Grant, McKendry more fictions of previous administration

[umina panther]

Good move for everyone. Gives us a heap of cash and by 2015 RCG will be ready

 

[Pugzley]

Ughhhh.

 

[roofromoz]

Steve Carter's record once again stays safe for at least a few more seasons.

 

[abpanther]

Can't say I'm too upset about this, he's been average at best

Good luck to him

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Steve Carter's record once again stays safe for at least a few more seasons.

That it does as another junior bites the dust.
One day I might see a player break it and go one to 250 or even 300 but I doubt it.

 

[mxlegend99]

Most pissed off that Gus is full of shit and basically lied about this. His wording might have left this possibility open, but clearly this was always going to happen. So he lied to make fans happy temporarily.

Grant is a huge loss. Our front row is looking pretty weak next season. Even this season it has been well and truly under performing. The fact Grant wasn't wanted explains his form. What's going on with McKendry? Possibly distracted by the same thing.

Either way, we've lost our best prop for 2014. Why go out and sign an 80 year old Kite to release Grant as he comes into the best years of his career? Cant blame the salary cap when he's due for a discount next year and props like him are going up in value

 

[abpanther]

How was he full of shit? The release says Grant approached them, they mediated it and he agreed to stay, then he had a change of heart so they formalised his release

Yes that could be BS but until that's proven I don't see how you can say he was bullshitting.

Sorry mate but Grant was not our best prop for 2014, you cannot say that based on his form, which has been pretty average.

I do think it is a worry though that all these local juniors don't want to stay at the club any longer, I don't know if it's because of money or that they are being made more accountable or what

 

[mxlegend99]

Who's better then him? He's our best front rower. He's just down on form and the wat the club has treated him would be a huge factor. He will be firing up and making 150+ metres for the Bunnies. I'm sure of it. Just as Jenko has been much better since leaving a club that didn't want him.

Gus did lie. The rumours were circulating he would sign with the Bunnies. He talks them down and then the rumours come true the week after we play them. This was always going to be the way it happened. Just as he xame out saying similar things about Jennings.

What reason do fans have to trust him the next time he comes out to squash a rumour? The last 2 times he has done so, the players left. So no matter whether it's true or not. IMO he has lost credibility now. He's great at signing players he wants at the club. But he doesn't show any respect for the players and contracts that were at the club when he arrived.

 

[Doomednow]

The management is trying to change the attitude and philosophy of the squad. Some players aren't going to like the change, some players are getting paid way too much. We were always going to lose some. This will pay off in the end. Remember this isn't the year we were aiming to really succeed, but we get only a sniff and all of a sudden our expectations go into the stratosphere. If we're honest, we are now a mid, maybe upper-mid, level club. This is an improvement, and we are still in the process of long term improvement.

I have a suspicion Souths are Grant's favourite club as well (not based on much, I admit), so if he had an opportunity to play for them that would certainly influence his decision.

 

[ashton]

I think Gus was holding out for a better deal with Tim Grant. So we won't have to pay a percentage of grants wage next year.
I heard Gus is clearing the decks for another player.

 

[GongPanther]

I heard Gus is clearing the decks for another player.

And THIS time he might just keep his mouth closed.;-)

 

[abpanther]

Who's better then him? He's our best front rower. He's just down on form and the wat the club has treated him would be a huge factor. He will be firing up and making 150+ metres for the Bunnies. I'm sure of it. Just as Jenko has been much better since leaving a club that didn't want him.

Gus did lie. The rumours were circulating he would sign with the Bunnies. He talks them down and then the rumours come true the week after we play them. This was always going to be the way it happened. Just as he xame out saying similar things about Jennings.

What reason do fans have to trust him the next time he comes out to squash a rumour? The last 2 times he has done so, the players left. So no matter whether it's true or not. IMO he has lost credibility now. He's great at signing players he wants at the club. But he doesn't show any respect for the players and contracts that were at the club when he arrived.

Who's better than him? Based on this year's form Plum and Lattimore have been better. The rest of what you say is just your opinion

How do you know he lied and it wasn't a case of them resolving it and then Grant changing his mind again? How do you know it wasn't Grant who screwed them around?

I have no doubt Gould was keen to offload him, but to say he mislead the public without any evidence is a huge reach.

Why should he have respect for players who are underperforming and being overpaid?

 

[Randy81]

Nothing happens at panthers these days without a reason. If we lose a player we quite often shortly after announce another is coming in.
The truth is (for whatever reason) grant has been down on form for the last year or so. Although is a top bloke and a junior he has been nowhere near the origin form he once possessed or worthy of a massive pay packet.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out. Emergence of rcg? Or bring in someone like matulino (who Gus loves)? Either way imo money will be better spent.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Let's hope Gus isn't lining up Galloway.

Anyway, disappointing to lose him; sure, his form might not be the best at the moment, but his ceiling is high, and there is little doubt now that this off-the-field shit had some bearing on his efforts. No excuse, but that's just the way it is.

