They didn’t waste any time ripping joshes profile down at panthers hq.
There’s an article published just after he was given his marching orders where young Nate Cleary says Josh would “understand” but as we know, Josh came out and smashed Ivan and their CEO for the manner and timing of his forced exit (day after the gf loss).
I am a Nathan Cleary supporter overall but I don’t think he understood how upset and degraded Josh felt. Besides, no one can take the words of the coaches son earning $1m a year seriously in these matters of “ that’s just life” The son of the guy who axes you. Wreaks of privilege and entitlement. He can’t really tell us, nor should he dare, to suggest that Josh was comfortable being summarily axed.
It’s very amateur pr to use Nate in this way and he might have showed more maturity if he had declined to have his good name for used for such a thing. Maybe he was set up? Mmmm...Nothing like that would happen at Tigers, Storm, Roosters or Souths. We don’t treat our fans or the public as idiots as a general rule!
Josh said he felt nervous and physically ill, like going to an execution. His large personal fan base was very upset. The corpse of the gf loss wasn’t even cold. Players take these things very hard.
They spent months negotiating with Charlie Staines who obviously wanted Joshes spot in the side to sign on. Hes a good player so far as I can see but untested for the long haul. So it’s a big risk they are taking.
I don’t think Josh played under Bennett so I think he will be excited to immerse himself in the Souths environment. Bennett has the best player/coach relationship in the game. Best evidence of that was the broncos turning up to his bbq instead of the official club function. They all got into trouble too!
Josh will make new friends and have different experiences. It will refresh and invigorate him emotionally and socially.
( i would extend and renegotiate Bennetts contract if possible for a further two years. He’s obviously enjoying his tenure and took soo as the icing on the cake -He’s a great coach).
But Mansour has a point to prove in that he was pensioned off prematurely for another bright young thing ( he would have beaten up a lot of them in his time), so his personal motivation will be off the scale!
There’s a pr piece on the panthers site where he says goodbye. But it wreaks of damage control. Frustrating to support the panthers.
In terms of his nrl lifespan, about 160 games which is three times the average. Amazingly unscathed for that run. Had that jaw thing but came back ok.
Given the uncertain transition of player power in the next few years at Penrith, the catastrophic mistakes made to ruin such a wonderful run last season ( snatching defeat from the jaws of victory), I think he’s landed on his feet and he’s going to have pivotal role for you guys in 2021.
Those are my thoughts on the matter and hopefully add to the chorus of welcoming cheer that accompanies him. We missed him at the Tigers, but he’s an excellent player, he will slot in true and flush to the bunnies side. Seamless.
They say he’s also a very quality person in his private life. Doesn’t drink excessively, doesn’t do illegal drugs, no violence, no sex or flirting rubbish. No perversions etc. Appreciative of his role and position in the game. Grateful for the games blessings. Accepts he’s a role model. That always helps.
