NRL grand final: Stunning twist in Panthers trainer sledge row

There has been a surprise twist in the sledging row that has engulfed Penrith in the build-up to Sunday’s NRL grand final.

Cody Walker clashes with Penrith physiotherapist Pete Green after the match. Picture: Channel Nine

The Penrith trainer at the centre of a sledging controversy will be free to continue in his role in this Sunday’s grand final with revelations there is audio of his alleged altercation with South Sydney’s Jed Cartwright.

Panthers physiotherapist Peter Green — the orange shirt trainer — was wearing a microphone connected to the Panthers chief medical officer during Saturday’s preliminary final against South Sydney.

The technology was introduced at the start of this season as a way of trainers communicating from the field of play about an injured player to the club doctor on the sideline.

The Panthers are preparing to release a media statement on Tuesday that will suggest Green, who worked with Cartwright when he played at Penrith, called out to acknowledge Cartwright’s strong tackle performed on Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards.

The Daily Telegraph has been told that Green offered words to the effect of: “You’ve got to give him that one, Dyl.’’

Cody Walker clashes with Penrith physiotherapist Pete Green after the match. Picture: Channel Nine

The Penrith doctor supports the claim by what he heard over the audio.

It’s also understood Green and Carwright also swapped text messages on Monday in a bid to clear any misunderstanding.

Because of the communication between Green and Cartwright, the Rabbitohs hierarchy are content to leave the matter as it is.

The NRL are unwilling to take the matter any further due to South Sydney’s reluctance to make a formal complaint.

CARTY CALLS FOR LIFE BAN OVER SON SLEDGE

By Dean Ritchie

Penrith and Australian legend John Cartwright has called for the Panthers physio who allegedly sledged his son, South Sydney utility Jed, during last weekend’s preliminary final to be banned for life from being a trainer, claiming the sledge was the “height of being a coward.”

It comes as Souths Sydney chief executive Blake Solly claimed he would “expect” the NRL to take swift action if the allegation against Panthers trainer and physio Pete Green is proven.

John Cartwright’s call for Green to be ejected permanently from rugby league – given both have strong Penrith connections – is a massive development just days before the Panthers’ grand final against Parramatta at Accor Stadium.

Green is accused of verbally targeting Jed Cartwright several times during the match, the Rabbitohs player feeling “upset” and aggrieved enough to approach the Panthers trainer on-field at fulltime.

Having watched the post-game incident, Souths five-eighth Cody Walker became engaged in a verbal with Green, who was ushered from the field by fellow trainers. It is understood Walker and Green also have a history.

Cody Walker clashes with Penrith physiotherapist Pete Green after the match. Picture: Channel Nine

Green worked professionally with Jed Cartwright when the player was recovering from several injuries while at Penrith. Jed Cartwright was stunned at Green’s on-field attacks given he thought the pair were friends.

John Cartwright, a member of Penrith’s 1991 grand final-winning side and also named in the Panthers’ Team of Legends in 2006, was filthy at the allegations against Green.

“If it’s true that a trainer was sledging an opposition player then he should be banned for life. It’s the lowest act in the game – the lowest of the low. That’s not on. You shouldn’t have to cop any sledge off a f…ing trainer,” said Cartwright, who played 184 games for Penrith between 1985 to 1996.

“The game is hard enough without copping it from someone you can’t have a crack back at. It’s the height of being a coward.

“You cop sledges from opposition players, which is fair enough – you can say what you like. But you don’t need it off a bloke you can’t tackle or be tackled by.

Jed Cartwright on the charge for Souths. Picture: NRL Images

“If there’s a bloke out there running with privilege, and he is privileged to be doing the job that he does, but if he’s sledging opposition players, then, as I said, he should be barred for life. I thought Jed had a great game – he didn’t deserve that.

“If player sledges and gets under the skin of an opponent and they give away a penalty then that is all fair. But not a trainer bringing water out.”

Souths players heard Green have a crack at Cartwright over a previous back injury. The Panthers claim Green yelled for his side to get “back” in the defensive line.

“The excuse they gave that the trainer was saying: ‘Get back in the line’… Jed was playing the ball. It had nothing to do with him getting back in the line,” said Cartwright. “It affected Jed enough to front him (Green) after the game,” said Cartwright, whose family connection at the club stretches back to the club’s inaugural season in 1967.

Cody Walker fired off some angry comments after full-time.

“That was something I was proud of – that Jed didn’t just cop it on the chin. And he shouldn’t have to cop it from a trainer running around out there sledging. If a player said something to Jed, it wouldn’t bother him.

“Jed was really upset, very upset. And he is the most level-headed kid you will ever meet.

“He’s had a really hard run with injuries and that physio (Green) would know that. Jed isn’t making up these injuries. He’s had broken backs, disc injuries, groin operations, they have all been real.”

Walker fired off some angry comments at Green after the game before being calmed by club officials.

“Cody has tremendous care and passion for his teammates. Given the resilience Jed has shown to recover from serious injuries over the last two seasons, if the trainer has said anything to Jed during the game, our players are entitled to challenge that in the moment,” Solly said.

“The NRL have strict rules on what trainers can do when on the field. If there has been a breach of those rules, we would expect them to take action”.

John Cartwright said he recalled approaching an opposition trainer in the mid-1990s.

“I remember one day playing for Penrith against the (now defunct South Queensland) Crushers and their trainer came on and gave us a gobful,” he said. “The Crushers won the game in the last second. He sprayed us behind the goal line.

“I grabbed him on the way off the field and said: ‘How dare you!’ He knew no-one could touch him. As I said, it’s the height of being a coward.”

Green was in trouble a year ago after being accused of deliberately stopping play in a finals match. He was banned for the rest of the season from his on-field duties.

Originally published as NRL grand final: Stunning twist in Panthers trainer sledge row