In December 2015, I wrote Anthony Griffin’s appointment at the Penrith Panthers may have perhaps only been a short-term solution, a stop-gap until someone of the elite level became available.
His plucking from the obscurity of sacked NRL coaches by Phil ‘Gus’ Gould was, at the time, a bemusing selection.
The validation for the decision was justified by Griffin’s perceived ability to work with young, raw talent who were yet to solidify a place in first-grade football.
That perception crafted from taking Brisbane’s under-20s side to the National Youth Competition Final in 2008, and his work bringing those same players into first grade not long after.
Penrith, at the end of 2015, had moved on a number of mid-career players in the preceding years and were in the middle of a built-from-the-bottom-up rebuild of their roster.
So Griffin, as it seemed, was a logical choice by Panthers’ figurehead and rugby league veteran Gould.
But as the former Broncos clipboard holder’s first two seasons have unfolded on the edge of the Nepean, we have seen muddled and confusing results.
In his first season, Penrith were well in the mix; making the NRL finals after finishing the regular season sixth. The impressive displays made them premiership favourites in 2017.
But in somewhat of a second-year syndrome, they bellowed out of the finals in 2017 after a seventh-placed finish.
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
While injuries plagued some of both those seasons, the same could be said for the majority of rugby league sides.
Now, on the eve of Griffin’s third season in charge and Gould’s eighth year as the maestro pulling the strings, Penrith are without arguably their two best players from the past couple of years: former captain, Matt Moylan, and representative ball-playing backrower Bryce Cartwright.
They also had to let go of evolving-forward Leilani Latu to gain the services of 31-year-old James Maloney after he spilled the beans about his six-number Keno.
Maloney is a signing that indicates a roll of the dice by Gould at gaining instant success.
Brought in to provide the experience needed alongside the gifted and sharp Nathan Cleary, the three-time grand final player is an astute pick up.
But with two years left on Cleary’s current contract and Maloney on the wrong side of 30, it would seem there is probably just a two-year premiership window.
And if Penrith are as serious as they suggest about development, it is likely there is a player already coming through the ranks who is being readied to step into first grade and take Maloney’s position.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
This proven by Gould’s mid-year speech in 2017 that detailed the 28 players in the Panthers’ squad who had made their NRL debut there.
Gould has thrown tremendous faith in the development of young players like Dylan Edwards. Edwards is a standout junior, but has yet to realistically prove anything at first-grade level.
Indeed, it can be said Gus has even thrown his faith again in Anthony Griffin.
Without being able to go behind-the-scenes or be part of the inner sanctum, Griffin is hardly a man that emits inspiration.
His deadpan persona depicts a man who is content to to run a strict regime to get the most out of his players.
But is that what this crop of Penrith players need? Griffin is a safe option, for sure. But is he the leader who can take them all the way?
Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright sure worn of his style.
He is not the young, fresh-onto-the-scene-with-hot-ideas coach like Trent Robinson, Michael Maguire and Paul Green.
All three found success very early in their tenures, but it could be argued they walked into their respective yards and found very different cattle.
So what is Griffin? A Brian Smith type who could never quite go all the way? It’s difficult to surmise.
But the opening half of this season will likely determine whether he holds his spot.
Moylan moving-on presents a point in the Penrith rebuild under Gould that could shape the club.
But will it be a turning point for the coach’s culture or a decision that will ultimately form part of his downfall.
Penrith needed a player like James Maloney; but is likely they needed the timing, class and prowess of Matt Moylan as well.
Two of those players that Griffin was seemingly hired to solidify in first grade have now been and gone. Whatever their reasons for leaving, that’s concerning.
The Panthers enter season 2018 with Griffin in charge, but with Maguire and Des Hasler on the open market, any indication of an early season crisis could see the swift changing of the guard at the foot of the mountains.
Which way will it go?
Arnoll
Guest
Where are all the critics now...?
Richard Powell
Guest
I think fans are entitled to ask Gould to "Please Explain".
Richard Powell
Guest
I'd say Griffin has got until Round 6...... If a coach can't deliver what Gould wants, he goes. Matt Elliott, Ivan Cleary - and Cleary's only sin was that he didn't want his son playing 1st grade in 2016. Panthers are a basket case with the number of players they have been unable to keep. Nathan Cleary won't stay after 2019 after what Gould did to his father. He'll either go to West Tigers or the Roosters to replace Cronk.... Politis usually gets what he wants.
Les Mara
Guest
Matt the reluctant skipper,was constantly injured or missing. Bryce got caught in a spot of disharmony lets just say. The change was absolutely needed by him. Latte/Latu is a good one although, the Panthers have very good props. They got an experienced half in the club, with Maloney to partner Cleary. There are young centres coming through and Peachey can continue his career up north next year.
