NRL: Phil Gould has lost the power struggle

What a rabble Penrith has become. A losing start to the season pales compared to what is happening off the field

Phil Gould has been largely frozen out at Penrith since Ivan Cleary returned

What a rabble Penrith have become. A losing start to the season pales into insignificance compared to what is happening off the field, where the outcome many predicted on Ivan Cleary’s return has come to fruition.

General manager of football Phil Gould is on his way out having decided — or some would no doubt mischievously suggest, been told — that his job has become redundant in the wake of Cleary’s arrival.

Penrith powerbrokers dismissed talk of a power struggle, but that is the obvious inference after Gould called time on a eight-year rebuild that was meant to take only five.

The writing was on the wall when Cleary returned. Their relationship fractured after Gould sacked Cleary a few years back claiming the then-Panthers coach was “tired”.

Gould insisted they were fine and they were seen shaking hands and sharing a laugh in the dressing room after the Panthers’ last win — against the Wests Tigers a couple of weeks ago.

But it could never last. There was too much history. Too much bad blood. Something had to give and Gould has acknowledged the time has come to leave, having informed chair Dave O’Neill and chief executive Brian Fletcher of his decision yesterday morning.

Fletcher and O’Neill will take his decision to the board this morning, but it is a matter of when, not if, he departs.

It could be months but is more likely to be weeks.

The Panthers won’t stand in his way even though it is likely to involve a hefty payout — he had three years remaining on the contract he recently inked with the club but it’s understood there are clauses related to his departure.

The Panthers have hitched their wagon to Cleary. Sources close to the club suggested Gould had been pondering his future for a couple of weeks amid talk of a restructure of the football department.

He had always wielded influence over the coaching department, exhibited by his previous sacking of Cleary and the controversial axing of Anthony Griffin.

Yet he has been largely frozen out since Cleary’s return.

One can only imagine how difficult that has been to stomach given how poorly the Panthers are playing.

Gould no doubt thinks he can contribute, maybe help them out of their funk. Yet he has been kept at arm’s length.

Coincidentally, his exit has come in the lead-up to a game against South Sydney and Wayne Bennett. Bennett was the man Gould wanted to replace Griffin, only to lose out when the board and O’Neill orchestrated Cleary’s return. That revelation, which emerged only a matter of weeks ago, no doubt heightened tension at the club. It also served to highlight Gould’s dwindling influence on the issues that really mattered at Penrith.

He remains one of the sharpest minds in the sport, yet he was being overruled on arguably the biggest issue at the Panthers.

A penny for Gould’s thoughts now. The Rabbitohs are flying and Bennett has looked every inch the super coach over the opening six weeks of the season.

Cleary, on the other hand, is struggling to justify the multimillion-dollar pay cheque that accompanied him back to Penrith. His side is playing dire football. His son Nathan is struggling as much as anyone.

He appears to be making it up as he goes along. He started the year with six captains and then scrapped that concept last week to give James Tamou sole control of the side.

He started the year with Dylan Edwards at fullback, prompting suggestions Dallin Watene-Zelezniak may explore his options elsewhere. When Watene-Zelezniak was moved to fullback, rumours began to swirl over the future of Edwards. Cleary has tinkered with his hookers.

He has been prickly at times with the media, yet he has been given a charmed run. At some stage, if the current malaise continues, he will come under the microscope. It may come as soon as this week given he is now the man indisputably with his hands on the wheel.

Nothing has worked for him thus far.

The Panthers fluked a win over the Tigers but Cleary’s career win percentage remains below 50 per cent.

As for Gould, he departs having overseen a period that promised much but failed to deliver at the Panthers, at least where premierships are concerned.

The club has one of the best training facilities in the country, thanks in no small part to Gould.

They have juniors in abundance, a thriving leagues club and a system that is the envy of many rivals.

Yet they haven’t won a title since 2003 and it seems highly unlikely that one will be heading west this year.

Gould’s return was meant to usher in a golden era for the Panthers. In many respects, given the number of young players who have come through the ranks, a golden generation has emerged.

Yet they have precious little to show for it. Gould will depart having achieved much, albeit without the one thing he coveted more than all else.