Phil Gould has smashed the “ridiculous” NRL scheduling as the Panthers look set to be without a host of key stars for their round 16 clash against the Warriors.
The reigning premiers will travel across to Auckland this weekend for a crucial game in the context of their season and top-eight hopes.
However, head coach Ivan Cleary confirmed after their round 14 win against the Tigers that the club’s State of Origin representatives wouldn’t make the trip.
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Panthers coach Ivan Cleary Getty
“Well the Origin players won’t be playing because they can’t,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s fair that we can’t play … we should be able to make that decision.
“Through flights, we just can’t get them there.”
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It means that Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards will all definitely miss Friday night’s game.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus, the former Penrith boss took aim at those in charge and said he would be blowing up” if he still worked at the club.
“What about the ridiculous scheduling for the poor old Panthers this week,” Gould said.
“They are playing on Wednesday night in Perth, all these Origin players, and they’ve got them backing up on Friday night in New Zealand.
Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo won’t play in round 16. Getty
“How would they expect those players to back up? It’s terrible. If I was the Panthers club, I would be blowing up deluxe. They’re not gonna take their Origin players across.
“Someone at the NRL probably said ‘oh it doesn’t matter, they won’t play anyway’ but in previous years, they were leading the comp. Now they are in a battle for the top-eight and I’m sure they would have loved to have had those Origin players available.
“How do we do that to our game? It’s shooting the product in the foot.”
Penrith sit in ninth spot on the NRL ladder with five wins, seven losses and one draw.
