Mark Geyer put rugby league on the map in Perth. Another Panther is hoping to do the same

2 months ago 19

Three decades after a premiership-winning Penrith forward crossed the Nullarbor to help launch a fledgling rugby league franchise in Perth, another is ready to follow in his footprints.

Former Test and NSW Origin firebrand Mark Geyer was the marquee signing for the Western Reds when they entered the Australian Rugby League in 1995, and 30 years down the track, Panthers prop Liam Henry hopes to have a similar impact after signing a four-season deal with the Perth Bears.

Penrith’s Liam Henry has signed for Perth.

After starring in Penrith’s inaugural title triumph in 1991, Geyer provided the Reds with instant credibility, as well as an intimidating on-field presence.

Henry, who came off the bench in Penrith’s 2024 grand final victory, hopes he can be just as influential in rugby league’s second attempt to establish a top-flight team in Western Australia.

“I know Mark pretty well, because obviously I’ve played a lot of footy with his son Mavrik,” Henry said. “He’s a good man and he was obviously a great player. Him coming from Penrith and going to the Western Reds, I guess I’m doing the same thing, and it’s an opportunity I’m really looking forward to.”

The Blayney Bears junior admitted it was a tough call to leave Penrith, firstly because the club has been so successful, but also because he feels a debt of gratitude after the Panthers recruited him as an 18-year-old and developed him into a first-grade regular.

Penrith legend Mark Geyer was a pioneer with the Western Reds in 1995.

Now 24, Henry has 50 NRL games under his belt and vowed to repay Penrith by helping them win another premiership before he joins the Bears for their foundation season in 2027.

“I absolutely love Penrith and never saw myself leaving, so it was a big decision,” he said.

“It’s obviously a great opportunity for me with the Bears, but I still have another year to go here and I’m fully focused on doing my best for Penrith.

“I’m going to soak it all up for the next 12 months, and I’d love nothing more than to win a premiership before I go, that’s for sure.

“Obviously every pre-season you look at areas where you can improve and get better, but we’ve kept our main core of players, and it is exciting to think we can build on that.”

Henry said neither he nor his wife Sophie had been to Perth before the Bears flew them out for negotiations.

“We had a look around for two or three days, met everyone at the club and checked out the facilities and the city, and we liked what we saw,” he said.

“Obviously it will be a bit of a challenge and there’ll be a settling-in period, because it is a fair way from home.

“But the chance to help build a club, starting from scratch, it doesn’t come around every day and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

The clincher was coach Mal Meninga’s sales pitch.

“Obviously I’m in awe of Mal and what he’s done in the game,” Henry said.

“He took Sophie and I out for dinner, and just the way he described what he wants to build, and the legacy he wants to leave, it made me feel very, very privileged that he wants me to be part of that.”

The 105-kilogram prop said it did not require a leap of faith to link with a franchise that, thus far, has recruited six players: Henry, Toby Sexton, Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui, Luke Smith, Harry Newman and Emarly Bitungane.

“I know what they want to build,” he said.

“Obviously the signings will come as time goes on, and that’s going to be exciting too, finding out who I’m going to be playing with.

“The good thing is that we’ll all be in the same boat, working hard to build a new team, and it’s going to be something special for everyone involved.”

Geyer played 33 games in three seasons for the Reds, before the Perth franchise became collateral damage in the Super League war and folded in late 1997, allowing the NRL to replace it with Melbourne Storm.

The back-rower returned to play out his career with Penrith, retiring at the end of the 2000 season.

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