HOOK’S ON BRYCE SIDE
PANTHERS BOSS’S TITANS HOPE:
ANTHONY Griffin has hit out at rumours of a toxic rift at the Panthers and urged Bryce Cartwright to rebuild his career at the Titans.
Breaking his silence, Griffin said the pressure on Penrith’s talented roster to snap a 15-year premiership drought is just “part of his job”.
He also addressed talk he is at loggerheads with players after the loss of Cartwright and Matt Moylan – the junior once dubbed a superstar.
THE BRYCE BOMBSHELL
THE Titans stunned the NRL fraternity last Saturday by announcing they had signed Cartwright to a four-year deal.
Just two years ago, sensation Cartwright was the NRL’s best young forward and considered an Origin certainty. But after some major off-field trauma last year, Cartwright had lost credit points with Griffin.
When he reported for the 2018 pre-season, he was not in Griffin’s top 17 in game-simulation sessions at training.
The Panthers mentor met with Cartwright to discuss his personal issues. He agreed to a release, but insists there is no bad blood with Cartwright.
Griffin urged the 23-yearold to realise his potential at the Titans.
“I just hope Bryce is happy and gets on with his life,” Griffin said. “Look, there’s no ill feeling.
“Out of respect to Bryce, from my end, I just wish him all the best. Everyone else seems to have an opinion on him but I’ll get on with the job of coaching at the club.
“I spoke to him before he went and all I hope is that he finds happiness at the Gold Coast on and off the field.
“I sincerely mean it.”
PLAYER MUTINY
FOR the past year, speculation swirling around Penrith suggests Griffin has lost elements of the playing group.
Former skipper Moylan, was said to be Griffin’s biggest critic. Moylan has since quit, joining Cronulla. Utility Tyrone Peachey is another rumoured to have a strained relationship with Griffin and, like Cartwright, is expected to ink a deal with the Titans in the next fortnight.
At the Broncos, Griffin had a much-publicised bustup with Peter Wallace, ironically now at Penrith, and former Maroons Origin prop Ben Hannant. But in his tenure at Penrith, Griffin has steered the club to consecutive finals campaigns. He scoffs at talk of a rift. “I’ve heard it all before,” Griffin said.
“There’s no drama at my end. I know where all of the talk (of a rift) is coming from and I’ll leave it to them. I don’t see a need to elaborate because we’ve got a happy squad.”
Asked if Peachey would also quit the Panthers, he said: “I’m not sure, he has a contract with us until the end of next year.”