Internal issues?
Link was no Good when I saw it.
Ok Got it
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It’s hard to comprehend that the Panthers, who are shaping as 2021 premiership favourites, would have issues. However, this column has heard O’Neill referred to as “Uncle Dave” because the players think he is trying to mimic the game’s most revered chairman, the Roosters’ Nick Politis.
The Roosters boss has a rare bond with his players and even those who leave the club rarely have a bad word to say about him.
O’Neill is a Panthers fan and sponsor who has risen through the ranks. It seems he wants to be seen as a Politis-type figure.
It has emerged that at the captain’s run on the day before the grand final, O’Neill went out of his way to deliver a speech to the players. It was heartfelt, but the players thought it was odd.
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“It made us cringe,” one player said. “It was all this gladiatorial stuff about who we are representing. We know all of that. We know we play for the Penrith community and we are proud of that and don’t need reminding. We saw him walking up to us and were wondering what is going on here. The boys didn’t know what the point of it was.”
Making it worse, the team had already been through two other speeches. It’s worth noting that Politis wouldn’t do that before a grand final. After the loss, O’Neill hugged players – something Politis would also do – but the Panthers players don’t have that rapport with their boss.
O’Neill’s pat on the head for Cleary also grabbed their attention, as did his comments about the exit of Matt Burton. It wasn’t the comments themselves that raised eyebrows – that Penrith should be compensated for bringing through young talents who then move clubs – but that CEO Brian Fletcher had said the same thing a day earlier. It was seen as a grab for the limelight when the club really didn’t need to say any more.
I have heard that prominent solicitor Mark Mulock is seen as a possible Panthers chairman down the track. He is a Penrith man and his family has a rich tradition at the club, with his dad Ron a former Penrith mayor as well as being deputy premier of NSW. Mark is highly regarded by some powerful figures at Penrith.
O’Neill did not respond to requests for comment.
