“Not everyone is going to like what we do” - Panthers brush off ring sledge to focus on premiership

Penrith have been branded arrogant this season, but Panthers stars insist they are just competing hard in a bid to win a premiership.

Penrith Panthers players have laughed off Will Chambers’ premiership ring sledge as they vowed to continue their confident on-field gamesmanship, saying: “Not everyone is going to like us for what we do”. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

Penrith Panthers players have laughed off Will Chambers’ premiership ring sledge as they vowed to continue their confident on-field gamesmanship, saying: “Not everyone is going to like us for what we do”.

Chambers was seen sledging the Panthers players during Cronulla’s 48-0 loss to the mountain men in round 9.

The premiership-winning Storm outside back pointed to his finger and yelled at the Penrith players: ‘Worry about winning one of these (rings), bra’.

Veteran Cronulla centre Will Chambers was more than happy to remind the ladder leading Panthers they haven’t achieved anything just yet. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

Panthers lock Isaah Yeo confirmed his teammates had a “giggle” about Chambers’ gibe, but stressed it won’t serve as extra incentive to the expectation they already feel on themselves to lift the trophy after last year’s grand final loss.

“I think the boys were just having a bit of fun out there at the time and that was his (Chambers’) comment, but there is no added motivation,” Yeo said as the Panthers chase 10 straight wins to start the season against the Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

“It (the sledge) wasn’t really spoken about and we all thought it was a bit of a giggle in the sheds afterwards.

“We understand where we want to be at come the end of the year and that is a real process.

“At the moment we are smack bang in the middle of the round-to-round football to give ourselves the best chance later in the year.

“We understand that to get what we want at the end of the year, what we do now is very important.”

The Panthers have been accused of being arrogant this season, especially after their 30-10 smashing of Canberra in round 5.

Centre Stephen Crichton was fined $1350 for sparking a melee by pulling Raiders forward Joe Tapine into a Penrith post-try celebration.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys labelled the fine to Crichton as “ridiculous” while reminding players that they are “role models”.

“Not everyone is going to like what we do” - Panthers brush off ring sledge to focus on premiership. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

Almost a month later, Crichton has moved on from the incident against the Raiders and he isn’t concerned about criticism levelled at Penrith’s on-field approach.

“Everyone has got their own opinions, I guess,” Crichton said when asked about V’landy’s comments.

“We are just out here playing our footy.

“Not everyone is going to like us for what we do, but as long as we keep chipping away with what we do on the field, keep getting those wins and keep learning, then I guess that is the only people that we will listen to.”

Crichton has also brushed off Chambers’ cheeky sledge has nothing more than gamesmanship.

“We are respectful to Will for what he has done throughout the game in his career,” he said.

“That is everyone’s dream coming through the NRL to win a ring, and that is a goal for us as well.”