There is nothing but love for “Reg” at Penrith, and the front-rower’s controversial claims he had stopped caring in his final year at the Panthers was a case of him being too honest.
So says Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s good friend and Panthers’ co-captain Isaah Yeo.
Campbell-Gillard, the Penrith junior who played 113 NRL games for the Panthers before joining Parramatta, despite having five years to run on his deal, locks horns with plenty of his mates on Sunday.
Yeo went as far to say he was “best mates” with Campbell-Gillard when he was at Penrith, and the long-held belief there had been a falling-out between “RCG” and the Panthers was well off the mark.
“Sometimes Reg can be too honest, and he was too honest that day,” Yeo told the Herald.
“There are no grudges. He’s been there a few years now, and he was emotional with the exit from here and wasn’t happy with his exit.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard is still loved by his old Penrith teammatesCredit:Getty Images
“He hasn’t been a part of this [a grand final] before, so I’m stoked for him.
“At the same time I’m hoping I’m the happy one next Sunday.
“We don’t talk before games. We won’t be mates on the field for 80 minutes. He used to try and get me to talk on the field, but it won’t happen.”
Campbell-Gillard admitted he mixed up his words when he first arrived at the Eels, and what he meant to say was he stopped caring about himself.
For the record, he maintains Penrith are no longer contributing to any part of his deal this season.
“It was more a case of me no longer trying for myself, I went through a shit patch,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“I’ve always said things happen for a reason. I’m a big believer in that, whether it’s general life, a relationship or your job.
“They’ve been in the grand final the last three years, so if you ask them about the decision [to part ways with me], they’d tell you they’re happy, and likewise myself.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard getting fired up during a game for Penrith.Credit:NRL Photos
“I’ll always be grateful I got to play with them, especially being a local junior. I still live in the area. There are a lot of Parra fans in Penrith.”
As for his bond with Yeo, Campbell-Gillard said: “We were roomies in the under-20s and on away trips.
“He was always this tall, goofy, skinny, hunched-back kid with a big under-bite, but we had the same sense of humour. He’s a family man, he comes from a beautiful family, and always been the ultimate professional.”
Campbell-Gillard, who a couple of years ago revealed there had been a “gentleman’s agreement” in place that nothing silly would happen when he first clashed with Penrith in 2020, said the premiers had since perfected the wrestle, including Yeo.
“‘Yeoy’ can’t whack, all he does it catch and wrestle you,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“We did that [wrestling] twice a week when I was there. They’ve mastered the wrestle in rugby league.
“I’m always on my back with them like a turtle. But they’ve been the best team the past three years [when it comes to defence].”
Fellow Eel Shaun Lane noted the Panthers were the best at “suffocating rivals”, especially when they were trying to bring the ball off their own line.
Campbell-Gillard bagged just his second career try double in Friday’s preliminary final, and his form in the back half of the year has him in line for a Kangaroos’ World Cup recall.
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