IN the wake of Anthony Griffin’s sensational axing, foxsports.com.au looks at the ramifications of the Panthers’ decision four weeks out from the finals.

Here are the five burning questions:

1. Can Penrith win the 2018 premiership without Hook?

It’s hard to imagine the Panthers winning the competition with or without Anthony Griffin, given their recent form slump and the form of teams like the Storm, Rabbitohs and Roosters.

Round 20

However, the fact that Phil Gould said that Griffin had lost some of the playing group and staff suggests they are a better chance of winning the competition without Griffin than with him.

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The Panthers have one of the best playing rosters in the competition and despite some injury concerns, they have the depth to go all the way.

But they need the players to buy into the coach’s vision and their defence in recent weeks is evidence enough that the players weren’t turning up for Griffin.

2. If Ivan Cleary is in, what does it mean for the Tigers?

Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary has made no secret of his desire to link up with son Nathan. Source: AAP

First thing is first, if the Tigers lose Ivan Cleary they need to demand considerable compensation for their coach, who still has two years to run on his contract.

There are enough good coaches around, with names like Wayne Bennett, Michael Maguire and Des Hasler to replace Cleary, but the timing makes it difficult to find a replacement in time for pre-season.

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The Tigers need an established coach to continue the good work that Cleary has already started, so a rookie coach is not going to cut it.

If Cleary walks, the Tigers need financial compensation and an experienced and proven NRL coach to fill his shoes.

Josh Reynolds, who only started playing for Cleary this season, said it would be a huge blow to the Tigers.

“It will have a big impact on us to be honest … Everything that he has brought, everyone wants to buy into it, and everyone has,” he told NRL360.

3. Wayne Bennett is being mentioned as another key target, how likely is it?

There is plenty of mail Wayne Bennett is on Phil Gould’s hit list as the second option behind Ivan Cleary.

This was only fuelled further when Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher said on Tuesday morning the Broncos coach and Gould could work together.

When the name Bennett was put to Gould, the Penrith supremo did his best to laugh the question off.

“Wayne Bennett? That would be fun wouldn’t it,” he said. “Could he work with me? I don’t know.”

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The Broncos are already looking beyond Bennett, having spoken with Craig Bellamy earlier in the season and attempting to lure Paul Green from North Queensland. The 68-year-old has indicated he wants to coach on beyond the 2019 season when he is due to finish up at Red Hill.

It is not a club Bennett would have to rebuild, and he could envisage another premiership at the Panthers considering their talented roster and state-of-the-art facilities.

4. What does it mean for Nathan Cleary’s future?

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the Panthers are chasing Ivan Cleary because if they can lock him up, they can keep his superstar son Nathan at the foot of the mountains and build the club around him.

Nathan desperately wants to play for his dad, so to avoid losing the NSW Blues halfback to the Tigers, Gould had to swallow his pride and invite Ivan back after sacking him in 2015 and offer him a long-term deal.

The Panthers want to build their club around Nathan Cleary. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne) Source: AAP

Nathan’s contract at the Panthers runs its course at the end of the 2019 season, so the prospect of the pair playing together next year would be attractive to both.

Ivan is considered one of the best coaches in the NRL and he knows Nathan’s game better than anyone. So you can only assume Nathan’s career would continue to blossom under him.

However, if coach Cleary turns down the rich Panthers offer, it would allow the young halfback to consider options for himself once he is able to speak to other clubs in November.

At the moment, it seems as though the decision is being made for him.

5. Who is Cameron Ciraldo and how much input is Phil Gould going to have on the team?

Cameron Ciraldo is a highly-respected up-and-comer who has developed his coaching skills at Penrith.

He led the Panthers’ under-20s to premierships in both 2015 and 2016, and was selected as NYC coach of the year on both occasions, before being promoted to assistant coach of the NRL side last year.

He also held the clipboard for the Italian national side in the 2017 World Cup, calling the shots for NRL stars of the calibre of James Tedesco.

It is understood he is hugely popular with the playing group, and there is little doubt they would play out of their skin for him.

Gould would have a huge influence on a Ciraldo coached team, and it’s likely Gould got rid of Griffin with four weeks left until the finals so he could quietly attempt to lead the Panthers to premiership glory this year. His input will be met with far less resistance from Ciraldo than Griffin.