They didn't play for the Panthers in last weekend's NRL semi-final loss against the Bulldogs or the NSW Cup grand final triumph over the Knights, but Blaxland native Peter Wallace and Springwood's Tom Eisenhuth were on the field in spirit and played vital roles getting their teams into the top four.
Twenty-two year old utility player Eisenhuth, who played in the club's heartbreaking 2013 NSW Cup grand final loss to the Sharks, can now share in the euphoria of being in a premiership-winning team - one of the most dominant in recent NSW Cup history.
Boasting 10 players with first grade experience, the Garth Brennan coached side finished the regular season 10 competition points ahead of nearest rivals the Knights and boasted a points for-and-against balance of plus 323 compared to the Knights' 147.
At this time last season Eisenhuth made the comment "there is a lot of experience in this team... I've been pretty much slotting into whatever position the team needs me to be in each week".
Season 2014 proved no different in that regard, with the 2011 Junior Kangaroos representative playing in more than half of the regular season games, showing his versatility by playing in the centres, the halves, the wing and in the back row.
He scored a try and set up two others when selected in the backs in the Panthers' second and third last games of the regular season and played the role of interchange forward in the team's 42-6 qualifying final win against the Illawarra Cutters.
It was then a matter of train hard and wait-and-see for the hard-working Lower Mountains Juniors product.
After being named in the starting side in the 31-12 semi-final triumph against Wentworthville and last Sunday's 48-12 grand final thrashing of the Knights in front of more than 3000 fans at Allianz Stadium, Eisenhuth was withdrawn just hours before kick-off due to the sudden availability of experienced players Kevin Kingston, David Simmons, Isaah Yeo, Sam Anderson and Wes Naiqama.
Eisenhuth will continue to train with the squad this week and prepare in case he is selected by Brennan to play in this Sunday's inaugural Interstate Cup against QLD Cup premiers Northern Pride.
In first grade the value of Panthers co-captain Peter Wallace, despite injury, to the best NRL result Penrith has had since winning the premiership in 2003 can best be summed up by halves partner Jamie Soward.
After showing trademark courage and consistency and in his own words "leading by example more than words" in the first half of the season, Wallace suffered a devastating season-ending knee injury against Cronulla in July.
Head coach Ivan Cleary - who was named Dally M Coach of the Year on Monday night - said Wallace's effort in that match inspired the squad for the remainder of the season - especially Soward.
The Panthers' number 7, who took on the role of replacement captain, told the media after Penrith's 19-18 qualifying final win against the Roosters that Wallace played a key behind-the-scenes role for him and the team.
"It's an honour to captain such a good club... but Peter Wallace is the captain and I'm always leaning on him and asking him for advice," Soward said.
After last Saturday's loss Cleary described Penrith's season as "a great success and we will be much better for it [next year].
"We'll have a lot of talent that hasn't been on show in the last eight weeks back."
Cleary said one of the most pleasing things from a club point of view was that "the community is back behind us."