http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18084413-5001023,00.html
I'm staying
By JAMES HOOPER
February 09, 2006
AXED Penrith captain Craig Gower last night broke a two-month silence to reject speculation he wants out of his $2 million Panthers contract, declaring: "I don't want to leave the club".
Keen to silence talk of a bitter split in the playing ranks at Penrith, Gower will meet Panthers powerbrokers today to inform them of his desire to remain at the club.
"I don't want to leave the club. I've been a local junior, I'm a Penrith boy through and through and I want to keep playing for the Panthers," Gower said.
"I'm not angry about the [$30,000] fine, I'll wear my punishment like a man. I just have a couple of questions about the process, of the way the whole thing was handled. There's no divide at the club."
Gower and his wife Amanda flew back into Sydney yesterday after their honeymoon in Vietnam. He will train with the Panthers today.
I'm a Penrith boy at heart
By JAMES HOOPER
BESIEGED Penrith halfback Craig Gower has hit out at suggestions of a rift in the ranks at the Panthers - pledging his allegiance to the western Sydney club.
Stripped of the Panthers captaincy and fined $30,000 [$70,000 suspended] for the well-publicised intoxicated incident on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Gower last night ended a two-month silence to clear the record about his playing future.
Angry at speculation the champion playmaker was poised to turn his back on Penrith, Gower quashed suggestions he was unhappy about the heavy punishment imposed by the Panthers.
But the Penrith halfback will attend a meeting with Panthers chief executive Glenn Matthews today - where he will air grievances about the handling of the investigation and hearing into the Sunshine Coast incident.
"I've got a couple of things I want to sort out with the club. Since I've been away this whole thing about how I want to leave has been blown out of proportion," Gower said.
"There are a couple of personal issues I've got with the club which I want to go in and talk to them about over the next week.
"I'm not angry about the fine, I'll wear my punishment like a man."
Clearing the air at Penrith is a major step forward for the embattled club, who were facing a potentially disastrous revolt in the playing ranks if Gower had departed.
In a sign of solidarity, Gower offered unwavering support for newly elected leader Tony Puletua, who was prepared to give the captaincy back after hearing Gower may have been unhappy.
Having married his partner of six years at a private ceremony at Whale Beach late last month, Gower returned home to Sydney yesterday after spending 10 days honeymooning with new wife Amanda in Vietnam.
The holiday allowed him some much-needed breathing space, having been the subject of outrage and headlines since the night of the Jack Newton celebrity golf challenge last December.
"It was good to get away and just have some alone time with Amanda - I went half way across the world but I've come home to mayhem again.
"It's been hard but I'm dealing with it. I'm not running away."
Gower will today attend a weights session at Panthers headquarters in Penrith where he will clear the air with teammates.
Gower, 27, has a further four years remaining on his current Penrith contract, the club he has played for since the age of 17.
Gower spent last night with his parents Mal and Maria.
The Daily Telegraph understands the Penrith board refused to allow Gower to present evidence at the hearing into the Sunshine Coast incident before stripping him of the captaincy and imposing the fine. There also remains unrest about perceived pressure from the NRL to come down heavily on Gower.
I'm staying
By JAMES HOOPER
February 09, 2006
AXED Penrith captain Craig Gower last night broke a two-month silence to reject speculation he wants out of his $2 million Panthers contract, declaring: "I don't want to leave the club".
Keen to silence talk of a bitter split in the playing ranks at Penrith, Gower will meet Panthers powerbrokers today to inform them of his desire to remain at the club.
"I don't want to leave the club. I've been a local junior, I'm a Penrith boy through and through and I want to keep playing for the Panthers," Gower said.
"I'm not angry about the [$30,000] fine, I'll wear my punishment like a man. I just have a couple of questions about the process, of the way the whole thing was handled. There's no divide at the club."
Gower and his wife Amanda flew back into Sydney yesterday after their honeymoon in Vietnam. He will train with the Panthers today.
I'm a Penrith boy at heart
By JAMES HOOPER
BESIEGED Penrith halfback Craig Gower has hit out at suggestions of a rift in the ranks at the Panthers - pledging his allegiance to the western Sydney club.
Stripped of the Panthers captaincy and fined $30,000 [$70,000 suspended] for the well-publicised intoxicated incident on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, Gower last night ended a two-month silence to clear the record about his playing future.
Angry at speculation the champion playmaker was poised to turn his back on Penrith, Gower quashed suggestions he was unhappy about the heavy punishment imposed by the Panthers.
But the Penrith halfback will attend a meeting with Panthers chief executive Glenn Matthews today - where he will air grievances about the handling of the investigation and hearing into the Sunshine Coast incident.
"I've got a couple of things I want to sort out with the club. Since I've been away this whole thing about how I want to leave has been blown out of proportion," Gower said.
"There are a couple of personal issues I've got with the club which I want to go in and talk to them about over the next week.
"I'm not angry about the fine, I'll wear my punishment like a man."
Clearing the air at Penrith is a major step forward for the embattled club, who were facing a potentially disastrous revolt in the playing ranks if Gower had departed.
In a sign of solidarity, Gower offered unwavering support for newly elected leader Tony Puletua, who was prepared to give the captaincy back after hearing Gower may have been unhappy.
Having married his partner of six years at a private ceremony at Whale Beach late last month, Gower returned home to Sydney yesterday after spending 10 days honeymooning with new wife Amanda in Vietnam.
The holiday allowed him some much-needed breathing space, having been the subject of outrage and headlines since the night of the Jack Newton celebrity golf challenge last December.
"It was good to get away and just have some alone time with Amanda - I went half way across the world but I've come home to mayhem again.
"It's been hard but I'm dealing with it. I'm not running away."
Gower will today attend a weights session at Panthers headquarters in Penrith where he will clear the air with teammates.
Gower, 27, has a further four years remaining on his current Penrith contract, the club he has played for since the age of 17.
Gower spent last night with his parents Mal and Maria.
The Daily Telegraph understands the Penrith board refused to allow Gower to present evidence at the hearing into the Sunshine Coast incident before stripping him of the captaincy and imposing the fine. There also remains unrest about perceived pressure from the NRL to come down heavily on Gower.
