General Discussion Thread

[Whino]

Rothfield is a scummy journo looking for the next big scandal. Ask the same question 10 diffent ways to trap someone.
Anything that will get his ugly mug on the front page.

 

[BxTom]

Another article tonight. Buzz is on a roll. LOL

Probably lost on the races again and can't afford his two dollar bottle of plonk.

 

[Bob]

FMD, this Rothfield doesn’t let up does he, Naden obviously has some issues but putting the boot in with his columns isn’t going to help in


[URL='https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-must-punish-penrith-panthers-for-series-of-shocking-offfield-indiscretions/news-story/94671f64ada16b8007087cc2987b0476#share-tools']NRL must punish Panthers for series of shocking off-field indiscretions
The Brent Naden cocaine saga follows a horror 18 months of serious indiscretions at Penrith and it’s time the NRL took serious action against the club.[/URL]

For much of last season the Penrith Panthers were the pride of the league.

There was so much to love about their 17-straight wins, the spectacular style of football they produced and the exuberance of youngsters such as Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai.

Throw in the power and incredible strength of big men James Fisher-Harris and Billy Kikau.

They were the story of the year and we couldn’t get enough of them.

We’d forgiven them for the sex-tape scandal, the TikTok biosecurity breach and the liesthat were told with it.

Nathan Cleary became a pin-up boy and the best player in the competition, at least until the finals.



And then it all fell over again.

On the night before the grand final we had a very serious biosecurity breach and a player on cocaine.

Yes, the night before the grand final. What a disgrace.

This is an extraordinary story that raises serious and legitimate questions about the Panthers’ culture and their management’s ability to deal with it.

There is a risk you take by having such a youthful squad without standout leaders, with the possible exception of lock forward Isaah Yeo.

Youngsters will be youngsters and are never perfect.

Yet at Penrith it appears there was no one who could keep them on the straight and narrow.

Who was ramming home the importance of off-field discipline and responsibility?


Nathan Cleary was banned for his infamous TikTok incident.
To make it worse, the Panthers have released their two best leaders, James Tamou and Josh Mansour.

The irony is that the Panthers once had the toughest disciplinarian in the competition.

Former coach Anthony Griffin was as tough as they come but they inexplicably got rid of him.

Players bagged him to Phil Gould and management behind his back because he set high standards and they didn’t tolerate mugs. Matt Moylan left for this reason.

If this latest Naden indiscretion was a one-off it would be forgivable but not on the back of other scandals that have engulfed the club over the past 18 months since Griffin left.

What’s of most concern is the inaction of the club’s officials.

They refuse to explain exactly what happened with Naden and why he went on a benderthe night before the biggest game of the season.

They think a three-week stint in rehab will get the critics off their case.

Penrith’s members and fans deserve a full explanation.

Football clubs are not just about the scoreboard.

This Penrith side is a western Sydney power force.

It is also a huge community asset.

Every player who wears a Panthers jersey is a role model to thousands of young fans in the biggest junior nursery in rugby league, whether they like it or not.

This is where the NRL has to step in. Its notoriously slow integrity unit has still yet to even interview coach Ivan Cleary about speculation that he played Naden in the grand final knowing he had gone off the rails the night before.



The club’s CEO, Brian Fletcher, has questions to answer as well.

When The Daily Telegraph broke the story, Naden had admitted himself into a northern beaches rehab unit. Fletcher said Naden was addressing an alcohol problem.

In an interview with this newspaper, Fletcher left out the fact Naden had already admitted to taking cocaine before the grand final.

The NRL has come down hard on individual players in the past.

The $50,000 fines, half suspended. A two-week suspension.

Sometimes this doesn’t work.

On this occasion, after so many repeated offences, it’s time to take action against the club.

A hefty fine would send a powerful message to its management to lift its game.

We all want a Penrith outfit that is as impressive off the field as it is on it

 

[Das Hassler]

I have similar feelings about Rothfield as most have here and this is NOT just an opportune shot at the Panthers but if ..and it's a massive if.. Ivan actually DID know that Naden had cocaine ( a performance enhancing drug if there ever was one) in his system prior to taking the field for the GF then the shit will hit the fan size XXXL no matter how anyone feels about it... If Ivan can't just definitively and immediately say (to anyone fairly asking)"no...i absolutely did not know prior to the game" then that's a real worry right there ..if it's established that he did know then there's every likelihood he could be getting holiday tips from Flanno before a ball's kicked in "21. Again....Rothfield or no Rothfield. .it should be a simple and clearcut question for Ivan to answer and have it put to rest for him ..the club and season '21.

