http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/new...panthers/2009/03/28/1237657199737.html?page=2
Hungry for more success
Shane Elford has savoured the highs of the NRL after winning the 2005 premiership with the underdog Tigers. He's hoping to do the same with the Panthers.
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From Panther to Tiger and back again for Elford
March 29, 2009
The Sun-Herald:
After two years playing for Huddersfield in Super League, how have you found the transition back to the NRL?
Shane Elford: When I left the Tigers I never thought I'd come back to the NRL but once the offer from the Panthers came up, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. I'm a Penrith junior and it's where I started my NRL career. It's always held a special place in my heart and it feels great to be back. I've only played a few games but I'm really enjoying it. With the two refs the game's a lot quicker around the ruck. It's going back to how it used to be in the late 1990s and I'm really enjoying it. In saying that, the Super League has really improved these days and I don't find a helluva difference.
S-H
You're 32 at the end of this year, how's your role changed as a player?
SE There are some great young kids coming through and helping them out in anyway possible is what I'm there for. It's really enjoyable. I call them "the kids" because they're
that young; I was talking to Wade Graham the other day and he was born in the '90s! Petero, Frank Puletua and I have a bit of a laugh because we're the only ones in our 30s. But their enthusiasm at training brings the best out in us old blokes.
S-H
The Panthers have been written off by many as having a mortgage on the wooden spoon. The Tigers were in the same position in 2005. Can the Panthers make the eight?
SE There's a lot of enthusiasm around the place and while we're not firing on all cylinders at the moment, we're going OK. But we'll get the little things right and we should go all right, I think. There are a fair few similarities between our side and the Wests Tigers team in 2005. I think we'll shock a few teams, for sure.
S-H
Is the criticism unfair?
SE I think it is. We're a lot better team than what people think. It's probably a benefit for us because we can probably fly under the radar of a few teams. We were unlucky against the Bulldogs and we were too kick-happy against the Sharks, but we've fixed that. We've got a great young side and we can only get better. We just need to jell and get some partnerships. I'm really impressed with the talent out in Penrith. The kids aren't arrogant, they want to do their jobs. They train hard and are always hanging around the club. It's a good sign that they want to be around each other.
S-H
Coach Matt Elliott has copped more than his fair share of criticism since taking over the reins in 2007. You played under John Lang in a successful era for the club, how have you found Matt's influence?
The Sun-Herald:
After two years playing for Huddersfield in Super League, how have you found the transition back to the NRL?
Shane Elford: When I left the Tigers I never thought I'd come back to the NRL but once the offer from the Panthers came up, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. I'm a Penrith junior and it's where I started my NRL career. It's always held a special place in my heart and it feels great to be back. I've only played a few games but I'm really enjoying it. With the two refs the game's a lot quicker around the ruck. It's going back to how it used to be in the late 1990s and I'm really enjoying it. In saying that, the Super League has really improved these days and I don't find a helluva difference.
S-H
You're 32 at the end of this year, how's your role changed as a player?
SE There are some great young kids coming through and helping them out in anyway possible is what I'm there for. It's really enjoyable. I call them "the kids" because they're
that young; I was talking to Wade Graham the other day and he was born in the '90s! Petero, Frank Puletua and I have a bit of a laugh because we're the only ones in our 30s. But their enthusiasm at training brings the best out in us old blokes.
S-H
The Panthers have been written off by many as having a mortgage on the wooden spoon. The Tigers were in the same position in 2005. Can the Panthers make the eight?
SE There's a lot of enthusiasm around the place and while we're not firing on all cylinders at the moment, we're going OK. But we'll get the little things right and we should go all right, I think. There are a fair few similarities between our side and the Wests Tigers team in 2005. I think we'll shock a few teams, for sure.
S-H
Is the criticism unfair?
SE I think it is. We're a lot better team than what people think. It's probably a benefit for us because we can probably fly under the radar of a few teams. We were unlucky against the Bulldogs and we were too kick-happy against the Sharks, but we've fixed that. We've got a great young side and we can only get better. We just need to jell and get some partnerships. I'm really impressed with the talent out in Penrith. The kids aren't arrogant, they want to do their jobs. They train hard and are always hanging around the club. It's a good sign that they want to be around each other.
S-H
Coach Matt Elliott has copped more than his fair share of criticism since taking over the reins in 2007. You played under John Lang in a successful era for the club, how have you found Matt's influence?
SE He's great. I wasn't really aware of all the press and the situation last year because I was in England. He's easy to get along with and, personally, I find him great. I get along with him really well. I understand he's under a bit of pressure to perform, but it's more the team that has to do that than Matty. I'm behind him and so are the players. It's a great environment to be in. It's a bit of a change since last time I was here, because only Luke Lewis, Trent Waterhouse and Frank Puletua are left from the 2003 grand final team.
S-H
You've had a career plagued by injury and the body isn't getting any younger, how's it holding up?
SE To be honest, the body's great and it's the best it's been in a long time. The stint in England helped me a lot. I've had a pretty bad run of injuries but before I came back here I played pretty much 18 months of footy straight. For the first time in a long time I've got two full pre-seasons under my belt.
S-H
You have only signed a one-year contract, so will this be your farewell season?
SE If the body was no good I wouldn't play. And while I'm still feeling good and enjoying my footy, and excited by it, I'll continue to play. I'm not going to rule anything out. I'm not planning on it being my last year, so we'll just wait and see.
S-H
Now you're back in the NRL, how much attention do you pay to the Tigers?
SE I keep an eye on them, they're my second favourite team. I won a premiership there so they'll always have a special spot in my heart. I converted all my family and friends to Tigers supporters when I went there, now I've got to turn them all back. I'm definitely a Panthers man. But we play them next week, so it'll be interesting.
S-H
Can you beat the Sea Eagles tomorrow night?
SE With the calibre of players they have and the game being at Brookvale, it's going to be a very tough game. But Matty has us prepared pretty well. We realise we should have won against the Bulldogs and we've taken confidence from that. The Bulldogs beat them in round one and we were meant to get beat by 40 last week, so we'll see what happens.
