Former Panthers coach Anthony Griffin says he’s been slandered, slams Penrith boss Phil Gould
ANTHONY Griffin’s relationship with Penrith boss Phil Gould was so toxic, the former Panthers coach would go weeks without talking to Gould. But he believes he was sacked for a reason far more bizarre than clashing personalities.
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AXED Penrith coach Anthony Griffin declared his abrupt exit from the finals-bound club was because Panthers boss Phil Gould believed Griffin could lead the team to a premiership win.
Griffin slammed Gould, declaring their relationship was so toxic that they could go “up to six weeks” without speaking.
Griffin felt he was a dead man walking, realising his time was coming to an end but said his axing just four weeks before the finals “was cruel”.
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“Clearly we don’t get on,” Griffin told NRL 360. “I’m not saying that to disrespect Phil. It’s the main reason I’m sitting in here and not coaching. We don’t get on.
“It wouldn’t be unusual to go a month or six weeks not sitting down and having a chat. We had to operate.
“After we beat Manly I sensed things weren’t right. The silence gets deafening when you’re on the outer. I didn’t anticipate it would be Monday. I thought we’d sort it out at the end of the year.
“I understand the business is brutal. I’m not remorseful. I thought it was going to happen. The timing is cruel … they are on the verge of winning a premiership this year, which is probably one of the reasons I’m not there.”
Griffin said he and Gould enjoyed a close relationship when he was recruited to replace Ivan Cleary heading into the 2016 season. He was given “free reign” by Gould before the pair fell out spectacularly for what put down to as differing coaching philosophies.
He did have support from Gould during last year’s exit of Matt Moylan, a situation which Griffin said he was not proud of.
“He was strong with me on the Moylan issue,” said Griffin, who Gould has labelled as being an “old school coach”.
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“I take (his comments) with a grain of salt. My relationship with Gus (Gould) was very good at the start. He has a very good football brain. One of the main reasons I came down was to work with him.
“I learnt some things off him. Our relationship broke down on coaching philosophies. I’ m a strong personality. He is a strong personality.
“Gus hasn’t coached for 20 years. I’m not here to disrespect him. He hasn’t had his head in the fire for 20 years. If there is anyone old school in the conversation, he would need to be there as well.”
The pair had heated exchanges throughout this year. There was a much-publicised blow-up after halftime at a Belmore trial match, an incident which Gould later described to media as “rubbish”.
“We decided as a coaching staff that we’d blow our guys out,” Griffin said. “40 degrees, Saturday at Belmore in the middle of February. We thought we’d test our forwards out. We ended up going in down against a second grade side which was Gus’s angst. Personally I was just watching the game. It was a trial.
“At halftime when I was walking out of the sheds, I can’t remember the context. He appeared out of no where and was barking at me. ‘You spoke (at halftime) about defence and our attack is rubbish’. “I smiled, I didn’t think he could be serious. I didn’t know if he was serious. I kept walking.
“He told a journalist it didn’t happen.
“After round five against Parramatta … It was a good win. Gritty win. Gus’s version was very different. We clashed again on philosophy. He thought it was a disgusting performance — ‘We haven’t brought our kids up to be grinders and to play like that’. We clashed off and on — discussions (in that) context.
“Gus runs the club. It’s his club. I say that with all due respect. He makes all the decisions.
“He is a very powerful man. That’s just who he is. He needs to be in control.”
Griffin anticipated Gould would increase his involvement in the team under new caretaker coach Cameron Ciraldo. Gould said part of the reason for dismissing Griffin — whose contracted expired at the end of 2020 — was because he had lost the support of not only players but staff members.
“That’s a spin that’s easy to do,” Griffin said. “I know when there is a dressing room lost. I’m not saying players are jumping out of their skin to see me in the morning but I have the respect of the players.
“(Ciraldo) was in a difficult situation. Gus not communicating to me then started using the other staff to get his messages through into the structures we were doing. Cameron was his mark there. That’s put him in an awkward position. It puts a strain on everyone’s relationships when your general manager is acting that way.”
The Panthers are placed for a final run again this year having made the finals twice in Griffin’s opening two seasons at the club. Penrith finished one loss in front of wooden spooners Newcastle prior to Griffin’s arrival.
“I describe it as very successful,” Griffin said. “I was brought in to do a job to build a club inside out.
“That was my vision for the place. It’s happening. I know Gus said something about the next level. We couldn’t go to the next level. We’re at the next level. To be in the position we are now as a top four side and a genuine premiership contender it has happened a little quicker than I thought.”
He also backed the club to bring Cleary back as his replacement.
“That would be good,” Griffin said. “He is a champion guy, great coach, he did a lot of hard yards out there over four years. It allows them to keep Nathan, which is important for the club going forward.”
Griffin signed off by throwing his support behind the Panthers for the rest of the year.
“I wish the Panthers all the best,” Griffin said. “There are some good days ahead for that club. I would love nothing more than to see them to win a trophy this year. As hard it’ll be to watch I wish them all the best.”