Oto shark
Guest
So true, also with such a young team. Just concerned about the amount of players opting to leave though.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It wouldn’t totally surprise me if it were true. Penrith were awful. Their attack was disjointed, their forwards soft, goal line defence poor, enthusiasm non existent. Cleary and Edwards played the whole game. Maloney and Wallace most of it. I’m usually careful not to read too much into trial form but the fact they were full strength against a reserve grade side was pretty poor. After about ten minutes they were never in the game. Anyway, I think they play in round 3...Panthers will probably win by 50...!
souvalis
Guest
Reportedly,from Belmore players tunnel on the weekend, ‘a furious Gould grabbed hold of Griffin in the tunnel and shouted ‘this looks like a reserve grade side,fix it,’...did it look fixed to you ?
Matt H
Roar Guru
You could list a fair number of teams who would be quite content with two finals appearances in a row and who now have the incumbent NSW five eighth to go along side the hottest young half back in the comp.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Good article Maximus, I suspect Gus will leave the post with egg on his face when young Cleary exacts revenge for the axing of his old man and end's up at Leichhardt or wherever Ivan is coaching in 2020. The amount of high profile players leaving or wanting to leave is alarming. A fan of any other club would be concerned. Using the Raiders as an excuse is poor, Ricky usually starts flat lining by season 2-3 at a new club. Griffin can't be a modern day Brian Smith. At least Smith got his side's to the GF's and we all know how the results ended.
The Barry
Roar Guru
They got flogged 24-10 by the Bulldogs NSW Cup team on the weekend...
Paul
Roar Guru
I wonder if Griffin's the problem or whether Gould has been the issue? I get the feeling, for no reason, that Gould either has or wants to have more involvement in the actually management of the team. He's let go an incredible number of players since he re-joined the Club, and it's not clear what sort of working relationship he has with Griffin. As others have pointed out, the Panthers have made the finals in the past 2 years which is more than a lot of Clubs can claim so it's hard to argue Griffin is the problem. If it isn't him, who is the issue?
Nat
Roar Guru
I think when Gus came up to tour/emulate the Broncos operations Hook may have been an extension of his exuberance to create a winning system at Penrith. Hook was never a part of creating what Brisbane have. U20s is a far stretch from NRL standard. Like Penrith, he achieved only mild success while letting quite a few good players leave and paid overs to individuals that never reached the same heights (Barba/Broncos and Merrin Tamou as the example). Happy to be proven wrong but I cannot see Maloney reaching the same standards he has before. No doubt he will be an asset but a mentor is a reach for a bloke who never wanted leadership responsibilities. At 32 this year, he has his money and no longer playing for a contract.
PanthertillIdie
Guest
I’m not sure Cartwright can be included in this coach/player disharmony conspiracy theory. From the information that has done the rounds in the public domain, he had a pretty problematic personal life that included him associating with quite a few unsavoury types and definitely needed to get away from the area more than anything else. Moylan and Griffin clearly had issues but we’ll see how much ‘worse off’ Penrith really are without him. I think the author has sold Dylan Edwards credentials a bit short. The bloke looks the business wearing the number 1 and I can’t find much to critique him on. I will be disappointed to lose Peachy and I can’t understand why he hasn’t been a regular starter and big minute player for a long time now. The Titans are going to pay him good dollar though and I’m sure the Panthers hierarchy will want to throw everything they can at trying to secure Cleary who I don’t think anyone will argue is the hottest prospect in the NRL. Griffin has to get off to a good start. There can’t be any excuses for a start like last year.
Oto shark
Guest
Raiders were supposed to be one of the favourites for the 2017 season also , and we all know where they ended up.
Oto shark
Guest
Not bad this make the finals two years in a row with young players I reckon . what about the other teams who haven't seen the finals for years ,they'd be pretty happy . I know they haven't done much after making the finals ,but they are young and still made the finals. Might have to be patient and not end up making bad rushed decisions.
i miss the force
Guest
moylan left and cartwright and latu and peachey wants out too. Segeyaro left recently. there is defintely a problem between coach and players. remeber that he didnt even get the broncos into the 8, something i could probably achieve
B.A Sports
Guest
So Griffen took them from outside the 8 and struggling, to into the top 8 - all with a teenage halfback.. terrible... Bryce Cartwright “arguably” one of their best two players over the last two years... Try about 11th best! They guy had a stint in NSW Cup last year! A “two year window”? I am sure the Panthers have ideas of keeping Cleary for a little longer which, from what we have seen, would see them a contender every year. Griffin doesn’t emit inspiration.. the way Wayne Bennett, the mos successful modern coach, never has? I think this has been done to death now (but it is the preseason). Apart from Moylan leaving (and we are yet to see if it will be a negative), what exactly is going wrong for Penrith? They have brought through a talented group of young players with more on the horizon, and made Finals football the last 2 yeas, at the same time. Phil Gould would be sleeping a lot better than plenty of other execs.