How about running for more than 34 metres this week instead of trying to be a tough guy, Reagan?
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...9/news-story/fa0befd476ea6cd7b3cf89e15d8b733f
Reagan Campbell-Gillard proves king of the niggle in 2019
MARCH 21, 2019
Parramatta’s Reed Mahoney looked like the bravest man in the country taking on a representative forward that has almost 30 kilograms over him on the scales.
It turns out the joke was the 86 kilogram hooker after he took the bait that Reagan Campbell-Gillard set for him hook, line and sinker.
Mahoney took exception to Campbell-Gillard giving him a little bit of extra attention in an off the ball tackle and rather than cower away, the feisty hooker went toe-to-toe with the 115kg prop forward.
But the Penrith big man told The Daily Telegraph that he made it a mission of his to try and frustrate Eels players off their game last Sunday.
“He’s a young kid, he’s trying to get the team started and get a little bit of fire in the game. I probably carried on with the tackle and he didn’t like it,” he said.
“I think it’s a ploy to try and get under a player’s skin. That’s what I try to do.
“That’s the reaction I wanted and I’ll keep trying to get players off their game.
“That’s just one of the mindsets you take into a game, to try and play mind games.”
While Campbell-Gillard doesn’t mind giving and receiving ‘the niggle’, you won’t see him throwing any punches. Well, not the first punch anyway.
“I think if it was four or five years ago it would be a different story,” he said.
“In the heat of the moment, there is going to be push and shove and words said but you’re not just going to c**k your hand up and start throwing them unless there’s something in it. I don’t have that in me to throw a punch but if a player is throwing them at me it’s on.”
And it was most certainly “on” in round 23 last year when Penrith last took on this weekend’s opponents, Newcastle. The spiteful affair ended with both sides down to 11 men after four players were sent to the sinbin for fighting.
But Campbell-Gillard is confident there won’t be a repeat of last year’s antics.
“There was a lot of niggle in that game and they got under our skin and a few boys copped that punishment for fighting,” he said.
“We’re not going there to fight. We are there to play football.”
The biff might be the furthest thing on Campbell-Gillard’s mind but it doesn’t mean Saturday’s clash against the Knights won’t be physical.
If the forward’s plan to stop a rampaging David Klemmer is anything to go by, there will be sparks flying off the collisions between the two big men.
Klemmer was at his absolute best as he opened his 2019 campaign for his new club with 198 metres and three offloads.
According to the Panthers enforcer, there is only one way to halt Klemmer’s go forward on Saturday night.
“Take his head off... it’s one of things you have to do,” he said.
“Obviously you can’t just let him wind up and sit on your heels and just wait for him to come to you.
“You have to go and meet it. Like I said, we’ll see what happens on Saturday,” Campbell-Gillard said with an ominous smirk.
