Penrith rugby league club sign up children at birth to become Panthers Jamie Soward holding 1 day old baby Adrian Salvatore. The Penrith Panthers in conjunction with Nepean Hospital will this week launch an exciting community based initiative called Born to Be a Panther. SIGNING up the next generation of sporting supporters is the battleground being fought out in western Sydney. But the Penrith Panthers have come up with a novel way to get children interested in their club - they're signing them at birth. Star recruit Jamie Soward and Panthers CEO Phil Gould led players at Nepean Hospital yesterday to launch the "Born to Be a Panther" initiative. Newborns signed up receive a free Panthers bib, beanie and bear as well as a birth certificate signed by Gould and coach Ivan Cleary. Peter and Hayley Salvatore's firstborn son Deacon, 11, played rugby league for Doonside and the Colyton family were happy to have Adrian, born yesterday, as the first "Born to Be a Panther" baby. "For sure, we support our local team," Mr Salvatore said. Gould said he looked forward to a long association with the hospital, which delivers 3800 babies a year. Penrith has more than 5000 members signed up for 2014 and while the "Born to Be a Panther" babies aren't technically counted as members the club is hoping it will pay dividends when the children grow up. "Born to be a Panther is a gift to all those children born at this hospital for future generations," Gould said. You get a bib, a beanie and a bear, and the welcome to our Penrith community. Soward is looking for a fresh start after leaving the Dragons last year and while a married man he said he wouldn't have any new recruits for the "Born to Be a Panther" scheme anytime soon.