Penrith Panthers stars ordered to alter contract or find new club

[Kaz]

Four of the biggest names at the Penrith Panthers have been told they could be forced out of the club if they don't take a pay cut.
The future of representative stars Michael Jennings, Tim Grant, Lachlan Coote and Sam McKendry is under fresh scrutiny after they were called to a meeting with Penrith's general manager Phil Gould on October 30 - just two days before the club's first day of pre-season training.

All four players were asked via text message from Gould to attend the meeting.

But instead of a pre-season pep-talk, The Sunday Telegraph has learned that Gould told the club's four biggest names that if they weren't prepared to remove a clause in their contract, which relates to each player earning a percentage of any increase in the NRL's $5 million salary cap, then one of the them may have to leave.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...or-find-new-club/story-e6frexnr-1226518793102

Gould is going to stuff up another team that he is in charge of. (2nd time for the Panthers)

 

[vertigo]

Jennings on 600k is ridiculous, he isn't worth half that for the injuries and off-field baggage.

Its managements fault for giving them huge contracts that has stuffed them for the next couple of years but as a player I'd tell them to get stuffed too.

 

[Kimlo]

We should pick up one of them.

Tim grant or Lachlan Coote would be excellent at the right price. Coote could play fullback and Grant is an excellent prop.

 

[ningnangnong]

We should definitely monitor the situation... Tim Grant would be mammoth for us.

 

[ningnangnong]

Gould is going to stuff up another team that he is in charge of. (2nd time for the Panthers)

Yes, because it'd be better for him to just let them go over the cap, wouldn't it?

 

[Alec]

If I was treated like that, I wouldn't budge. Let them pay out my contract if they want to. Then I'll sign for less.

 

[broncos4life]

Agree with what some have said, grant would be a massive signing for us. Apparently he respects the whole out of Petero, he should get him on the phone and tell him how great the broncs are

 

[Kaz]

Yes, because it'd be better for him to just let them go over the cap, wouldn't it?

But their not over the cap yet. And if they went over the cap the NRL will hit them with a wet feather & told don't do that again.

Gould is trying the guilt trip on them.

Most 'stars' have that written into their contracts these days.

One of these days, a player is going to take the NRL to court & fight the Salary Cap by saying it's a restraint of trade & they would win.

 

[Nashy]

Pretty sure the AFL had a court case. It was thrown out when it came to restraint of trade. It's your choice to play in the NRL, so you play under the league laws.

 

[Alec]

I'd take Coote if he was offered. He is one of the better ball players back there too. Grant is pretty good, but I dunno how you can keep 3 quality starting props in the same side when there are only 2 spots available, 1 of them would leave for sure.

 

[Broncoman]

I'd would take a shot at the services of Lachlan Coote and Tim Grant if they were avaible. Coote is a very good running fullback and Grant is what spwn said, an excellent prop. I would ignore Jennings he has a massive attitude problem and is not even worth close to what he is getting. Gould has been stuffing Penrith up ever since he has arrived, Michael Gordon and Luke Lewis have left and the possibility of more top line players, what a joke.

 

[Kimlo]

Yeah I definitely wouldn't want Jennings, he's not worth anywhere near what he gets paid.
I would be so happy if we got Coote, he would add a lot of quality to our backline.

 

[Coxy]

Pretty sure the AFL had a court case. It was thrown out when it came to restraint of trade. It's your choice to play in the NRL, so you play under the league laws.

Pretty sure the court ruled it is a restraint of trade, but while all clubs agree to it, it's ok.

So will just take one club wanting to retain a player to challenge it and all bets are off

 

[Foordy]

The Panthers (and Gould), may want them to get rid of those clauses... but if they tell them to shove it, the Panthers wont have a league to stand on.

if for example they try to get rid of Jennings, they WILL end up still paying part of his wage, because i highly doubt any club would be willing to take him for 600k. and the portion of the wage that the Panthers would be required to pay, AFAIK, would still have to be counted under the cap.