Travelling along Sydney’s traffic-choked M4 motorway can be a despairing journey, but it’s where two key Penrith Panthers found hope that an NRL fairytale was possible at the foot of the mountains.
Five-eighth Jamie Soward and hooker James Segeyaro are proof that car pooling is not only good for the environment, but paramount to plotting the most unlikely of rugby league premierships.
Soward still lives deep in the Sutherland Shire following his days at St George Illawarra, and most days to and from training he diverts through Silverwater to scoop up Segeyaro en route to Penrith Park.
Most players like to talk about almost anything but football when they’re away from the training paddock, but Soward and Segeyaro treated their travel time as a chance to solidify a spine combination which has sparked the Panthers’ attack this season.
Ever since veteran halfback Peter Wallace ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in round 17, Soward, Segeyaro and fullback Matt Moylan have upped their game and pose a major threat to Canterbury in Saturday night’s preliminary final.
A team’s hooker and halfback combination is perhaps the most critical in attack, and Soward and Segeyaro have developed an understanding that’s driven Penrith further than anyone thought they could go.
“Jamie picks me up going along the M4. We talk footy and a bit of everything,” Segeyaro told AAP.
“After Pete went down after the Cronulla game, it was time to stand up and take control of the team and Jamie tried to chat to me about how we had to play as a team.
“We’ve played a few games together now (without Wallace) and it’s good to have that combination now.”
The irony of Soward’s career-best form for Penrith is it might not have been possible if good mate Wallace hadn’t been ruled out for the rest of the season.
When Soward won a premiership at St George Illawarra in 2010 he did it alongside Ben Hornby.
Both Hornby and Wallace were controlling halfbacks which allowed Soward to get away with less responsibility.
But Soward has become a completely different player over the past few weeks and should Penrith go all the way, his paws will be more over this premiership than they were when he broke through with the Dragons.
“With Wal out I’ve had to get my hands on the ball more and stay in the game,” Soward said.
“That’s always been a criticism – that I don’t run the ball enough.
“I’m four years older and I’m enjoying my footy.”
But Soward is still troubled by Wallace’s absence.
The 28-year-old Wallace fell a game short of the grand final with Brisbane in 2011 and broke down last week when asked by reporters how it felt to be injured with the Panthers on the rise.
“It really hurts,” said Soward.
