NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent has blasted Panthers young gun Jaeman Salmon, coach Ivan Cleary and the club’s overall “lack of class and humility”.
Kent went after the reigning premiers after Salmon screamed “weak-gutted dog” towards the Canberra crowd after scoring in their thumping win on Friday night.
Salmon was repeating the same sledge Raiders coach Ricky Stuart used on him following their infamous clash last season.
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The Panthers slammed Stuart, who was suspended over the incident, but Kent argued the club couldn’t have it both ways after Cleary described Salmon scoring as “good karma”.
“It was a mug’s comment, to be honest,” Kent said.
“I don’t mind Jaeman Salmon saying what he said, if you want to return serve when someone has a shot at you, go for your life.
“But don’t walk around kicking stones and giving the sad face and telling everyone how hurt and upset you are and have everyone give you a hug because of how unfair it is and live on the sympathy of that for months and then you’re back in town and when you’re up 53-12 and you fire back at them.
“It’s one or the other. That’s character.”
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Kent then turned his attention to Cleary who he believes should have shown more empathy around the fact Stuart was reportedly defending in his family when he attacked on Salmon.
“As a coach, good on Ivan for standing by his players. As a father, who coaches his son ironically but as a father, maybe he should have a little more understanding of where Ricky was coming from and just elected to say nothing,” Kent said.
“I have a problem with this Penrith team in that, as we’ve seen again, they just lack class. They win grand finals and rub their opponents noses in it. They give a big up yours to anybody that gives them any criticism.
“Don’t sit there and say how sad you are about it and then return serve and say the exact same thing six months later when you’ve got your tail up.”
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But fellow journalist Pete Badel then went into bat for the Penrith coach and said Stuart deserved everything that came his way over the incident.
“The only mug’s comment, started with Ricky,” Badel said.
“Ricky led with his chin, to using a boxing parlance, and got an uppercut and he deserved it. I think Ivan’s well within his rights to have a crack back.”
Phil Rothfield then also fired at Kent: “I don’t think the club is as out of control as you’re suggesting. Is there a finer human in this game than Isaah Yeo.”
Kent then exploded and pointed to Jarome Luai’s drunken speech at Brian To’o wedding last year as proof to his argument.
“The issue is when they act like mugs, the club through their tacit approval, endorse it,” Kent said.
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“These players comes into your club as young men and part of the spiel to mum and dad when you’re trying to sign them up is what we’re going to do is teach your young boy to be a good young man.
“Parents hand their kids over to these clubs and they spend many of their development years there and the club has a big impact on the men they grow into.
“But they’re not looked after which results in things like the wedding last year when Jarome Luai gets up and makes an absolute mug’s speech on this young woman’s greatest day of her life.
“Why wasn’t someone there saying let’s at least see your speech as part of the caretaking part of the club.
“They are not being educated to show any humility or class.”
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