Gower wants out.

[Yayarg]

Unhappy Gower wants out
By Dean Ritchie
February 4, 2006

MELBOURNE Storm last night became the first club to express a genuine interest in signing disgruntled Panther Craig Gower.

Gower's future at Penrith is clouded amid talk he wants a release from his $2 million contract.

Penrith officials will desperately attempt to talk their champion halfback out of quitting the club in protest at being sacked as captain.

Gower remains furious at losing the captaincy and being fined $100,000 after a drunken weekend at a Jack Newton charity golf day on the Sunshine Coast late last year.

The Daily Telegraph has learned Gower's manager Greg Willett met Penrith officials yesterday morning.

Gower, 27, has another four years remaining on his current deal.

Melbourne is unable to make Gower an offer due to anti-tampering restrictions but Storm general manager of football operations, Peter O'Sullivan, said: "If he was released or given permission to negotiate, we'd be crazy not to talk to a player of his calibre."

Gower is currently honeymooning in Vietnam with new wife Amanda but will return for crisis talks next week with Penrith officials.

There are also suggestions three British clubs - including Castleford - may target Gower.

Penrith coach John Lang confirmed the meeting and admitted Willett raised personal issues involving Gower.

[Yayarg]

This dip**** obviously didnt learn a thing, still doesnt think he did anything wrong. He is a loser in my opinion. Penrith would be better off ****ing him off.

[leesee]

my god. he's carrying on like a child. doesn't he understand what he did carries legal implications, and he was fortunate not to have landed in court. grow up

[Granty]

This story worries me.

It's got to be a person close to either the Panthers management (unlikely) or close to Gower or his manager (possible).

Either way, someone is willing to put a large bet on the assumption/knowledge that the Panthers will let Gower go now.

And had the knowledge only 2 hours after Gowers manager spoke to the Panthers management with no 'official' decision made at that meeting.

http://www.sundaytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,9353,18044901-28777,00.html

TAB closes betting over Gower plunge

EXCLUSIVE By Phil Rothfield
February 5, 2006

THE TAB and one of Australia's leading betting agencies were forced to suspend betting on rugby league's wooden spoon and top eight yesterday after Craig Gower's bid to quit Penrith led to a massive plunge on the Panthers to finish last.

As news began to leak on Friday afternoon that Gower's manager Greg Willett had met Penrith officials to seek a release, informed punters laid a series of big bets on the Panthers to win the wooden spoon.

One punter, obviously close to the Gower camp with inside information, had two bets – $2000 on Penrith to win the wooden spoon and $2000 on Melbourne to win the premiership, knowing Storm are hot favourites to snare the champion halfback.

The bets were placed at 1.30pm on Friday at a Sydney agency, long before the full story was revealed in Saturday's The Daily Telegraph and just two hours after Willett had met the Penrith board.

SportsTAB spokesman Glen Munsie said wooden-spoon and top-eight betting would remain closed until Gower's future at Penrith had been settled.

"It might be a couple of days – it might be a bit longer," Munsie said last night. "All we laid on Friday was Penrith to win the wooden spoon. There were six big bets.

"The $2000 bet was the biggest individual bet we've held on the wooden spoon."

The punter who had $2000 on the Panthers took odds of 11/1 and will collect $24,000 if Penrith finish last. He also had $2000 on Melbourne at 26/1 and stands to win $52,000 should they win the premiership.

SportsTAB also suspended top-eight betting, pending Gower's decision.

Leading bookmaking firm Centrebet suspended betting on the wooden spoon and top eight.

"Craig Gower is a great player and if he isn't at Penrith, the chances are he will be with another NRL club," Centrebet spokesman Gerard Daffy said.

"Where he plays will have a major influence on the market – on Penrith and whichever club he joins. So we have stopped taking bets until his future is resolved.

"It is really a precaution more than anything else."

Following the loss of star halfback Matt Orford to Manly, the Storm were at the generous price of $2.25 to make the top eight with SportsTAB.

With a rookie halfback at the helm in Cooper Cronk, the TAB had doubts about Melbourne's ability to match the premiership's big guns. But with a classy halfback in Gower likely to come on board, Melbourne would have a far greater chance of making the eight.

While Willett refuses to comment on where Gower is likely to play next year, The Sunday Telegraph understands Storm are odds-on favourites to sign him, should he ignore the big money offers from English clubs.

Willett cannot confirm talks have taken place with Melbourne because of the NRL's anti-tampering laws.

Other major betting organisations were still betting on the wooden spoon last night but are likely to review the situation today.

[nq_gurl]

let him go to england

[Granty]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/gowers-ultimatum-defend-me-or-ill-walk/2006/02/05/1139074110257.html

Gower's ultimatum: defend me or I'll walk

By Greg Prichard
February 6, 2006

THE Penrith management's reaction to concerns detailed to the club by Craig Gower via his manager, Greg Willett, will this week determine whether the star player formally asks for a release from his five-year, $2.25 million contract.

