INTERIM coach Cameron Ciraldo has broken his silence on the developing saga at Penrith, following claims by Phil Gould that he tried to quit twice.

On Channel 9 on Thursday night, the Panthers’ general manager said Ciraldo had twice handed in his resignation because of the way he was treated by former coach Anthony Griffin.

Ciraldo confirmed Gould’s claims, but stopped short of elaborating on the reasons.

LIVE Stream every game of every round of the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. SIGN UP NOW.

Round 20

“That’s true and at the time of me wanting to do that I just thought it was in the best interests of myself and the club and ‘Hook’ and my family, that I did that,” he said.

“I got talked around twice and I’m glad I’m still here.

“There are a number of reasons for myself and my development as a coach and what I wanted to do moving forward. At the time I thought it was the best thing I could do but I’m glad Gus talked me out of it.”

Since Griffin was handed his marching orders on Monday, a media circus has followed the every move of Gould and Griffin, who have aired their tensions in the public arena.

The toxic relationship, fuelled by the timing — the Panthers are sitting equal fourth on the NRL ladder with four weeks remaining until the finals — has turned ugly.

Ciraldo, who was assistant to Griffin and will be caretaker coach until the end of the season, also defended Gould and said he has been disappointed with the way he has been represented in the media.

“It’s frustrating to see how he’s been portrayed but the people within these four walls know the type of person Gus is and love having him here and I’m sure we’ll be fine moving forward,” he said.

MORE NRL NEWS

TRANSFER CENTRE: TITANS WELCOME BACK HALF, RAIDERS SIGN GUN

‘HE EVOLVED’: WHY TACTICS NEVER WORKED ON SLATER

COULD IT HAPPEN?: THE MOST PERSISTENT RUMOURS IN THE NRL

GUS V GRIFFIN: ‘HE EMBARRASSED HIMSELF’

LATE MAIL: RABBITOHS FLYER IN DOUBT, STARS TO BATTLE ON

MATCH REPORT: JT GETS LAST LAUGH IN EPIC DERBY

“I am disappointed all the headlines around at the moment. The people within the four walls of this organisation know exactly what we’re about and what’s gone on and I’m confident that we’ll come out the other side.”

Ciraldo also said that while he would not comment on whether Griffin had indeed “lost the dressing room”, he had a working relationship with his former head coach although they had different coaching philosophies — one of the reasons Gould has given for firing Griffin after extending his contract at the end of last season.

In an explosive interview with NRL 360 on Wednesday night, Griffin said the Panthers were in terrible shape when he arrived at the club in 2015, including the development pathways.

Ciraldo said Griffin’s comments were unfair.

“I was surprised because we’d won a number of titles in the lower grades up until the point that ‘Hook’ got here,” he said.

“There were some really good systems in place and some really good people in place doing a lot of hard work before he got here and again, the people in these four walls know that.”

Despite the uncertainty at the club, Ciraldo said the playing group was focused on their job against the Titans on Saturday — hinting they will return to a free-flowing style of football.

“I think most people in this club and the way the juniors have come through, we have a particular style of football. We encourage players to back themselves and I don’t think that will change,” he said.

“I’m really lucky, I have plenty of support from family and friends and the people in this club, we’ve got some outstanding people in this club who have worked hard for a number of years to put this club where it is now.”