http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22034581-5006066,00.html
MATTHEW Elliott has reached the lowest point of his coaching career, indicating the clean-out at the foot of the mountains is far from over.
The Panthers are destined to receive their second wooden spoon in six years after Friday night's 43-26 loss to the Wests Tigers - the club's 11th loss in 13 games.
Elliott spoke candidly about the on-field woes and back-room upheaval that is likely to see six 2003 premiership players leave next season.
Asked if some players were underachieving, Elliott said: "If the guys that were here played with everything they possibly could for the last two years, I wouldn't be here.
"If the level of commitment was at a really high level, then probably the previous coach (John Lang) would be still here because they would've been making the semis.''
Elliott failed to confirm rumours that fullback Rhys Wesser and former Test forward Trent Waterhouse would be next out the door, following Craig Gower (Bayonne) and Joel Clinton (Brisbane).
Hooker Luke Priddis and second-rower Tony Puletua have been told they can negotiate with other clubs, and young gun Peter Wallace has signed with the Broncos.
"There's no doubt that this is the lowest I've felt,'' Elliott said.
"It's not easy, there's no-one here enjoying it as far as the position that we're in. We're going through a period of change. When you're enduring change, it's not easy.
"I certainly didn't anticipate this. My expectation is by this stage of the season we'd be flying, be a team that was in the top half of the top eight.
"But I guess if you're going to do this job for a long time, you're going to have to endure this period.''
Elliott denied the impending exodus had affected team morale, before saying he had the total support of the board to make changes.
Test prop Petero Civoniceva and Newcastle centre Brad Tighe have been signed for 2008 as part of the culture change at Penrith.
"We're all sharing the responsibility at the moment,'' Elliott said.
"What we're doing is we're growing our first grade ranks by bringing a lot of highly talented juniors through ... and there's more on the way.
"Call it what you like, but the fade of the club ... isn't exactly a short-term issue. It's something that's gone on for a few years and we need to make sure we have personnel available to us that's going to help us (make the semi-finals).''
The prospect of Puletua, Priddis or Gower finishing their careers at Penrith in premier league is a distinct possibility.
Elliott said he wouldn't forfeit the club's chances of winning any game but would maintain a distinct focus on preparing for the future.
"We're definitely already doing that,'' he confirmed. "You need to look at our team selection, but we've also got to give ourselves the best opportunity of winning.''
Anchored to the bottom of the ladder with just four wins, Elliott admitted he feared the effect that claiming the wooden spoon would have on the club.
"I'd like to say that I'm not worried about it. We do this job and we're in this industry to win, not to come last,'' the coach said.
"I would like to think my motivation for the rest of the year isn't about avoiding the wooden spoon, it's about playing our best footy and climbing back up the ladder.''
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MATTHEW Elliott has reached the lowest point of his coaching career, indicating the clean-out at the foot of the mountains is far from over.
The Panthers are destined to receive their second wooden spoon in six years after Friday night's 43-26 loss to the Wests Tigers - the club's 11th loss in 13 games.
Elliott spoke candidly about the on-field woes and back-room upheaval that is likely to see six 2003 premiership players leave next season.
Asked if some players were underachieving, Elliott said: "If the guys that were here played with everything they possibly could for the last two years, I wouldn't be here.
"If the level of commitment was at a really high level, then probably the previous coach (John Lang) would be still here because they would've been making the semis.''
Elliott failed to confirm rumours that fullback Rhys Wesser and former Test forward Trent Waterhouse would be next out the door, following Craig Gower (Bayonne) and Joel Clinton (Brisbane).
Hooker Luke Priddis and second-rower Tony Puletua have been told they can negotiate with other clubs, and young gun Peter Wallace has signed with the Broncos.
"There's no doubt that this is the lowest I've felt,'' Elliott said.
"It's not easy, there's no-one here enjoying it as far as the position that we're in. We're going through a period of change. When you're enduring change, it's not easy.
"I certainly didn't anticipate this. My expectation is by this stage of the season we'd be flying, be a team that was in the top half of the top eight.
"But I guess if you're going to do this job for a long time, you're going to have to endure this period.''
Elliott denied the impending exodus had affected team morale, before saying he had the total support of the board to make changes.
Test prop Petero Civoniceva and Newcastle centre Brad Tighe have been signed for 2008 as part of the culture change at Penrith.
"We're all sharing the responsibility at the moment,'' Elliott said.
"What we're doing is we're growing our first grade ranks by bringing a lot of highly talented juniors through ... and there's more on the way.
"Call it what you like, but the fade of the club ... isn't exactly a short-term issue. It's something that's gone on for a few years and we need to make sure we have personnel available to us that's going to help us (make the semi-finals).''
The prospect of Puletua, Priddis or Gower finishing their careers at Penrith in premier league is a distinct possibility.
Elliott said he wouldn't forfeit the club's chances of winning any game but would maintain a distinct focus on preparing for the future.
"We're definitely already doing that,'' he confirmed. "You need to look at our team selection, but we've also got to give ourselves the best opportunity of winning.''
Anchored to the bottom of the ladder with just four wins, Elliott admitted he feared the effect that claiming the wooden spoon would have on the club.
"I'd like to say that I'm not worried about it. We do this job and we're in this industry to win, not to come last,'' the coach said.
"I would like to think my motivation for the rest of the year isn't about avoiding the wooden spoon, it's about playing our best footy and climbing back up the ladder.''
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