Considering the club was supposed to have been trying to keep Moylan all along. This narrative is 100% wrong.
If you consider that my statement is spread across the events of over 12 weeks of protracted media relations it is not "100% wrong" as you put it.
Look at it this way. Melbourne happens, Newspapers sell with the Poster boy being pinned for a night out. Everyone is shocked.
Weeks pass and the media keeps drumming up this idea that not all is well in Penrith. The club answered media reports that Moylan was on the outer following being dropped. Rumours of in-fighting and so on. We said he's part of our plans, he's our captain and so on. For a while there it went quiet. Most believed there was nothing to it and figured he was staying. All standard stuff from all parties.
Gus and the club came out and publically supported Moylan shortly after but suggested he needed time away from the game to sort his affairs. Questions get asked. We come out and say he's not coping with things well, needs a break. Standard stuff.
He then wanted to play leading into the finals series. The club was against it. Moylan is triggered by this point and wants out. Rumours circulate that he's got a bad attitude, rehab issues and we again come out and say all is well. It was even said that we are working with Matt and his manager over his future.
That to me is the standard NRL club issued "player wants out" media and fan package. Say nothing is wrong, deflect attention, realise quickly that things wont work, club reverts and player leaves early to sign for a scum club we all hate. Moylan-Land is up in arms.
I am sure we would have liked to keep Moylan the poster boy. The guy who got us out of our seats but we didnt have that. We had naughty Matt Moylan who didn't rehab, get his way and wanted out.
The club responded to his request and he was gone.
Do you honestly believe that if the issues could have been resolved, whatever they were, that he wouldnt still be in Penrith colours? We spent weeks deflecting and answering the media. Every time they had a spot fire we responded.
The club eventually let him go. Whilst some cite ancient history and suggest its what we do, he was given every opportunity to stay. We spent a long time keeping the media away from the issue but ultimately it was the worst kept secret and he was gone. I am confident that the club did try their best to resolve the issues and I honestly believe it was Moylan who had no intention of staying.
I'd be shocked if anyone legitimately believes we did nothing.
Star player asks for a release and we just let the guy walk out without a fight, without trying to keep our representative poster boy captain. Please, even Gus isn't that bad.
