What’s the Buzz: Panthers refuse to answer questions over Brent Naden positive drug test

What’s the Buzz has made a series of inquiries to key Panthers around the Brent Naden positive drug test only to be met with evasive responses.

Brent Naden of the Panthers. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Cagey Penrith officials are refusing to directly answer the hottest question in the NRL around the cocaine scandal that has engulfed the club.

What’s the Buzz has made a series of inquiries to key Panthers including CEO Brian Fletcher and coach Ivan Cleary around the Brent Naden positive drug test only to be met with vague and evasive responses.

No-one will give a definitive ­answer on whether they knew on the day of the grand final that Naden had been on a drug and alcohol bender the night before the game and breached biosecurity protocols while he was in the company of his brother.

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Brent Naden of the Panthers. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

There has been talk Naden’s flatmate, fellow player Billy Burns, first raised it with club officials out of concern for his welfare.

We started off by having a phone conversation with Fletcher to try to get to the bottom of it.

Buzz: When did Ivan Cleary first know there was a problem?

“I wouldn’t bet on it but I reckon the day after the grand final.”

Buzz: Are you sure he didn’t know the day of the game?

“No I’m not sure of that, but I’d bet on it that he didn’t.”

Buzz: So you’re convinced Ivan didn’t know about it on game day?

“Mate, I’m not answering that again.”

Buzz: I just want to be sure.

“I’m telling you the truth. Don’t ask me again. Brent gave himself up and we told the NRL.”

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary refuses to answer questions regarding Brent Naden. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

So we then contacted Cleary to clear this up. He wouldn’t take our call but later responded to this text message:

Buzz: “Ivan, it’s Phil Rothfield. I’m told you were made aware of Brent Naden’s problem on grand final day. Could you please confirm this is the case. Thank you.”

He replied: “I’m not going to make any comment on the Brent Naden issue. Thanks.”

So we had another crack and tried football GM Matt Cameron. Same story, wouldn’t pick up the phone or answer questions via text.

Buzz: “I’m doing a Brent Naden story and checking when you found out he’d had a bender the night before the game. I have information you knew on the day of the GF. Is this correct and were you contacted by his flatmate Billy Burns. Thanks.”

Cameron: “I believe you were given a response to this question by Brian (Fletcher) earlier today.”

Buzz: “No, not a clear response. He said he wasn’t sure. It’s a simple question. Were you aware on game day there had been drama the night before?”

There was no response.

Chairman Dave O’Neill also declined to comment.

These are questions the NRL Integrity Unit will want answered.

Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher will not confirm the point at which Ivan Cleary became aware of Brent Naden’s problems. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

To date, all we’ve been able to extract is this unattributed statement from the Panthers last Tuesday.

“As previously reported, Brent approached the club following the 2020 NRL grand final to seek help with a number of personal issues. At that time he admitted to the use of a recreational drug,” the statement read.

There will be serious repercussions if it is found the club knew about it before the game.

On the day of the game, The Daily Telegraph published a story online midafternoon that Naden had been dropped from the 17-man squad. The source has an impeccable record.

Naden’s manager Allan Gainey then rang the club to complain about the decision and the troubled centre was later named to start.

He was one of five Panthers drug tested after the game and later returned a positive sample to cocaine.

On the Tuesday, Penrith informed the NRL Integrity Unit of Naden’s issues and that he had been booked into rehab. The club told The Daily Telegraph when we broke the story Naden was dealing with an alcohol problem, with no mention of cocaine use the night before the game.

“He put his hands up and we got him help,” Fletcher said.

“All I’m worried about at the moment is fixing the problem, not about how it happened.

“He’s on the recovery road and that’s what’s important.”

Brent Naden has had to put up with abuse from crowds since his day in the under-20s. Picture: Brett Costello

FAMILY SHAME HAS BEEN A BIG BURDEN

Penrith Panthers now believe Brent Naden’s issues are related to his notorious cousin Malcolm Naden — a double murderer and once Australia’s most wanted man.

Taunts from rival players and fans since he started out as a Panthers under-20s rookie may have contributed to the issues that landed him in a northern beaches rehab clinic after the grand final.

“We’re not making excuses for taking drugs,” CEO Brian Fletcher says.

“However a lot of this dates back to when he was in under-20s. They’d ask him ‘how’s your cousin going?’ It’s played on his mind for sure. He’s told us that”

Naden once admitted he used to take offence at people judging him because of his surname.

“My pop used to say ‘you can pick your friends but you can’t pick your relatives’,” he said.

“My parents knew him but I’ve never met him and they did their best to distance us (the family) from him. When I was younger, it affected me though.”

The club is standing by the powerful 24-year-old centre … and rightly so.

He is off contract at the end of the season.

“His goal is to come back next year and prove to the club that he wants to work on his problems,” Fletcher said.

“He’s off contract and we’ve got no reason not to keep him if he can show us he’s going to put in all the hard work.”

● ● ●

The Penrith Panthers’ grand final loss to Melbourne Storm has saved the NRL from a huge integrity issue.

With cocaine regarded as a performance-enhancing drug and the fact Naden had it in his system during the game, there would have been a massive debate if the Panthers had won.

Whether the club would have been stripped of the title is something we will never know.