Anthony Griffin has no regrets as pressure starts to build on Panthers coach

AS pressure mounts on Anthony Griffin following four straight losses, the Penrith coach maintains his curfew crackdown was the right call.

Pressure is starting to build on Panthers coach Anthony Griffin.

IT was the curfew crackdown that could ultimately cost Penrith a place in this year’s finals series, and potentially Anthony Griffin his job.

But as pressure mounts after four straight defeats heading into Thursday night’s crucial clash with Griffin’s old club Brisbane, the Panthers coach maintains he has no regrets.

And Penrith great Greg Alexander is also adamant the players “respect” and “love playing’’ for Griffin.

But Fox Sports Stats show the Panthers will need to defy history to make a charge for this year’s title.

Of 41 teams in the NRL era who have started a season with two wins out of nine games or worse, only two have made the top eight, and none have made the top four.

Pressure is starting to build on Panthers coach Anthony Griffin.

Penrith will go into the game against the Broncos on a four-match losing streak that started the night Moylan, Peta Hiku and Waqa Blake broke curfew in Melbourne.

Following that they went down to Souths by a point, and followed it up with losses to Cronulla and ­Parramatta.

Griffin did not shy away from the criticism he has copped for his ­curfew call.

“I never make decisions on what I think might be able to happen next week,” Griffin said.

“I make them on where we are going long term.

“It might have cost us two points but we had a team out there that could have won that game that night and we went within a minute of winning the game.

“We are learning some tough lessons at the moment.”

Penrith’s defeat to Parramatta was the club’s fourth loss on the trot.

Asked if the loss to Souths without the three dropped players would come back to bite the Panthers, Alexander said. “We might look back on that at the end of the season and it might matter and it might not.

“But I supported the coach on his decision. I think he is a terrific coach.

“We are not looking for any other answers. He is the man. The players love playing for him.

“He has their respect.

“It wasn’t good (losing to Souths) because we didn’t win before it and we haven’t won after it.

“But certainly don’t write them off.

“We have seen through eight rounds so far fortunes of sides change week to week.”

Penrith Coach Anthony Griffin has not shied away from criticism. Picture: Mark Evans

It is almost vital for the Panthers to beat Brisbane if they hope to make a charge this year.

On four competition points and with two byes to come, they basically need to win at least 10 of their remaining 16 games to finish on 28 competition points, which is ­usually the cut-off for the top eight.

“The players can’t concern themselves with that,’ Alexander said.

“As each loss comes, the pressure builds.

“I think they just need to focus on the most basic things.

“Get our kicks, our kick-chase and our defence right.

“They have enough talent in the side that the rest will follow.

“There are points in them galore but not when they are forcing things.”

Alexander conceded that star ­forwards Trent Merrin and James Tamou needed to lift.

“Trent is not playing as good as he was last year. He is well short of what he was last year,’’ Alexander said.

Trent Merrin needs to lift for the Panthers.

“Tamou is not making the impact that I guess is needed. I think Reagan Campbell-Gillard is outshining James Tamou.

“Our representative forwards, our two most experienced forwards, are not playing as well as they should.”