NRL Grand Final 2021: How 2019 sex tape scandal steeled Panthers

The pain and embarrassment of the Penrith Panthers sex tape scandal was a seminal moment in the club’s history.

Penrith supremo Brian Fletcher has blasted suggestions Penrith Panthers players are arrogant, saying the sex tape scandal of 2019 was a seminal moment in fixing the club’s culture.

The Panthers have come under fire this season for their tryscoring antics with five-eighth Jarome Luai, in particular, attracting criticism for his exuberant celebrations leaping in the air in front of his opponents.

But in the lead-up to Sunday’s shot at grand-final redemption against Souths, Fletcher launched a passionate defence of Penrith’s players. He claims much of the squad’s humility stems from the pain and embarrassment of the sex-tape saga which put the club’s attitude under the microscope.

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“It was a bumpy start to Ivan Cleary’s return (as coach), we had the sex tape scandal and that wasn’t an ideal start, but I knew we could overcome that,” Fletcher said.

“It was a hard time but it was a wake-up call for the whole club.

The Panthers train ahead of the 2021 NRL grand final (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“I had to address the playing group and we had the NRL integrity department come here and speak to them all and interview the players in question. They all put their hand up.

“From that day on, we went about a process of rebuilding and making sure that sort of culture was out of the place.

“Some players suffered the consequences and have learnt from it.

“People had to understand we had a lot of young guys in the group, so I knew what we had to do. We had to fix up the culture of the place. It wasn’t exactly right inside the place so we had to get the right people working for us.

“They are only young men, and young men do make mistakes. No one is perfect, but I’m proud of our culture today and how we have turned things around. We have a very stable board and there are no factions.”

Fletcher says the likes of Luai, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Nathan Cleary are inspirational role models for the Penrith community. He scoffs at suggestions the group are cocky big-heads.

“There are no egos or arrogance at all,” he said.

“The Polynesian boys in our club like Jarome and Brian are the nicest kids you will meet. If you see the amount of times they do charity work and visit schools in our area and help kids in disadvantaged areas, you would be amazed.

“It was terrible the criticism they copped at the start of the year, it was so unfair.

“Who cares if a few of our players jump up and down when we score a try?

“No-one gets ahead of themselves and a guy like Peter Wallace (assistant coach) is a quality bloke. The players respect someone like Peter and Ivan has led the front as a coach.

“Our players are anything but arrogant. They are a credit to the NRL.”

NSW Origin five-eighth Luai said Penrith’s success over the past two seasons has not gone to the heads of Panthers players.

“We just love playing football and I believe it’s important you enjoy the game and the friendships you have,” he said.

“How people see us doesn’t worry me. I know we haven’t won anything yet ... hopefully that changes on Sunday.”

PANTHERS SLAM ‘CHILDISH’ BUNNIES

Panthers supremo Brian Fletcher has hit back at South Sydney, labelling the Rabbitohs “childish” and insisting their high-level “whinging” 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 with Penrith hierarchy seething at Souths lodging a formal complaint with the NRL over the actions of Panthers trainer Hayden Knowles.

As exclusively revealed by News Corp, Souths emailed NRL head-of-football Graham Annesley raising concerns over Knowles entering the field of play 13 times during Penrith’s preliminary-final defeat of the Storm.

Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has blasted the Rabbitohs’ ‘whinging’. Picture: AAP

The Rabbitohs missive came just a fortnight 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 says Penrith will not be fooled by Souths’ attempt at psychological warfare in an explosive preamble to the biggest game of the NRL season at Suncorp.

“It is childish stuff if that’s all Souths have got to worry about,” Fletcher said.

“If they are worried about that (Knowles’ activities), then hopefully it’s a distraction, because they won’t get under our skin.

“Souths were whinging 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 we are focused on winning the premiership.

“If they are trying to unsettle us, they might have to think of something else.”

Souths coach Wayne Bennett got under the skin of Ivan Cleary when the two sides met earlier in the finals. Picture: Getty

Contacted about Penrith’s reaction to Souths’ complaint about Knowles, Rabbitohs coach Wayne 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 defeat of Parramatta.

Fletcher dismissed Souths’ second attack on the Panthers in three weeks, defending Knowles against suggestions he is 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 over-stepping the mark. There won’t be any dramas from our end.

“He is very well-respected in the industry and we won’t be getting involved in a slanging match with South Sydney over one of our employees.

“Is it such a big deal? Like most people watching a game, all I’m worried about are the players and the scoreboard.

“Hayden knows his role. He has been around a long time and he does what he can to help the team. How many times has Allan Langer (Broncos assistant) gone on the field as a trainer?

“We respect the fact that rules are rules and we will abide by them for the grand final.”

TRAINER COMPLAINT REIGNITES SOUTHS-PENRITH FEUD

— Brent Read

South Sydney have reignited their feud with Penrith only days before the grand final by making a formal complaint to the NRL over the amount of time trainer Hayden Knowles spent on the field during the Panthers’ preliminary final win over Melbourne.

