OldPanther
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I've heard that he does that.
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Penrith coach Anthony Griffin on Matt Moylan’s exit, the battle to keep Nathan Cleary
Paul Crawley, NRL, The Daily Telegraph
December 8, 2017 9:33pm
Subscriber only
ANTHONY Griffin has opened up about the battle Penrith face to stop Nathan Cleary following his dad Ivan to Wests Tigers, admitting a father-son bond “is something deeper than sport”.
In a wideranging interview with The Saturday Telegraph, Griffin also spoke publicly for the first time about Matt Moylan’s bitter exit, James Maloney’s arrival, and criticism about his own perceived lack of man management skills.
And while it’s not official yet, Penrith fans will also be interested to know who the coach rates the standout to take over from Moylan as captain in 2018.
CLEARY’S FUTURE
While the 20-year-old is not off contract until the end of 2019, Cleary will be free to negotiate with rivals at the end of next season.
Already his dad has spoken about how the two have made a pact to come together at some stage in the future.
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Panthers will have to battle to keep Nathan Cleary.
“Obviously, you have got a young half of his quality, it is important (to keep him),” Griffin said.
“But being a father, I know the bond that there is between you and your son.
“And that bond is something you can’t break through sport.
“That is something deeper than sport.
“That will be something for Nathan and Ivan to deal with when the time comes.
“From our point of view, we have been really happy with Nathan.
“He is a really beautiful kid.
“He has done a great job to get himself where he is at the moment.
“But I am a big believer in not looking too far down the track.
“We can only do what we can and enjoy what is happening at the moment.
“It is unique in our business that there is a father and son in that position.
“In the end most of that will be up to how they feel and what they want to do.”
MOYLAN’S EXIT
If you were hoping for Griffin to enter a public slanging match with his former captain, well, it isn’t going to happen.
“I wish Matt all the best and I hope his career goes well at Cronulla. But I’ve got nothing to say other than that,” Griffin said.
Matt Moylan will be a Shark in 2018. Picture: Toby Zerna
Read into that what you will.
It’s no secret Moylan wanted out amid claims he couldn’t work with the coach, and the rumours went much deeper, that other players were also unhappy with Griffin’s man management skills.
Trent Merrin wrote a column for Fox Sports this week where he labelled it “absolute rubbish”.
Merrin also reflected on how Griffin had repaired his relationship with Peter Wallace, who left Brisbane when Griffin was in charge.
Asked if that public perception hurt, Griffin said: “No, I don’t take much notice of the perceptions.
“I know my own club and the players, it is not my job to comment on how I am perceived.
“There is always going to be comment on you.
“When it is perceived that you are going well it is normally not on the mark either.
“It is never as good as it seems and it is never as bad as it seems.
“But it is what it is.”
Maloney comes with a resume that has seen his past three clubs make the grand final, winning premierships at the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla.
Panthers' new signing James Maloney.
But he also has a reputation that his personality can wear thin.
“Well, they are all hard to handle sometimes,” Griffin half joked.
“That is just the nature of the beast.
“But he has obviously built up a track record of being able to get his teams around the park.
“That was obviously the main reason we thought he’d be able to help us.”
CAPTAINCY DEBATE
The three contenders everyone is talking about are Peter Wallace, Merrin or Isaah Yeo.
Griffin spoke highly of both Merrin and Yeo, but admits “the way Pete handled the team at the back end of last year” has Wallace in front.
It also says something about the character of both men that they have been able to put the past behind them.
“I have always had an enormous respect for Pete,” Griffin explained.
“I mean, I suppose it is like any relationship.
“Sometimes as a coach and a player, a wife or a parent, you go through different times when things aren’t what everyone wants them to be.
Peter Wallace is a contender to take over the captaincy in 2018. pic Mark Evans
“But I have never had anything but respect for Wal and the way he plays and the type of person he is.
“People don’t see what he has to put up with.
“I felt terribly for him last year when he missed out on the Origin (with a groin injury).
“I just thought that was a real cruel blow for a guy who has worked so hard over his career.
“And he played the back end of the year with three broken ribs that people wouldn’t have realised and he still got through his 30 or 40 tackles a week.
“He is a great example for our younger guys in the team about how to be a professional at the NRL level.”
It will mean Gus' time here has been a complete failure imo. Hes had how many years now? 7?
Well he could've not belittled his dad all over the media. Simple stuff
Nathan hadn't even been suggested as our future half at the time though!?