Willett responded on Gower's behalf yesterday to end speculation about why the manager met Penrith chief executive Mick Leary and coach John Lang on Friday.

He said Gower was not angry with any individuals at the club nor was he necessarily seeking a reversal of the club's penalty - the loss of the captaincy and a $30,000 fine - for his alcohol-fuelled misbehaviour at a charity golf tournament on the Sunshine Coast in December.

But, Willett said, Gower remained deeply upset because he believed he did not get a reasonable opportunity to tell his side of the story before the decision was made and felt the club, while punishing him, should have done more to publicly defend his character.

"Craig gets back from his honeymoon on Wednesday or Thursday and I'll be looking to set up a meeting for us with the Penrith bosses before the weekend," Willett said. "We haven't asked for a release, but nothing has been ruled in or out at this stage.

"Part of the way you fix things is to sit down and have a chat, and Craig asked me to have a word to the club. The next step will be to bring Craig in on a meeting and see how the people in charge react to what was said.

"It's fair to say Craig is looking for the club to accept they went about things the wrong way. It wasn't so much the extent of the punishment, but the way the whole thing was dealt with that gobsmacked him.

"Craig put himself in a situation where he was drunk and he did the wrong thing and he had to cop something for it, but he didn't get the chance to give his side of the story.

"Some of the things he was alleged to have done, he didn't actually do, but the decision was made and dished out and that was it. He's unhappy about the process and he's also unhappy that the club didn't stick up for his character a bit more.

"You can go crook on a bloke for doing the wrong thing, but you can also point out the good things he does and Craig does plenty on behalf of the club.

"The club might still think they handled it the right way, but if Craig doesn't think the answers are good enough and they say, 'Bad luck', he might jump up and say, 'I'm out of here'. Or they might agree they could have handled things a bit better. We'll have to wait and see."

Willett also said Gower had no problem with teammate Tony Puletua accepting the vacant captaincy. "It's rubbish to suggest there is a problem between Craig and Tony," Willett said. "The talk that there is a problem between Craig and the other Penrith players because none of them were invited to his wedding is wrong, too.

"The guest list had to be kept to 90, including family and partners, and that was split between the bride and groom, so the invitations were obviously spread pretty thin. Craig thought that if he invited one or two teammates, others might get upset. He had a buck's night in Sydney with all of them instead."

Leary and Penrith chairman Barry Walsh said they would consider what Gower and his manager had to say.

"Penalising Craig like that was one of the hardest things I've had to do," Walsh said. "We'll talk to him and we'll work on building him back up and his image back up. He is Penrith through and through and we want him to stay."

Melbourne Storm's chief executive, Brian Waldron, said the club would be interested in Gower if he became available, and Castleford yesterday confirmed their interest in him.

- - - - - - - - - -

"But, Willett said, Gower remained deeply upset because he believed he did not get a reasonable opportunity to tell his side of the story before the decision was made and felt the club, while punishing him, should have done more to publicly defend his character."

Pffftt :tongue:

Gower's first defence was: "Nothing happened" :whatthe:.

When enough people came forward to say that something did happen Gower's seconded defence was: "I was so drunk I don't remember anything" :pale:.

Was 'his side of the story' going to be any different when defending himself in front of the Panthers Board :scratch:.

And an argument could be put that by not tearing up his contract and throwing him out of the Club the Panthers were defending his character :clown:.

[Granty]

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18062248-23214,00.html

Penrith in 'panic' over Gower

By Dean Ritchie
February 7, 2006

PENRITH was last night accused of "panicking" in sacking Craig Gower as captain although the NRL is pushing for the embattled halfback to remain at the Panthers.

Ex-Panthers centre Ryan Girdler took a swipe at Penrith for their handling of the Gower saga, claiming the club failed to support their skipper.

"I think Craig was treated harshly given he's the club's leader," Girdler said.

"You stand behind your captain through the good times and the bad times.

"I think they panicked. It seemed to be a rash decision which was rushed through."

Gower is poised to request a release from Penrith after losing the captaincy and being fined $100,000 ($70,000 suspended) for groping Wayne Pearce's teenage daughter during a drunken rampage at a charity golf event on the Sunshine Coast late last year.

"I think they could have given him more support. They took the word of people who weren't there," Girdler said. "I know Craig was upset before he left on his honeymoon. If he's upset, maybe it is better he leaves. But that's a decision for Craig to make.

"I know he always put the club first but now he may put himself first."

NRL chief executive David Gallop entered the Gower debate yesterday, saying: "Hopefully the issue will settle down for everyone's sake.

"I'm sure Penrith fans would like to see a local boy like Craig be there for many years to come.

"And local heroes are important to our game."

Canberra and Brisbane - two clubs thought to be interested in Gower should he be released - said they had no room under their salary caps.

TAB Sportsbet yesterday re-opened betting after closing markets on the NRL premiership and wooden spoon after the Gower drama broke. Penrith has now eased from $13 to $24 to win the premiership and firmed from $17 into $7 to claim the wooden spoon.

