NRL investigating Penrith Panthers’ grand final celebrations, how trophy was damaged

The game’s iconic trophy was damaged during Penrith’s grand final celebrations. But, with an investigation underway, that’s not all head office are concerned about.

The NRL will spend the next few days investigating the aftermath of Penrith’s grand final celebrations.

A string of unnecessary headlines has frustrated head office that are awaiting a please explain from the Panthers hierarchy.

At the top of the NRL’s list, is to understand how the game’s iconic trophy was badly damaged. It is understood the NRL may also probe Tyrone May for his controversial social media post just hours their premiership success.

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The NRL is waiting a please explain from the Panthers hierarchy. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The NRL will also speak to Nathan Cleary after three men from Sydney’s west were allegedly pictured on social media partying with the team. The trio attended the grand final and were busted cheating their way into Queensland. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Cleary.

The NRL are awaiting a report from the Panthers to detail how the trophy was damaged and why the iconic Norm Provan and Arthur Summons part was nursed like a baby.

The trophy was damaged after being knocked off a table near a dance floor. The NRL understood it was an accident, but are severely agitated by the Provan-Summons trophy being placed in a stroller and being rocked in a shoulder strap like a newborn.

The captions on the images posted by one of the players’ partners reads “googoo gaga” and “dad duties”.

Chairman Peter V’landys refused to be drawn into Penrith’s post-season celebrations because of the ongoing investigation.

PICTURES, VIDEO: GO INSIDE PENRITH’S GRAND FINAL PARTY

The Panthers watching the sun rise the next morning. Picture: Instagram

Premiership players Brian To’o and Stephen Crichton the next day. Picture: Brad Fleet

However, he understood people’s angst at the way the iconic Provan-Summons trophy was treated after it became badly damaged.

“I am 100 per cent certain there was no intention to be disrespectful,” V’landys said. “However people have perceived it to be that way.”

The trophy costs about $30,000 and will need to be fully repaired by the Panthers.

May could also be asked for a please explain for his now-deleted social media post. He was heavily criticised for posting a veiled reference to his high-profile sex tape court case.

Oh baby! Panthers to pay after damaging NRL trophy

The iconic Provan-Summons trophy became badly damaged on the dance floor which has left the Panthers earning the ire of the NRL.

News Corp has been told the NRL trophy was broken after being accidentally knocked to the floor as Penrith’s premiership celebrations were winding down. The trophy was standing up on a table before it dropped to the ground.

The incident left the Norm Provan and Arthur Summons part of the trophy detached from the base of the trophy.

Images of ‘The Gladiators’ being treated like babies are understood to have frustrated head office. NRL bosses are angry at the disrespect shown to two of the game’s most iconic figures in Provan and Summons and not for the damage done to the trophy.

The Instagram images showed the broken trophy being put in a children’s stroller and another of it being rocked in a shoulder strap like a new-born. The captions on the images posted by one of the players’ partners reads “googoo gaga” and “dad duties”.

The trophy was on its way back to Penrith on Friday with officials confident it will be welded back together. The trophy costs about $30,000 and weighs about 34 kilograms. It will need to be repaired by the Panthers.

The NRL gives clubs an option of purchasing a replica trophy to keep permanently but the official premiership title must be returned to headquarters.

The Panthers did not comment but an NRL spokesman said the integrity unit had asked the club for an explanation.

The Panthers are not the first team to damage a premiership trophy.

Laurie Daley infamously dropped the trophy off the back of a ute during a street parade in Queanbeyan in 1989 which broke the arm of Summons and the leg of Provan.

The Broncos broke the base of the then new NRL trophy in 1998 during their celebrations.

Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo hold aloft the premiership trophy after winning the 2021 NRL grand final. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Penrith have spent the days since the grand final living large rightfully enjoying their premiership feat. But their prolific social media use has caused a stir.

First it was Tyrone May, who was heavily criticised for posting a veiled reference to his high-profile sex tape court case on Instagram just hours after the grand final win.

He then set tongues wagging when he posted a photo with Indi Cleary, the daughter of coach Ivan Cleary, calling her “my queen”. The younger sister of Penrith halfback Nathan also happily posted a photo with May calling him “my king”. Panthers officials denied the pair are romantically linked, instead insisting they were close friends.

Back-rower Viliame Kikau has come under fire from South Sydney fans after singing the Rabbitohs’ “glory glory to South Sydney” club song during the celebrations.

The Panthers mixed with a few All Blacks in recent days. The likes of TJ Perenara, Akira Ioane and Ardie Savea joined in on Penrith’s fun.

The players officially broke camp on Thursday with some players remaining in Queensland and the rest returning home.