PANTHERS prop Tim Grant has begun planning for life after football by enlisting in a policing course at the University of Western Sydney, but the ex-NSW Origin forward could soon be walking an alternative beat to Penrith.
Grant and Kiwi Test prop Sam McKendry are the latest two Panthers stars to feel the salary cap pinch of the club’s previous administration, with the pair being shopped around to rival NRL clubs.
Under general manager Phil Gould and coach Ivan Cleary, the Panthers have undergone a complete roster overhaul with local juniors Michael Jennings and Luke Lewis forced out due to poor management decisions by the club’s previous powerbrokers, with Lachlan Coote and Michael Gordon also leaving.
In an intriguing twist, rookie Panthers prop and future star Reagan Campbell-Gillard is also studying with Grant to embrace life on the police force and is one of a number of emerging forwards at the club nipping at his heels.
The pair got the police bug when they went out on night patrols as part of Operation Enough in Penrith last year, targeting anti-social behaviour.
Interestingly, Grant is the only Penrith player who will qualify for the NRL’s long-serving player allowance next season, which means the club is granted $300,000 in wiggle room on the salary cap because the prop has been contracted for eight seasons.
Replies
IMO it is not all down to mistakes by the previous administration. It`s the decision by Cleary and Gould that the players concerned are not 'cutting the mustard' enough considering the money they are on. In short, Penrith do not want them.
Jennings and Lewis were not performing at the club level. Both were on big money. That consideration was why all the other players were shifted also.
Moral of this story : beware of players Penrith don`t want. If you want them, offer them chump change only.
Lewis and Jennings are playing better after the boot up the ass from Gould and Cleary. But yes throw chump change and see if we get a bite.
I would throw coin at Grant but not a lot
Yes, virtually my point also.
lol, just like to add some color to the articles i find.
lol WB, from all reports Grants contract was heavily back ended and he is on huge cash this and next season.
Yes, your right they are playing better. Seems that is what they needed?
We don't need any more middle forwards, even if Fui retires at the end of this season we still have heaps.
I'm not surprised they are being shopped around. I saw that Reagan Campbell-Gillard play in the 9's. He looks to have a very promising future (and was the guy that Keary tried to tackle when he ended up injuring himself). The Panthers will be very dangerous over the coming years. We could do worse than target a couple of their juniors to complement ours.
Interesting to see how Toby Evans goes for us after about 5 or 6 games when he's had the chance to settle in.
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