The Daily Telegraph

- - - - - - - - - -


Ex-Panthers centre Ryan Girdler took a swipe at Penrith for their handling of the Gower saga, claiming the club failed to support their skipper.

"I think Craig was treated harshly given he's the club's leader," Girdler said.

"You stand behind your captain through the good times and the bad times.

"I think they panicked. It seemed to be a rash decision which was rushed through."

:sign5:

Stand behind yor captain through the good times and the bad times, yes, but in the idiot times the Club has a responsibility to bring out the Large Wooden Mallet of What The F#@&!!! Where You Thinking(tm) and hit the captain many, many times.

All things considered, the Panthers didn't hit Gower with the WTFWYT Mallet(tm) as hard as they could have, and reading between the lines, Gower doesn't seem to be upset with the Panthers over the penatlies handed down, but the way in which things where done. He believes he didn't get a chance to plead his case - it can't be 'he didn't get a chance to tell his story' because he can't remember what happened (unless he's changing that story again)

[leesee]

granty, this is a club who gets kicked out of their own leagues club. i don't think such a mallet exists

[Stido]

Gower in Penrith backflip
By James Hooper and Paul Kent
February 11, 2006

THE turmoil surrounding sacked Penrith captain Craig Gower took a dramatic turn last night as it emerged the star halfback was considering a switch to Melbourne.

Three days after pledging to fulfil his $2 million deal with Penrith, Gower is still contemplating a backflip to link with the Storm.

Simmering about a lack of support from Panthers powerbrokers over the charity golf incident, Gower will meet his manager Greg Willett to discuss his uncertain future today.

The Daily Telegraph understands Melbourne would be prepared to offer Gower around $1.6 million over three years.

And premiers Wests Tigers may also be interested in Gower's services if the Panthers halfback was to become a free agent. Gower was unavailable for comment last night while Panthers coach John Lang was unaware of the latest development.

Pressed over whether Penrith would grant Gower a release from his current contract which goes until the end of 2010, Lang said: "I'd cross that bridge if I got to it but obviously no one wants to lose their gun player."

Adding to the intrigue is that NRL clubs are not allowed to enter into negotiations with Gower due to strict anti-tampering laws.

So in effect, Gower is gambling that should he choose to leave he could still find a new home for this season.

No club has made an official approach to the Australia Test player but a halfback of his calibre could easily command interest if Penrith agreed to release him.


Advertisement:
Melbourne chief executive Brian Waldron was last night adamant the Storm had not approached Gower, saying: "We've never even spoken to him."
"If Craig decided he wanted to move on and Penrith decided it's in their best interests to let him go we'd love to have a talk to him.

"But at the moment we're all talking hypotheticals."

Gower's decision will have widespread ramifications with the Panthers chances of qualifying for the play-offs plummeting if the star playmaker opts to depart.

The Daily Telegraph

[Stido]

Shoulda put this one 1st but here it is.

Brandy kept Gower at Penrith
By Dean Ritchie
February 10, 2006

PENRITH legend Greg Alexander was last night identified as the man who appeased Craig Gower, telling the sacked Panthers captain: "Leave and it will eat you alive."

Dragon run: Clubs queue up for Barrett

Alexander, nicknamed "Brandy", telephoned Gower for a heart-to-heart on Wednesday morning when the halfback returned to Sydney from his honeymoon with new wife Amanda.

Gower had expressed disappointment with the Penrith board's decision to sack and fine him after a drunken episode at a Jack Newton charity golf day on the Sunshine Coast late last year.

But input from Penrith board member and friend Alexander persuaded Gower to remain a Panther.

"I've known him 10 years and I know the bloke he is," Alexander said.

"I know if he had left Penrith on this note it would have eaten him alive for perhaps the rest of his life, certainly his football career.

"It wouldn't be fulfilling for Craig had he finished at another club.

"Leaving wasn't the solution, not after the guts he has shown on the field for Penrith over 11 years.


Advertisement:
"He's a Penrith boy and I told him to go anywhere else would be giving up all the hard work he has put in at Penrith.
"The grass isn't always greener on the other side.

"I had a good chat to Craig but, in the end, it was always going to be Craig's decision."

Gower returned to training with Penrith yesterday at a weights session and also met chief executive Glenn Matthews to sort out his differences with the club.

But there were unfounded rumours yesterday that all was still not well between the two parties.

However, Alexander said: "He was disappointed with a few things.

"But I asked him whether he had a problem with training, his teammates or 'Langy' (coach John Lang).

"He said he hadn't. That's 90 per cent of the battle won.

"I said that you play for yourself and your teammates. You don't play for the board.

"I was talking to him as a mate - we have been through a bit together.

"But we should remember, Craig never did ask for a release."

Panthers teammates were yesterday relieved that Gower was now staying.

"It would have been a hard start to the season had the No.7 not been filled," prop Joel Clinton said.

"I never thought he was going to leave.

"Craig's a Penrith boy through and through. It's good to have him back."

Preston Campbell added: "We read all these things in the paper, but no one knew what was going on."

The Daily Telegraph