Panthers call to cut pressers

PANTHERS chairman Dave O’Neill has controversially called for all NRL post-match press conferences involving coaches to be banned, in the wake of Ivan Cleary’s $20,000 fine for questioning the integrity of match officials.

Penrith have been left reeling from the hefty fine handed out to Cleary on Monday, with the coach revealing he will respond to the breach notice.

But O’Neill believes Cleary should never have been put in that position in the first place, saying post-match press conferences leave coaches vulnerable to emotional outbursts.

Instead he wants media interviews with coaches held 24 hours after a game, to allow them time to collect their thoughts and also enjoy dressing room celebrations with victorious players.

“If you don’t want coaches to comment — and if you don’t like emotional responses — then don’t have the interviews,” O’Neill said. “Have them the next day. “If you want to have aftergame interviews that are more structured, then hold them a day after the game. The reality is they are done in the heat of the moment.”

At the post-match press conference, held just 15 minutes after full-time of his side’s 28-12 win over Canberra on Saturday night, Cleary alleged Canberra was “managed back into the game” by referee Gerard Sutton in the second half after the Raiders trailed 24-0.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys slammed Cleary’s comments as “deplorable” and “vicious”, which preceded the $20,000 breach notice issued on Monday.