Feb 19th, 2018

Feb 19th, 2018

Hook to perform or perish

PENRITH are set to give embattled coach Anthony Griffin 10 games to prove he hasn't lost the playing group at the Panthers and deserves to keep his job.

The Panthers have been plagued by rumours of discontent over the past year and the departure of star players Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright - with Tyrone Peachey set to follow in 2019 - has only added fuel to the fire.

Penrith under-performed last season, starting the year as premiership favourites and finishing seventh, bowing out in the second week of the finals.

Penrith has been plagued by rumours of discontent following the departure of stars Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright. (AAP)

Griffin was given a two-year extension by Phil Gould at the end of 2017 and the Panthers supremo is best mates with Griffin's manager Wayne Beavis.

But the Panthers will cut their losses if they start the new season poorly and look for a new coach.

Plenty of coaches will start 2018 under pressure - but none more so than Griffin at the foot of the mountains.

Bad boy given green light to play

SERIAL bad boy Paul Carter is set to get the green light to resume his career by the NSW Rugby League.

Carter was de-registered by the NRL after a drugs charge last season and has since been exposed by Wide World of Sports for scamming fans by selling jerseys on ebay and then not delivering them.

Former NRL bad boy Paul Carter has been cleared to play for Cessnock in the NSWRL. (AAP)

But that seems not to matter to the NSWRL, who have indicated Carter is free to play with Cessnock in the Newcastle competition.

There is still one hurdle - Carter owes money to Coffs Harbour Comets, who he played a couple of games for last season before being de-registered.

Once he pays the Comets back, he will be free to take the field again.

Former Shark joins Rabbitohs coaching team

FORMER NSW State of Origin and Kangaroo utility Phil Bailey has joined the coaching staff at South Sydney.

A popular centre or back-rower who played over 100 games for both the Sharks and Wigan, Bailey has travelled the world in recent years.

Former Cronulla Shark backrower Phil Bailey has joined the coaching staff of South Sydney. (AAP)

He coached the New York Knights in the USA for several seasons and most recently was coaching a rugby union club in Hong Kong.

But he is now back in Sydney and has been appointed assistant coach to Shane Millard at Souths' feeder club, North Sydney.

A keen student of the game, Bailey is certain to be useful to rookie Souths coach Anthony Seibold.

Deposed Dog retains spot on NSWRL board

The hottest topic among league officials last week centres around the election that never was.

Deposed Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib was set to fight it out with former Test forward Geoff Gerard and Sharks chairman Dino Mezzatesta for the two vacant spots on the NSW Rugby League board.

Canterbury Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib has retained his position on the NSWRL board. (AAP)

There was a push against Dib, with insiders telling me he would have struggled in the ballot.

But days before the vote, Mezzatesta suddenly withdrew his nomination - and the election was cancelled - with Dib and Gerard automatically getting the last two spots.

Sheens suffers UK identity crisis

Tim Sheens may be one of the biggest names in the rugby league world, but in the north of England, he suffers an identity crisis, apparently.

The coach of newly-promoted Hull KR, Sheens was attempting to leave Leeds' famous Elland Road ground via the media exit last week when a security guard pounced.

Premiership-winning coach Tim Sheens was stopped by an over-zealous security guard in the UK. (AAP)

"Are you press?"

"I'm the coach."

"Ok then."