Gower captaincy not guaranteed
By Laine Clark
January 3, 2006
PENRITH chairman Barry Walsh says the NRL club's board has not ruled out stripping Craig Gower of the captaincy for his behaviour at a Sunshine Coast charity event despite a report to the contrary.
Gower will front the Panthers board tomorrow after the club's hierarchy found the Australia halfback had a "case to answer" over a report on his appearance at the Jack Newton Charity Golf Classic at Twin Waters resort a fortnight ago.
Panthers chief executive Glenn Matthews confirmed Gower faced a fine of up to a quarter of his annual salary - around $100,000 - and suspension.
But Walsh today said a Sydney newspaper report that stated the board wanted Gower to retain his captaincy because he had publicly apologised was not true.
"None of this is correct," Walsh said in a statement.
Gower had said he can't remember the incidents but last week "unreservedly" apologised to the family of rugby league legend Wayne Pearce.
Gower was accused of groping Pearce's 18-year-old daughter Tatum and chasing his 17-year-old son Mitchell around a table with a bottle at a charity event dinner.
Walsh said the club had not yet discussed possible penalties and confirmed removing Gower from the captaincy was still an option.
"The board held a meeting last week at which it was decided that Craig Gower had a case to answer," Walsh said.
"As stated in the media release put out at the time, he has been called to a meeting of the board tomorrow at which he will be given the chance to answer the case.
"At no time during our previous meeting did we discuss penalties and nor have we discussed them informally.
He added nobody representing Panthers would make any further statement on the matter until after tomorrow night's meeting.
Matthews said the meeting would start at 4pm (AEDT).
"The board has not discussed anything about penalties. We are just going through the process," he said.
Board member and Penrith premiership halfback Greg Alexander said he had kept in constant contact with a distraught Gower.
"I have spoken to him. He is holding up as well as you could imagine," he said.
"But I can't discuss anything else until the board meeting tomorrow."
Gower was also alleged to have had arguments with several guests, damaged a golf cart, held a butter knife to the throat of a Sydney radio personality and walked naked around the Twin Waters Resort.
The Panthers board called Gower to the meeting after reading Penrith football manager Mick Leary's report on the allegations.
Leary and operations chief Peter Mulholland completed the investigation after visiting the Maroochydore resort that hosted the event and holding interviews with event guests including Dawn Fraser.
NRL chief executive David Gallop said he expected a "full report" over the Gower allegations including Leary's investigation findings.
Gower held his "buck's week" celebrations at the charity event and is due to marry media personality and former cheerleader Amanda Flynn this month.
AAP
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17719740-23210,00.html
One of the most sensible posts so far!