Sucks that we just let good juniors walk and bring in aging props on their way out. I don't really get our rebuilding strategy at the moment. Wallace is another example, an aging halfback proven to have a limited skill set. Three year contract, sign him up!

Get rid of players who don't buy into the team culture, you say? Well, what exactly IS Cleary's team culture, outside tackle, tackle, tackle and keep things safe? That's going to lead to a team of Kingstons and Latimores if they are going to go all-in on that. I would like a coach with a little more tactical flexibility than that. And we don't have it.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

I think Gus was holding out for a better deal with Tim Grant. So we won't have to pay a percentage of grants wage next year.
I heard Gus is clearing the decks for another player.

Well, a rotation of Kite, Latimore, Plum, McKendry (if he survives the cull, that is) and maybe RCG next year is.....not good. So we better bloody be in for another player.

 

[Blade23]

Will the last Penrith junior please turn the light out when he has left.
Mckendry will be next. I like others have seen the how it starts with Lewis, Jennings, Coote and now Grant.
I think Grant is the best prop at our club not that his form has shown it lately, but I still believe his best years are ahead of him. He has a good 5 years ahead of him what does Plum and Kite have 1,2 years before they hang up the boots.

Yes I know Grant needs a change, but it is a poor excuse to say the club has salary cap issues and then go out and sign Idris on a big contract earlier this year. You wait another prop is coming.
I have been on record stating Gould has a plan and I am a believer but I am getting so tired of losing our juniors. Players that are Penrith. The feeling is no longer there.
Yes some were on overs and others had attitude problems with the new coaching staff but it gives me the shits a proud traditionalist to see Jennings running around with the chooks scoring tries. Years ago he would have stayed a panther and broken Wesser's try scoring record and Lewis would have broken Carter's record.

The game has changed from my youth I used to look forward to seeing players come up through the grades and be excited that they would be something special and play their whole career here.
Now I don't bother it frustrates me. We will probably having these arguments in 5 years time when Cartwright and Geyer come through and get shunted.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

And the juniors coming through will have seen all of this happening and to some extent be wondering if it'll eventually happen to them down the line, weakening further the attachment to the club you need to retain the majority of your best youngsters.

Of course, part of the problem was the ridiculous contracts that were dished out to the juniors in the past that made it difficult to do anything but hope some of them left in order to be able to field a competitive team. But it still sucks to see them go.

 

[murraymob]

Will the last Penrith junior please turn the light out when he has left.
Mckendry will be next. I like others have seen the how it starts with Lewis, Jennings, Coote and now Grant.
I think Grant is the best prop at our club not that his form has shown it lately, but I still believe his best years are ahead of him. He has a good 5 years ahead of him what does Plum and Kite have 1,2 years before they hang up the boots.

Yes I know Grant needs a change, but it is a poor excuse to say the club has salary cap issues and then go out and sign Idris on a big contract earlier this year. You wait another prop is coming.
I have been on record stating Gould has a plan and I am a believer but I am getting so tired of losing our juniors. Players that are Penrith. The feeling is no longer there.
Yes some were on overs and others had attitude problems with the new coaching staff but it gives me the shits a proud traditionalist to see Jennings running around with the chooks scoring tries. Years ago he would have stayed a panther and broken Wesser's try scoring record and Lewis would have broken Carter's record.

The game has changed from my youth I used to look forward to seeing players come up through the grades and be excited that they would be something special and play their whole career here.
Now I don't bother it frustrates me. We will probably having these arguments in 5 years time when Cartwright and Geyer come through and get shunted.

mc kendry is not a junior he is a kiwi

 

[darkbloom]

The management is trying to change the attitude and philosophy of the squad. Some players aren't going to like the change, some players are getting paid way too much. We were always going to lose some. This will pay off in the end. Remember this isn't the year we were aiming to really succeed, but we get only a sniff and all of a sudden our expectations go into the stratosphere. If we're honest, we are now a mid, maybe upper-mid, level club. This is an improvement, and we are still in the process of long term improvement.

I have a suspicion Souths are Grant's favourite club as well (not based on much, I admit), so if he had an opportunity to play for them that would certainly influence his decision.

It may pay off in the end but building a new culture is different to trying to buy a culture. One works the other doesn't.

The management started this journey in 2011 it is now in its 4th season. (Admittedly not true of the coach) - but this is NOT a rebuilding year!!

Pre-season the expectations amongst Penrith supporters and management as far as I could see were high, very high. This expectation was due to the depth and talent of the squad that was built.

So far, what is the result of the new management. The result is an increase in potential - and in increase in satisfaction from fans. In terms of results - really, like you say not much so far.

It will happen. Potential will convert to results. But I am beginning to suspect it will be more a result of the natural cycles in the game than anything else.

 

[Puntastic]

So, where do we logically see our front row rotation heading in the future? What do we think it will look like in 2015, 2016, 2017? Are you happy with what you think it will look like? What would you ideally see? Do we need to bring in outside players?