There’s no denying the recurring scuffles and the bad blood in the NRL this season have injected some fire into a game that sorely needs it, as boring blowouts further plague the competition.
But Penrith Panthers young gun Stephen Crichton crossed a line in terms of sportsmanship when he pulled Canberra’s Joseph Tapine into a try celebration and wouldn’t let go, sparking one of several melees that occurred throughout the 20-point victory over the Raiders last week.
And the Panthers have since responded poorly to being labeled arrogant for it. Before their Broncos clash this week, they mocked their critics with an Instagram video of Matt Burton and Charlie Staines celebrating a try at training with a simple handshake with the caption: “Is this more acceptable?”
Burton implemented the same celebration with Brian To’o and Jarome Luai when he scored against the Broncos.
It’s a tone-deaf response to the fact that last week’s incident was indeed unsportsmanlike and invited a push and shove when it wasn’t necessary.
It’s not been their only problematic act in the past 12 months when they’ve enjoyed some surprising success, or their worst. Up the top of a list of recent grubby acts is Jarome Luai stomping on Warriors playmaker Kodi Nikorima’s head in Round 14 last year, for which he was handed no penalty.
It’s disappointing that it’s taken this long for there to be proper debate around Penrith overstepping the mark.
As for coach Ivan Cleary’s reasoning for the latest behaviour?
“We get a little bit of niggle towards our boys, especially because we are young.”
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
What sort of excuse is this supposed to be?
It’s not a bit of niggle when the talk is that your player group has reached a point of arrogance where they’re okay to incite a scuffle the way Crichton did.
And they’re continuing to get off lightly. Crichton was fined just over $1350 for his act, a barely noticeable deduction from salaries that hit six figures. Meanwhile, the Raiders were hit with a fine of over $10,000 merely because a trainer put a hand on a Panther’s back during the incident.
Unless something changes it’s going to keep boiling over and getting worse, and the Panthers can’t hide behind their success tag forever.
Now, the Panthers are a great side and their recent run of success has been amazing to watch. And of course, any side that’s going well is going to pick up a band of haters. The Roosters and Storm can attest to that.
But when your club’s players are engaged in some dog acts in between those brilliant plays and little seems to be done beyond taking the criticism as a term of endearment, that is going to draw stronger hate and that hate will be deserved.
And whether it takes someone getting hurt or the NRL finally puts its foot down, if this grubby run continues further, it will come back to bite Penrith hard.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
Brett Hull - NHL ice hockey legend, 4th highest goal scorer in the league said he never jumped up & down when he scored a goal, never gave the defenseman a serve etc because he didn't want the opposition to look for him everytime he was on the ice. You gob off to the oposition, they're going to look out for you & make sure they know where you are. That attitude is missing in the NRL as many players cannot wait to bore it up the opposition, pat them on the head and give them a mouthfull if they drop the ball etc.
WESTS for Life
Roar Rookie
Yeh, the arrogance stems right from the top with Ivan Cleary firstly walking out of a contract with Wests Tigers to coach his beloved son, then as you said, blowing kisses to a Wests Tigers supporter. Then secondly, the coaches beloved son Nathan Cleary entertaining a room full of girls during the Covid lock-down followed by him lying about it. I really dont think Penrith can deny they are a very arrogant club.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Kerry - said like a truly sour roosters supporter. That may be only your opinion, but hate to break it to you there are many many more who like Latrell for who he is, his skills and his persona. No doubt one of the best players in the game.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
the NFL has taunting penalties, unsportsmanlike penalties, maybe they need to be brought in here? If the $$ fines are substantial and the team suffers because of penalties, the coaches'll tell them to pull their heads in and concentrate on just playing footy. personally I'l like to see the likes of Spud, Chief, Munster, Dallas etc show them how they deal with this sort of crap, unfortunately in todays game she aint gunna happen
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You have a pretty good hypocrisy meter . Well done.
