Paul Kent says Panthers ‘lack class’ after Ivan Cleary’s ‘good karma’ quip

Jaeman Salmon hit back at Ricky Stuart’s “weak-gutted dog” comment from last year but a debate has exploded over two words from his coach.

Paul Kent has blasted Ivan Cleary. Photo: Fox Sports

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has opened a fresh can of worms over the “weak-gutted dog” drama with NRL 360 hosts going head-to-head over the Panthers’ conduct.

In August last year, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart labelled Panthers utility Jaeman Salmon a “weak-gutted dog” after he was placed on report for lashing out with his boot at Raiders hooker Tom Starling.

Stuart referenced a history with the 24-year-old but hasn’t gone into the issue he was referring to, ultimately copping a $25,000 fine and a one-week suspension from coaching.

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The drama was always bound to dominate the lead up to the next clash between the sides and came to a head when Salmon scored the final try in the Panthers’ 53-12 thrashing of the Raiders.

Salmon leapt to his feet and yelled “weak-gutted dog” towards the crowd.

Post match, Panthers coach Cleary was asked about the drama, quipping: “Good karma, that’s how I describe that”.

Ivan Cleary thought he'd had the final word. Photo: Fox Sports

Salmon made his reply. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

But while Stuart didn’t want a bar of the drama having already paid the price in 2022, NRL 360 host Paul Kent has unleash, slamming the Panthers' culture.

“It was a mug’s comment to be honest,” Kent said of Cleary’s comment.

“I don’t mind Jaeman Salmon saying what he said. If you want to return serve when someone has a shot at you, go for your life. Don’t walk around kicking stones and giving the sad face and telling me how upset and hurt you are and have everyone around you giving you a hug and telling you how unfair it is and live on the sympathy of that for three months, and then you’re back in town up 53-12 and you fire back at it. It’s one or the other. That’s character.

“As far as Ivan goes, as a coach, good on Ivan for standing by his players. As a father, maybe he should have a little more understanding of where Ricky was coming from and elected to say nothing.

“My whole problem with this Penrith team as we’ve seen once again on the weekend is they just lack class.

“They win grand finals and rub their opponent’s noses in it, there’s a big up yours to anyone who gives them criticism. You watch when they get wind of this, I’ll be all over their Twitter feed.”

Paul Kent unloaded on the Panthers. Photo: Fox Sports

Co-host Dan Ginnane interjected, saying: “But Ricky did start this.”

“No doubt,” Kent replied.

Ginnane: “But they’re not allowed to return serve?”

Kent: “Return serve if you want but don’t sit there and tell us how sad you are and how upset you are by it, and then say the exact same thing six months later when you’ve got your tail up.”

Courier Mail reporter Peter Badel had a differing view however.

He said Kent himself had written a column during State of Origin last year, saying how boring and drama-free the lead up had been.

“Now the very theatre you’re crying out for has been delivered by Ivan Cleary, it’s magnificent,” Badel said.

“If I was a player under Ivan, I’d be saying he’s got my back.

“But Ricky led with his chin in boxing parlance and he got an upper cut. And I think he deserves it.

“I know he apologised about it down the track, but I think Ivan’s more than within his rights to have a crack back.”

Kent replied, claiming the Panthers were having it both ways, playing the victim in the original situation, but hitting back months later.

Phil Rothfield agreed that Cleary was “out of order”.

“But I have no problem with what Salmon did,” he continued. "It was a square up for a remark that Ricky probably regrets saying in the first place.
“But I don’t think the club as a whole is as out of control as you’re suggesting.”

Peter Badel defended the Panthers. Photo: Fox Sports

Kent said this issue was that the club endorsed the behaviour.

“The club has a big impact on the men they grow into,” he said. “And that’s part of the speeches that coaches and recruitment guys will give players and mums and dads when they’re about to sign them.

“But they’re not looked after which results in situations like the wedding last year when Jarome Luai gets up and makes an absolute mug speech on the greatest day of this young woman’s life. Why wasn’t someone there saying ‘let us at least see the speech’ as part of the caretaking for the players.

“They are not being educated to show any humility or class. And if you want to sit there and keep defending that, you’re going to be part of the problem too.”

The Panthers have also been slammed for arrogance, after the clash before that had seen Penrith fans taunting the Raiders, as well as the post-grand final celebrations after both premiership wins being slammed.

After the 2022 grand final win, halfback Nathan Cleary said: “I love all the boys that I play alongside and I don’t think any of them are arrogant. If we were arrogant, I don’t think we would have gone back-to-back.

“There’s no ego in what we do. It’s the outside world that might see it like that.”

And Panthers legend Mark Geyer said if anyone deserved to be arrogant, it was back-to-back champions.

Originally published as Paul Kent says Panthers ‘lack class’ after Ivan Cleary’s ‘good karma’ quip