There is no better description of the rivalry between Penrith and Parramatta than Michael Jennings’ comments in 2011.
“I don’t hate the Parramatta players, just the team they represent,” he said.
“If you come through the Penrith juniors, you’re brought up to hate Parra. That’s how I was brought up and I’m sure it’s still going on.”
Jennings was willing to face public backlash from Parramatta fans, but the Panthers and Jennings had the last laugh in 2011, winning both Western Sydney derby clashes.
Now those comments might come back to bite him.
Will Parramatta fans be willing to accept this player? His early performances will determine that – a bad start and the fans will be on his back, but a good start and the fans will surely forget what was said in the past.
But how can a high profile player publicly come out and says he hates a club, then sign for it five years later?
Money has been the biggest game changer in rugby league in the past 25 years.
Players move from clubs to club frequently be it for salary cap or family reasons, or simply because of a better offer. The days where players stayed at one club their entire careers are long gone.
But this is different.
If you say you hate a club how could you ever possibly justify playing for it?
Chris Morrison
Guest
Penrith hate parra, Manly hate Melbourne, Souths hate roosters. It's inter club rivalry. The players buy into it. It creates passion amongst fans and players alike. I will bet my bottom dollar that Jennings said that before a Penrith and Parra match. Do the maths.
Doug Graves
Guest
I think if you have a legitimate ethical reason for hating a club, such as they are convicted cheats and/or corrupt (ie Storm/Dogs/Roosters/Essendon) then no, you could never sign for them regardless of the money. But if your reason is simply that you were brought up to hate them then I'd suggest that is not a sufficient reason and you'd have to suck it up. Jennings makes a statement to that effect: “If you come through the Penrith juniors, you’re brought up to hate Parra. That’s how I was brought up and I’m sure it’s still going on.” I find that statement very interesting. It indicates he doesn't actually hate Parra for any other reason than he was brought up to! So I think he's probably OK signing for them but he'll have to make some kind of humble statement denouncing his previous indoctrination.