12 May 2016

Share this story

There will be hundreds of small fans cheering extra loud for the Penrith Panthers on Saturday night.

Aussie sports teams don't always get a warm welcome in Christchurch but the Panthers, who have several Kiwis in their line-up, were treated like superstars when they visited South New Brighton school on Thursday.

There were deafening chants of "We love the Panthers" when players Trent Merrin, James Fisher-Harris, Peta Hiku and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, arrived to speak to about 100 sports-mad children at the school.

They played games, answered quiz questions, and talked about how to lead a healthy lifestyle before presenting about 240 t-shirts to children who have also been given tickets to the game.

Corbyn Roberts, 10, said the visit was an "awesome experience". Corbyn, who plays league for the Papanui Tigers, said the players were really friendly and he couldn't wait to see them play. "I'm a league fan, it's contact and you get heaps of fun out of it."

The Penrith Panthers, who arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday, have been spending the lead-up to their sold-out NRL game against the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday meeting young fans and building connections with the city.

Trent Merrin, who is visiting Christchurch for the first time, said getting into the community had been "unbelievable".

"We've been welcomed with open arms and the feedback has been great. It's been incredible so far."

But he said the earthquake on Wednesday night had given some of the players a scare. They were in their hotel rooms and at first they thought the noise and movement was from other players wrestling. They went outside and talked to some locals who told them the shake was "minor".

"We were frightened, they weren't," Mr Merrin said.

South New Brighton School principal John Brockett said the players' visit was a huge boost to the school and the Eastern suburbs as a whole.

On Wednesday the Panthers trained at Christchurch Boys' High School and later hosted a coaching clinic in Hornby for more than 200 junior rugby league players.

Sydney-based Panthers have moved their home game against the Warriors to Christchurch for the next two years with an option for two more years. The Penrith club hopes to create a new fan base in the South Island.

Saturday's game will be the first NRL game played in Christchurch since 2010. Christchurch City Council is supporting the Panthers visit by working with promoters Justin Wallace and Craig Douglas, from event company Wallace Douglas Ltd.