News Corp understands that the Rabbitohs sent an email to NRL head of football Graham Annesley on Monday raising their concerns over Knowles’ involvement in the game and asking how head office would respond.

The Rabbitohs told Annesley that they raised the issue in the “interests of ensuring a well fought grand final that is played in both the spirit of our game and within its rule”.

Trainer Hayden Knowles (light blue shirt) on the bench during Penrith’s preliminary final against Melbourne last weekend. Picture: NRL Images

According to Souths, Knowles entered the field 13 times during Penrith’s game against the Storm. Under NRL rules, trainers are restricted to entering the field of player on three occasions in each half to deliver messages to the players when their team has the ball.

Outside that, they can only access the field when a try is scored, during a video referee decision, to facilitate an interchange, during a time out called by the referee and during a drop out.

Annesley was reluctant to discuss the complaint when contacted by News Corp on Tuesday but the email represents a significant escalation in the rivalry between the two sides as they prepare for Sunday night’s decider.

“Both grand final clubs are fully aware of NRL operational rules they are expected to comply with, so I am not going to enter into a public debate about it,” Annesley said.

“Our job as administrators is to make sure both teams get equal opportunity to determine the outcome of the game on their own merits.
“The focus should be solely on the players and we will be doing our best to ensure that happens.”

Trainer Hayden Knowles came onto the field on the first tackle and stayed on the field for the entire set of Penrith’s attack late in the game.

Knowles was vocal, calling out instructions to players.

Knowles is still in the backline on tackle three as Penrith work it away from their line.

Knowles is still at it on the last tackle, shouting and gesturing as Nathan Cleary kicks downfield with less than a minute to go.

In an email reply to Souths, Annesley told the Rabbitohs that the NRL took the issue of trainer compliance with the rules very seriously.

“As you would be aware, where we form a view that any club has acted in a way contrary to the relevant provisions of the rules, the matter is then addressed directly with the club concerned,” he wrote.

“I can confirm the information you have provided has been reviewed and we will now consider whatever action we believe to be appropriate in the circumstances.”

Revelations of South Sydney’s formal complaint against Penrith will stoke the fires between the two sides, who clashed in the lead-up to their game in the opening week of the finals.

On that occasion, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary prompted a slanging match when he asked the match officials to provide more protection for his son Nathan.

Souths coach Wayne Bennett responded by suggesting Penrith were using illegal blockers to provide another layer of protection to Cleary.

Bennett had the last laugh as Souths upset Penrith and made the Panthers take the long way to the grand final. That included a game against Melbourne and it appears Souths were watching closely given the concerns they have raised with the NRL over Knowles’ involvement on Saturday night.

Knowles is seen on the field behind Penrith’s defensive line just five minutes into the game, after apparently tending to Panthers forward Tevita Panga Jr.

It is understood the Storm had issues with the amount of time Knowles spent on the field and Annesley addressed the matter at his weekly media briefing on Monday. It later turned out that Souths had also raised the matter with Annesley.

“Can you please let me know at your earliest what process the NRL will follow in responding to the above incidents?” Souths head of football Mark Ellison wrote to the NRL.

“I note that it has been reported that the Penrith Panthers’ blue shirt trainer has an existing warning for breaching the role and responsibilities of a trainer while Penrith as a club currently have an accredited trainer suspended.”

Knowles was sanctioned by the NRL a week ago for his part in the stopping of play in the dying embers of the club’s finals win over Parramatta.

The club was also fined $25,000 over that incident while physic Pete Green was banned from on-field duties for the remainder of the season, meaning he will miss the grand final.

Knowles was sanctioned by the NRL for his part in the stopping of play in the club’s week two finals win over Parramatta.

SOUTHS’ CLAIMS

First Half

5:10: Blue Shirt Trainer enters the field whilst Penrith are defending. The Blue Shirt trainer assists player Pangai to his feet and moves him back into defensive line.

10:01: Blue Shirt Trainer enters field and is on the field at Tackle 5.

14:03: Blue Shirt Trainer enters field.

17:04: Blue Shirt Trainer hands over Card 2 to Interchange Official but this is despite having already been on the field three times prior.

19:16: Blue Shirt Trainer is standing on field whilst team is defending.

26:32: Blue Shirt Trainer leaves interchange bench and enters field with only 4 seconds left on Shot Clock for Drop Out.

39:31: Blue Shirt Trainer enters field from off side position.

Second Half

58:22: Blue Shirt Trainer enters field.

60:20: Blue Shirt enters field to make change but remains on field for two tackles and gives player water before exiting field.

67:35: Blue Shirt Trainer enters field.

73:40: Blue Shirt Trainer enters field.

75:38: Blue Shirt Trainer enters field for fourth time whilst not making change.

77:53: Blue Shirt Trainer leaves interchange area and coaches from sideline during defensive set. Blue Shirt Trainer enters field at end of defensive set and stays out until Tackle 5 of attacking set.