Panthers to answer Latrell sledge on field
IVAN Cleary isn’t big on focusing on external motivators and doesn’t want to start now as Penrith try to kickstart their NRL season after an openinground loss.
But the Panthers coach couldn’t ignore a none-toosubtle sledge from South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell ahead of a Thursday night blockbuster.
Mitchell declared there were “cracks in the windscreen” following Penrith’s Round 1 loss to the Broncos and a post-match blow-up between teammates Jarome Luai and Jaeman Salmon.
That stoush was played down, but when added to the off-season departures of a raft of stars, and a home loss to a Brisbane side that didn’t make the finals last year, Souths, who took down Cronulla in Round 1, have sensed a weakness to exploit.
“I think there’s a few cracks in the windscreen,” Mitchell told Nine News. “So I think we can exploit them and go from there.”
When considering Mitchell’s sledge on Wednesday morning, Cleary conceded it could be a factor in his side’s effort.
“I don’t think we need the extra motivation, but yeah, potentially, that could,” he said.
“At the moment we are really just focusing on getting our own game right and going after the game and seeing it as a great opportunity to get our season going.
“Each season is full of challenges, whether you’re winning or you’re not.”
The premiership-winning coach conceded the argument between Luai and Salmon “wasn’t a great look” but said it had been addressed and placed in the correct context by him and the players involved.
“We had a chat – got them in the headmaster’s office – the situation was quite humorous … but we can all see how it wasn’t a great look,” Cleary said. “It was just a bit of frustration but nothing more than that. You want them to compete hard.”
Cleary dismissed suggestions his side was on the wane after back-to-back premierships, but said they needed to be much better than they were against Brisbane last week.
“We’ve done plenty of things right … just not to the standard that we want,” he said.