Seething Greg Alexander slams Laurie Daley’s Penrith tirade

After a stunning attack on Penrith’s culture, saying that he wouldn’t let his son play for the Panthers or want his daughter seeing one of its players, Laurie Daley has apologised.

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Laurie Daley has issued a public apology to the Penrith Panthers and the local community after his stinging tirade regarding the club’s culture.

It comes in the wake of a report in The Daily Telegraph where Panthers legend Greg Alexander labelled Daley’s comments an “outrageous” shot at the entire Penrith community.

Daley declared on Wednesday that he wouldn’t let his son play for the Panthers, or want his daughter seeing one of its players, in the wake of a recent spate of lewd videos and charges against Tyrone May.

May has been stood down under the NRL’s “no fault” policy and he will not be allowed to play until his court case is finalised.

The Panthers have stated that May would “vigorously deny the charges” that include two counts of recording intimate image without consent and two counts of disseminate image without consent.

Greg Alexander has fired back at friend Laurie Daley. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

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Some in league circles questioned if Daley’s outrage may have been fuelled by previous comments made by Phil Gould about NSW’s so-called toxic team culture under Daley as coach.

Daley also said the sheer number of Penrith players implicated in the recent sex video scandals suggested the club had a cultural problem.

But on Thursday the former NSW coach apologised unreservedly, reading out a prepared statement on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast: “It is certainly an emotional topic but if I have offended anyone in the Penrith area I certainly apologise.

“It wasn’t my intention to cause that angst.

“But I wold like to clarify some of my comments.

“I made a number of generalised statements in the heat of the moment that were offensive to many people involved with the Panthers and obviously the Penrith community.

“For that I am sorry.

“But I was speaking as a father and as a commentator.”

Daley spoke out against Penrith’s culture. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Daley admitted he had generalised comments regarding Penrith’s culture problem “based on the actions of one individual”.

“I will apologise for that,” he added.

“I know a lot of current and former players out there at Penrith who I have the utmost respect for.

“And I also erred that multiple players had been charged when in reality only one player has been charged, and he is due the presumption of innocence until he has his day in court.

“In terms of the culture of the Panthers I have been made aware of some of the great things they have been doing both at the footy club and through the community through their charity arm, Panthers on the Prowl, and their many community programs.

“And I hope to tell more of those stories moving forward and highlight the fantastic work of all NRL players and what all NRL clubs do in the community.

“So again, if I have offended anyone out there at the Panthers or Penrith community, I apologise for that. It certainly wasn’t my intentions when I made those comments.”

Daley’s comments come following an incident involving Tyrone May. Picture: Brett Costello

Former NSW and Australian teammates, Alexander was furious at Daley’s attack on his club.

Alexander told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday: “I would like to start by saying Laurie is a mate of mine and I have worked with him for a long time and we will work together this year,” Alexander said.

“But I have had a bit of time to digest (what Daley said) and really, it makes me angry.

“I think it is outrageous, absolutely outrageous to kick, not just a football club, but a community in the guts really.”

Daley had earlier told listeners on 2KY’s Big Sports Breakfast: “If you’re a parent, which I am, at the moment if I have a son good enough to play and if Penrith were in discussions with my son, I wouldn’t want my son to go and play at Penrith.

“And I wouldn’t want my daughter to go out with any Penrith player.”

Daley also said the sheer number of Penrith players implicated in the recent sex video scandals suggested the club had a cultural problem.

“What I am saying is if I’ve got my son or my daughter, I don’t want them going anywhere near Penrith,” Daley said.

A furious Alexander defended the club and community. Picture: Penrith Panthers

“If I’ve got proof or evidence that other people are doing it, I’ll lay into them as well. But at the moment it’s Penrith and Penrith haven’t got a great culture.”

Alexander fired back, labelling Daley’s comments “naive”.

The Penrith legend was also upset at Daley’s comments because Alexander’s own son, Braith, actually plays in the Penrith junior league in the Laurie Daley Cup.

“Like, he has had a shot at Penrith because here rugby league is tied up with the community,” Alexander said.

“So he has really had a shot at Penrith people saying it is a rotten place, rotten culture and that is for the alleged wrongdoings of a couple of players.

“So he has just nailed every kid that plays junior league, every one of the Penrith representative players from 15s up, from the country kids that travel three hours to get here to train.

“I have a boy that plays in the Laurie Daley Cup for Penrith. Braith is 16. He catches a train and a bus from Narrabeen.

“I have got no problem with Braith being here. And Laurie is naive to think that the problems of the world are at the Panthers.

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“This is a society problem. Laurie should open his eyes a little bit and have a look at what goes on with teenagers and social media.

“This situation has certainly opened my eyes up about the evils of social media.

“It is a throwaway line and I don’t think he has thought about what he said enough to really kick a whole district in the guts for the alleged wrongdoings of a couple of players.

“Most people who visit this place comment on how good the culture is at Penrith.

“I realise there has been a problem.

“I know other clubs haven’t been dealing with this issue yet but I don’t think we would be alone in the sort of problems that have cropped up over the last few weeks.”