A relaxed, yet intelligibly annoyed, Ivan Cleary has shrugged disconnected questions astir 'Trainergate' up of the Panthers' preliminary last clash with the Storm time afternoon.
When asked who would beryllium replacing suspended trainer Peter Green for the crippled against the Storm, Cleary chuckled.
"Do you guys truly care, honestly?" helium replied.
"We've patched our aesculapian unit up, conscionable similar the remainder of the team."
Cleary was adamant that Penrith person not been bogged down by that controversy, which has dragged connected done the week crossed some accepted and societal media platforms.
However, his hackles were raised by immoderate of the coverage, which has focused heavy connected Green, having earlier this play been progressive successful different incidental that drew a informing from the NRL.
"It hasn't been disruptive astatine all," Cleary said.
"We consciousness atrocious for some of our trainers involved, 1 of which was named and shamed which I conscionable deliberation is wholly unfair."
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On Tuesday, the NRL announced Green been suspended for the remainder of the season, and the nine had been fined $25,000.
"We benignant of recognize however [the NRL] came to that decision but astatine the extremity of the day, they were conscionable doing their job," Cleary said.
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Although seat hooker Mitch Kenny volition miss tomorrow's game, Cleary said some Brian To'o and Villiame Kikau, who remained nether wounded clouds, would play.
"He [To'o] looks truly bully this week. Billy looks bully too," Cleary said.
The Origin winger missed the triumph implicit the Eels with an ankle issue, but Cleary said that with bigger games connected the horizon, it was much precautionary than thing else.
"He could person played past week but we really pulled him out," helium said.
"It's going to beryllium a large payment for him and helium looks wholly antithetic this week."
Melbourne volition beryllium caller aft a week off, following a comfy triumph implicit Manly a fortnight ago. Opinions person ever been divided connected whether that precious week disconnected is really beneficial for teams.
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"I conjecture we'll find retired astir 5.30 connected Saturday," Cleary said erstwhile asked for his view.
"It's the question that's asked each twelvemonth that ne'er decently gets answered, I don't think.
"Both person their advantages, we surely went into the archetypal week of the finals with the tendency and the intent to triumph that game."
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The manager said his squad were hardened physically and mentally and had nary concerns subordinate to fatigue, contempt the frantic gait that the squad has played astatine twelvemonth - peculiarly successful defence.
"I'm not disquieted astir being tired, astatine all. There's been perfectly nary signs of that successful this squad for 2 years," Cleary said.
"They've gone done a mates of pugnacious encounters for sure, yes we've had a fewer injuries, but there's nary signs of tiredness. I bash deliberation we're battle-hardened."
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