Adam Fearnley signs Penrith Panthers contract

The Bathurst Panthers under 18s five-eighth recently learned he would be joining Penrith’s ranks later this year, as he eyes off a spot in the defending champion SG Ball side.

The news was even better for Fearnley with the recent announcement of his inclusion in the NSW Under 17s representative team.

Fearnley has had an association with the Penrith club for several years but he now takes it to a whole new level.

“About two weeks ago we went down to see [Penrith Recruitment Manager] Jimmy Jones at the new academy, which is really nice and high-class. That’s when it was all finalised,” he said.

“Two years ago we spoke to Penrith and they had me on a scholarship sort of thing, up until now, which they’ve renewed and they’ve put me on to a proper contract now to hopefully go down and play at the end of the year.

”I’ll play the summer comp over there with the SG Ball team. It’s always been a goal to be able to go down to Penrith for a bit.”

Fearnley has already had experience taking on an SG Ball side this year when he was part of the Western Academy team in their hard-fought 20-8 loss to Manly.

The five-eighth then playing in pivotal role in taking the Western Rams under 18s to the grand final of this year’s CRL Country Championships.

Since then he’s helped guide the Bathurst Panthers under 18s to a guaranteed finals position in this year’s Group 10 competition.

Fearnley said he’s happy with the way his game has been developing this season.

“I had a pretty good campaign with the Rams team this year. I really enjoyed that. We went on to the [Country Championships] finals,” he said.

“That gave me a lot of confidence playing there while I was still a year young. Our Panthers team on the weekends has also been coming along well and that’s also really helped to build up the confidence.

“I want to keep developing my game. I’m hoping to improve on the one-percenters everywhere with the high class facilities and coaches they have down there. Hopefully I can be the best player that I can be.”

Prior to his Panthers experience Fearnley is getting set to represent his state.

Fearnley has made the cut for the NSW under 17s, the development side for those either too young or not yet be ready to join the 18s.

The Bathurst player said making the team wasn’t a goal he’d set for himself but he’s looking forward to his upcoming tour.

“In a couple of weeks’ time we’ll play Fiji [under 18s] in Sydney and that will be a trial game for the whole thing,” he said.

“In October we’ll go to New Zealand for a week for a tour. That will be great development for all the 18s boys going over there.

“At the start of the year I wasn’t thinking too much about [selection]. I didn’t think too much about it. I just wanted to play good football and see where it would take me.”

For his 2018 season Fearnley will have to trial for the under 20s side.

Fearnley has trials for the SG Ball team in October before starting his training in November.