mightn’t have been within the beginning facet from week to week, however he by no means confirmed it,” Jones stated.
“He was a reasonably resilient character.”
Panthers crew celebrates. (Picture by Matt King/Getty Pictures)
Resilience and exhausting work have been the important thing elements of Henry’s breakout season, the prop changing into the newest Penrith junior to show heads across the league.
He’s made 22 appearances thus far this 12 months, most of these carrying physique blows in the course of the park.
Henry got here inside three tackles of equalling the NRL document for many in a sport when he laid 78 tackles within the round-13 loss to St George Illawarra.
The 22-year-old now sits second on the all-time leaderboard for that statistic behind Cronulla workhorse Cameron McInnes – not unhealthy for somebody of their first full NRL season.
Henry has turn out to be so pushed to enhance his sport that he had been happening Strava runs round Mulgoa on his days off, till the Panthers’ physiotherapists instructed him to ease up throughout finals.
“They weren’t too unhealthy, they only stated now that we’re specializing in maximising our coaching days,” Henry stated.
“It’s attending to the crunch. So these days off, we’re making an attempt to get our restoration in and get set for the subsequent day.”
‘Crunch’ is correct; Saturday’s preliminary last towards Cronulla is all that stands between the Panthers and a fifth consecutive grand last look.
It could be a primary decider for Henry, an unbackable favorite for the Panthers’ rookie of the 12 months award, and an opportunity to snare the corresponding prize on Dally M night time.
Henry lives as much as his ‘Smiley’ nickname as he displays on a breakthrough 12 months on the Panthers, and what may lie forward.
“I’m very, very excited,” he stated.
“I stroll in some days and pinch myself. I’m very, very fortunate.
“There’s some nice mentors and leaders across the membership. I simply attempt to soak all of it in.”
© AAP