Just to add...for me it's the benefit of the doubt as i find it near impossible to believe that Cleary or the management ( of any club for that matter ) would or even could be that dumb .

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

I have similar feelings about Rothfield as most have here and this is NOT just an opportune shot at the Panthers but if ..and it's a massive if.. Ivan actually DID know that Naden had cocaine ( a performance enhancing drug if there ever was one) in his system prior to taking the field for the GF then the shit will hit the fan size XXXL no matter how anyone feels about it... If Ivan can't just definitively and immediately say (to anyone fairly asking)"no...i absolutely did not know prior to the game" then that's a real worry right there ..if it's established that he did know then there's every likelihood he could be getting holiday tips from Flanno before a ball's kicked in "21. Again....Rothfield or no Rothfield. .it should be a simple and clearcut question for Ivan to answer and have it put to rest for him ..the club and season '21.

Just to add...for me it's the benefit of the doubt as i find it near impossible to believe that Cleary or the management ( of any club for that matter ) would or even could be that dumb .

I must agree with your sumary mate.

I think the club and Naden will go down the path of Depression, racial abuse about the Naden name that I understand began when Brent was playing under 20's. Add in Covid and the racial taunts during the game this year......(I'm not saying whether this is right or wrong) just think this is the card that will be played.

I don't believe the cocaine was used as a 'performance enfacer', more to help stop the noise in his brain.

The club when making the original statement last sentence is very important. Buzz is just (in my opinion) looking for folks to kick.

I'm sure questions will be asked. It's not up the news corp or Rothefield to set themselves up as the purveyors of morality within the NRL The folks in charge of this are WADA and then down the line the NRL.

When looking at the article, Buzz doesn't have any information (hence his anger) and is just basically ringing the bell like an old fashioned town crier. (one though with a slurred voice lol)

 

[mxlegend99]

Rothfield is a f**king moron. The sex tape scandal came to light 18 months ago. But it happened while Anthony Griffin was the coach.

Ivan Cleary had nothing to do with it. He had to deal with the fallout though.

 

[MugaB]

Rothfield is a f**king moron. The sex tape scandal came to light 18 months ago. But it happened while Anthony Griffin was the coach.

Ivan Cleary had nothing to do with it. He had to deal with the fallout though.

Not enough news this off season, buzz has to rehash the past off seasons to sell more clicks, seriously he is an old wanka

 

[Thirsty Panther]

Imagine the furor now if we had won the Grand Final.

 

[Jane Murray]

I have similar feelings about Rothfield as most have here and this is NOT just an opportune shot at the Panthers but if ..and it's a massive if.. Ivan actually DID know that Naden had cocaine ( a performance enhancing drug if there ever was one) in his system prior to taking the field for the GF then the shit will hit the fan size XXXL no matter how anyone feels about it... If Ivan can't just definitively and immediately say (to anyone fairly asking)"no...i absolutely did not know prior to the game" then that's a real worry right there ..if it's established that he did know then there's every likelihood he could be getting holiday tips from Flanno before a ball's kicked in "21. Again....Rothfield or no Rothfield. .it should be a simple and clearcut question for Ivan to answer and have it put to rest for him ..the club and season '21.

Just to add...for me it's the benefit of the doubt as i find it near impossible to believe that Cleary or the management ( of any club for that matter ) would or even could be that dumb .

Yet, Nathan, and Ivan, among others, volunteered their time in helping disabled young adults. Does that get mentioned by him? No it doesn't.

 

[martielang]

There’s not much wrong with what Rothfield has written. It’s a big story, it’s his job to follow it up. Also highlights the absolute stupidity in trying to offload every senior player in our squad.

 

[mxlegend99]

Yet, Nathan, and Ivan, among others, volunteered their time in helping disabled young adults. Does that get mentioned by him? No it doesn't.

I love how Rothfield tries to imply that Cleary played Naden knowing he was on drugs when he probably only played him at all because of the backlash he would have faced for dropping him or not giving him minutes.

