LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
'Whispers' are circulating about a significant selection decision facing Panthers coach Ivan Cleary for the upcoming elimination final against the Warriors on Saturday. The Panthers will be heading to Auckland, where the stakes are high: the team that loses will be eliminated from the finals.
This early elimination scenario is unusual for Cleary's squad, heightening the pressure. According to the 'League Scene' podcast, there are indications that Cleary is considering including Paul Alamoti in the lineup to face the Warriors.
In a surprising turn of events, this could mean Thomas Jenkins will be left out of the lineup. "With Paul Alamoti's recent strong run of performances and big game performances in the finals for the Panthers, Ivan Cleary is reportedly contemplating a spot for Alamoti given his strong showings in last year's finals series, with Tom Jenkins emerging as the possible casualty," stated the 'League Scene'.
"These are whispers we've heard strongly over the course of today. Alamoti is being strongly considered for the trip to Auckland."
This season has been nothing short of a fairytale for Jenkins, who began the year playing for St Mary's in the third-tier Ron Massey Cup. Since joining the first-grade squad, he has participated in 21 games and is the team's second-highest try-scorer, with 13 tries.
Alamoti played the first 12 rounds of the season at the top level but lost his spot when the Panthers' full-strength backline was established. Despite this, he has scored 12 tries in 16 appearances and has more experience in high-stakes matches than Jenkins, having previously contributed to the Panthers' title win in 2025 and even scoring in the grand final.
Jenkins first entered the first-grade team in Round 3 and has maintained his position since. Recently, Alamoti has taken advantage of his playing time while star winger Brian To'o received two weeks off to rest. Now that To'o is back for the finals, Cleary faces a difficult decision, as it's proving challenging to overlook Alamoti's impressive performances over the past month.