Kerry Hanson
Guest
I would have to say that Mitchell is quickly becoming the most despised player in the game , and is creating a legacy that has nothing to do with his ability to play rugby league. By the time he left the Roosters, he was pretty hard to like , even as a Roosters supporter. As far as the Penrith players go , they better keep winning, because I’m sure they’ll be let know all about it if they start losing their cool .
egbert
Guest
Thanks Albo - yes I have thought this at times too: the animosity to Penrith may be born of snobbishness at an unfashionable club in an area not exactly known for its nuanced lifestyle, suddenly having 'surprising success' as this piece puts it. This article is unconvincing and dead-horse flogging. The Crichton incident was very poor on his part, but it is isolated and not symptomatic of a systemic problem of arrogance at the club. And the handshaking thing I thought was pretty witty and playful, wouldn't mind seeing more of that in the game. I don't see how you can regard that as anything but light, and hardly 'tone-deaf'. (Urgh, and I hesitate to even mention this, but is it also possible a smidge of the venom at Penrith might stem from a more grave and heinous prejudice, when you consider the players who have been singled out? Not that this article is that. )
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Agree Nat. Not sure the "dog act" slur can be thrown around just yet.
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Yep, its like the Panthers are batting at 3/450 and instead of pointing at the scoreboard, are getting involved in some mediocre sledging war.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"We all hope d#ckheads get theirs at some point..." ......yep....we sure do Big Mig! https://streamable.com/7l474l
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
I have no issue with what the Panthers did, sooner or later they'll get their comeuppance. Their behavior comes from the top after all (Ivan blowing kisses to a tigers fan at a match). We all hope d#ckheads get theirs at some point, the problem is that in the good ol' days, Tapine would have sent Crichton into next week, but because of all the 'rules' the player antagonizing is a protected species and we all have to rely on MRC to issue a $1,300 fine (hardly any comeuppance here).
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Absolutely! "Storm meet teacup" - it's a nothing story! :thumbup:
Albo
Roar Rookie
A mix of tall poppy syndrome & total media beat up here ! A piddling storm in a teacup. It was a nothing incident with a couple of over enthusiastic Panthers being a bit juvenile and dragging Tapine into their celebration huddle. Even Tapine was laughing. There was nothing malicious. No body was hurt. No-one threw any punches and it was all over in a few seconds. Crichton got a fine for being a juvenile dill and the Raiders copped a fine for their official / trainer getting involved with a couple of Panther players. Then we had the Raiders CEO abusing Panthers coach & individual Panthers players via the media ? What other Club CEO does that, and especially a Club with a player history with so many errant Raiders players in recent times ? And somehow this is all construed as Panthers arrogant antics ? Huh ? It must be because these guys are from those elite, arrogance breeding environs of western Sydney and those spoilt suburbs of Mount Druitt and Penrith ? Damn elites !
Nat
Roar Guru
I think this article my have stepped into hyperbole territory. You may have also slipped into the mistake Tim Gore made in comparing one fine to the other, along with lightening the involvement of the trainer. It is arguable the fine to Crichton basically equates to a 'D-head' punishment. However, it came about, it was just a melee and I would argue that the Panthers cared more for the unwanted media attention rather then the fine. The reaction and subsequent tweet were childish, like they had been personally insulted. Arrogant, yes, but let's not start jumping into 'dog act' territory, less you have no where t go when a player is actually injured not just have their feelings hurt.
Paul
Roar Guru
The real question is whether this gains Penrith any sort of advantage and the simple answer is, no it does not. This is team that is playing great footy and is winning. It has no need to engage in any niggle or arrogant tactics because it loses them far more than it gains All the Panthers players have to do is enjoy success within their group and if opposition players want to niggle, point at the scoreboard.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Dog acts ? Have a little read of SMH online for a better idea of events leading up to that. There’s a video of Ryan James head slamming a prone on the ground Eisenhuth. There’s accusations of Rapana ridiculing Penrith players after what was eventually a no try to Canberra. And then there’s the push in the back from Crocker on Martin as he ran into congratulate his players on that try sparking the whole thing.. Oh, and just being lectured by a club who employs Michael Ennis, laughably contradictory.
The Mexican
Roar Rookie
I agree with you about the Panthers missing the point, they are trying to make it appear it's about the try celebration and divert attention from Crichton's arrogant act to humiliate a player of a losing side on national television, that is what everyone has a problem with!