I believe Cleary would have preferred to drop him altogether but it wouldn't have been justifiable. Whereas if he had any idea about the drugs it would be.

I love how 2 incidents of players making individual mistakes becomes a culture issue.

I mean where are the media lining up about Southd culture problems? Bennett breaching the bubble, Mitchell breaching the bubble and breaking multiple laws, James Roberts off field issues... Why are his accepted as personal issues but we have a player with personal issues and it becomes a club culture issue?

The only issue I have with our culture is our next generation of players all wanting big pay days that will tear the club apart. None of them seem to value playing in a winning team with their mates. They want retirement money in their first contract... Expecting to be paid for the potential Superstars they might become rather than the players in development that they are.

 

[mxlegend99]

There’s not much wrong with what Rothfield has written. It’s a big story, it’s his job to follow it up. Also highlights the absolute stupidity in trying to offload every senior player in our squad.

Except the sex tape thing happened under the coach he is praising... And the Naden thing comes back to mental demons the player has personally and not the culture of the club. There's a long list of players suffering personal issues that turn to drugs and/or alcohol. At all clubs. It's not the clubs culture causing that.

Which means under Ivan the big issue is a 22year old male decided to think with his dick for a night and made a stupid mistake in breaching the bubble.

Something coaches, coaching staff and many other players did throughout the season. All for varying reasons... But just on the people caught he was one of msny. Guaranteed alot more got away with it though.

 

[Jane Murray]

I love how Rothfield tries to imply that Cleary played Naden knowing he was on drugs when he probably only played him at all because of the backlash he would have faced for dropping him or not giving him minutes.

I believe Cleary would have preferred to drop him altogether but it wouldn't have been justifiable. Whereas if he had any idea about the drugs it would be.

I love how 2 incidents of players making individual mistakes becomes a culture issue.

I mean where are the media lining up about Southd culture problems? Bennett breaching the bubble, Mitchell breaching the bubble and breaking multiple laws, James Roberts off field issues... Why are his accepted as personal issues but we have a player with personal issues and it becomes a club culture issue?

The only issue I have with our culture is our next generation of players all wanting big pay days that will tear the club apart. None of them seem to value playing in a winning team with their mates. They want retirement money in their first contract... Expecting to be paid for the potential Superstars they might become rather than the players in development that they are.

I agree. I think it is a load of rubbish in what he is implying. There is no way in hell Ivan, or Craig Catterick, will even entertain the idea in playing Naden in the match if they knew he had cocaine in his system. Naden is lucky that he didn't die.

 

[The_Frog]

If Naden was so important a player he would still be played despite the coach being aware he had cocaine in his system, surely he would have started, and just as surely he would have got a run in the preliminary final.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

The matter is before the integrity Unit, of course the club isn't going to publicly comment to the media until the investigation is complete.
Rothfield is looking for gotta moment. Hoping to find inconsistencies between Fletcher, Ivan and Cameron.
Anything that will expose a scandal he craves. When he can't get one he throws up a bunch of theories and some old scandals (that have been dealt with) to suit his narrative of a club with massive off field problems.

There are no doubt serious questions that need answering and I would expect the integrity Unit to ask them and seek answers. If the club has done the right thing we have nothing to worry about. Rothfield can shut up.
If not, the proper punishments will be handled out and then Rothfield can carry on.

 

[Jane Murray]

 

[CCJohnC]

My problem is that players ask for very good money and expect to receive it through their managers. Some indicate that they are trying to look after their family which is highly commendable but others seem to spend their money on tattoos of various degrees of enhancement to their bodies. Not that I am against tattoos as I had my first one at aged 70 and was the Panthers Head.. Seek financial advice at all times boys.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

There’s not much wrong with what Rothfield has written. It’s a big story, it’s his job to follow it up. Also highlights the absolute stupidity in trying to offload every senior player in our squad.

Except it's factually incorrect.

So your salty because a 31 and 30 year old players one has already moved on, (big coin) another who is getting slower by the day is put in the shop window.

Nothing like gross generalisations.

 

[MugaB]

Except it's factually incorrect.

So your salty because a 31 and 30 year old players one has already moved on, (big coin) another who is getting slower by the day is put in the shop window.

Nothing like gross generalisations.

Stay Salty

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Stay Salty

Who me ?