Panthers rebuke ‘childish’ Bunnies
PANTHERS supremo Brian Fletcher has hit back at South Sydney, labelling the Rabbitohs “childish” and insisting their high-level “whingeing” will not derail Penrith’s quest for a breakthrough premiership under Ivan Cleary.
A grand-final feud has broken out on the eve of Sunday’s decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Penrith’s hierarchy is furious at Souths for lodging a complaint with the NRL over the actions of Panthers trainer Hayden Knowles.
Souths emailed NRL head of football Graham Annesley to raise concerns over Knowles entering the field of play 13 times during Penrith’s preliminary final defeat of the Storm.
The Rabbitohs missive came just three weeks after Wayne Bennett and Cleary waged a war of words after the Souths coach accused the Panthers of illegal blocking tactics to protect star playmaker Nathan Cleary.
Fletcher launched a passionate defence of Knowles and said Penrith would not be fooled by Souths’ attempt at psychological warfare.
“It is childish stuff if that’s all Souths have to worry about,” Fletcher said. “If they are worried about that (Knowles’ activities), hopefully it’s a distraction, because they won’t get under our skin.
“Souths were whingeing about the blockers before our last game and that is a standard thing. Every team in the NRL does the same thing (with blockers).
“If Souths want to worry about the rules, that’s their problem. We have our eyes on the prize and that’s all we care about.
“They can try and get under our skin but we have experienced
people and are focused on winning the premiership.
“If they are trying to unsettle us, they might have to think of something else.”
Contacted about Penrith’s reaction to Souths’ complaint about Knowles, Bennett said he was staying out of the crossfire.
“I’ve got no comment. It’s got nothing to do with me,” he said. “Ring our chief executive.”
Under NRL rules, trainers are restricted to entering the field of play three times in each half to deliver messages to players when their team has the ball. There is a view Knowles is breaking the rules by unnecessarily involving himself in play.
The Panthers were fined $25,000 by the NRL a fortnight ago after Knowles was embroiled in a stoppage of play in the dying minutes of Penrith’s finals win over Parramatta.
Fletcher dismissed Souths’ second attack on the Panthers in three weeks, defending Knowles against suggestions he was deliberately thumbing his nose at NRL rules.
“Hayden is one of the most experienced trainers in the game,” he said. “He has been involved in State of Origin for NSW and done it for us.
“Out football manager Matt Cameron has reminded Hayden of his duties so we won’t be overstepping the mark.
“There won’t be any dramas from our end.”