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Troubles in Panthertown?

Rich102

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
11,524
FOUR of the biggest names at the Penrith Panthers have been told they could be forced out of the club if they don't take a pay cut.
The future of representative stars Michael Jennings, Tim Grant, Lachlan Coote and Sam McKendry is under fresh scrutiny after they were called to a meeting with Penrith's general manager Phil Gould on October 30 - just two days before the club's first day of pre-season training.
All four players were asked via text message from Gould to attend the meeting.
But instead of a pre-season pep-talk, The Sunday Telegraph has learned that Gould told the club's four biggest names that if they weren't prepared to remove a clause in their contract, which relates to each player earning a percentage of any increase in the NRL's $5 million salary cap, then one of the them may have to leave.

More than two weeks after the meeting, all four players are refusing to have the clause removed from their contract and it threatens to spark a stand-off between the players and Gould.
The bombshell was delivered to the players as a result of the huge pressure on Penrith's salary cap, which is underpinned by the size of the salaries and length of the deals they signed under the previous management.



For example, Jennings, who is contracted until the end of 2015, is reportedly on more than $600,000 for the next three years.
The increase that each player would receive under the new salary cap is yet to be determined as the ARL commission continue to dither over a set figure.
But it's considered that the figure will be way above what Penrith can afford under the revised cap.
Grant, Jennings, Coote and McKendry emerged from the meeting feeling stunned, confused and it dampened any excitement about a drama-free 2013 season at the club.
One of the players was so upset because he realised that the turmoil that has gripped the club for the past two seasons, following the departure of Petero Civoniceva, Luke Lewis and Michael Gordon, was far from over.
The players had hoped that day one of pre-season training would mark a new beginning for a Penrith side that has made the finals just once in the past eight years.
But four of their biggest names now have a cloud of uncertainty hanging over their head four months before the start of the new season.
The players rightfully believe the club should honour the full terms of their contract which was agreed to by the previous administration and they refuse to budge.




At least one of the four players - and it is not Jennings, who has been continually linked to the Wests Tigers and Parramatta - has started to receive feelers from rival clubs.
The issue is now in the hands of each of the four players' management companies which have been willing to work with the Panthers to resolve the issue.
However, given the calibre of talent, it won't take long for rival clubs to circle.
Forwards like Grant and McKendry and tryscorers such as Jennings and Coote are always in demand. Jennings continues to rule out leaving Penrith despite the Test centre's tumultuous past 12 months, which saw him dropped to NSW Cup last season.
Why the Panthers would place pressure on Grant, who is seen as a future captain of the club and was commanding in his State of Origin debut this year, is hard to fathom.
Coote and McKendry are considered future stars of the game, with McKendry representing New Zealand on seven occasions while Coote was selected for the Australian train-on squad this year.
The Sunday Telegraph attempted to contact Gould, but he failed to return our calls

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...or-find-new-club/story-e6frexnr-1226518793102
 

Warrior@Heart

Juniors
Messages
829
McKendry or Grant would be good, seems they're clearing space for Thurston. Grant would be a priority to keep considering his Origin form so McKendry may be the most likely, he's an Auckland boy too so a move across the ditch wouldn't be too far fetched.
 

Beavers Headgear

First Grade
Messages
8,649
McKendry is reportedly on 400k, ridiculous if anywhere close to true

I wouldn't get too carried away with the article though, it is written by the telecrap and the idiot with a massive agenda against Gould
 

Akkerz

Juniors
Messages
100
I'd swap Packer for Grant without thinking twice & Coote would be worth considering for full back . However I'm wise enough to realise neither are likely to be considered by the Warriors - too 'spensive and non- Kiwi. They won't fit the envisaged NZ born dream team of the future.
 
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ozbash

Referee
Messages
26,915
I'd swap Packer for Grant without thinking twice & Coote would be worth considering for full back . However I'm wise enough to realise neither are likely to be considered by the Warriors - too 'spensive and non- Kiwi. They won't fit the envisaged NZ born dream team of the future.

As it should be...
 

Diesel

Coach
Messages
19,927
Is this a thread about us picking up some scraps off the Panthers or Matt Elliot's bad management?

Or was it Elliott's plan all along to screw over the Panthers, get the sack, go to the Roosters as an assistant and get sacked a second time with a new incoming coach, all while the Warriors let their most successful coach go one year early, sack another coach less than a year into his contract then pick up the Warriors top job out of no where and then lure some good Panthers players over to Auckland?
 

blain

Juniors
Messages
1,621
Obviously elliot would have been involved in decision making at the time, but he isnt the one who balances the checkbook and draws up contract conditions. It's terrible management from the CEO and all staff involved. Am I right in saying all these guys came through the Penrith ranks to get to where they are? They were way over paid and contracted.
 

Skinner

Coach
Messages
13,581
Or was it Elliott's plan all along to screw over the Panthers, get the sack, go to the Roosters as an assistant and get sacked a second time with a new incoming coach, all while the Warriors let their most successful coach go one year early, sack another coach less than a year into his contract then pick up the Warriors top job out of no where and then lure some good Panthers players over to Auckland?

Now that is a plan so cunning, you could stick a tail on it and call it a panther.
 

tangalife

Juniors
Messages
530
The media love to put a spin on it, making Phil Gould look like the devil.

He probably just said to them straight up, you guys are taking up a huge amount of the salary cap your free to look elsewhere unless you want to take a pay cut.
 

Akkerz

Juniors
Messages
100
As it should be...


In an ideal world Oz but that's a way off IMO and if the Warriors could be a more productive team in the short term by taking on with talented players from outside NZ I don't have a problem with that.
 

Fufu Andronez

First Grade
Messages
8,464
Apparently we've signed Harry Seijka from Penrith, the young backup half, odd signing if so know he was in emerging origin squad just don't see where he'd fit in here.

Hopefully he's just a backup and not a replacement for someone leaving.

Source is NRL gossip page on Facebook.
 

Diesel

Coach
Messages
19,927
How long is TL signed for? With TL, SJ, Carlos, Pita, Friend and if Harry is a signing we have serious back up in the halves and hooker which was what was missing in '12. With Fish getting a run last season he"ll be better off for it with Locke as our #1 choice.

2013 will have depth in the spine and with Dane in the centres as well as competition in the 3/4's plus we have one of the best forward packs I think we are going to be a surprise for a lot of the teams next year.

Lack of depth, fitness and experience was our problem last year
 

Iafeta

Referee
Messages
24,357
Apparently we've signed Harry Seijka from Penrith, the young backup half, odd signing if so know he was in emerging origin squad just don't see where he'd fit in here.

Hopefully he's just a backup and not a replacement for someone leaving.

Source is NRL gossip page on Facebook.

I'd be highly doubtful of that. I doubt Harry is on the type of money to break the bank, also along with Blake Austin he's one of the best creative players to come through their system in some time. He's the type of player that the PAnthers will look to build around. I'd be shocked if he's been released.
 
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