Icon rips 'farce' that followed Panthers party

2 years ago 110

As the Panthers spell astir celebrating their NRL premiership triumph, ruffling feathers connected the way, rugby league large Ben Elias cannot recognize the outcry.

The Balmain Tigers fable has unleashed pursuing Penrith's 28-12 expansive last triumph implicit Parramatta, slamming the naysayers arsenic "too politically correct", declaring the existent time a "farce" and lamenting a deficiency of "charisma" successful the modern game.

Among the club's post-grand last controversies are a deleted Jarome Luai Instagram post, the mockery Apisai Koroisau and his teammates person directed astatine Wests Tigers, and James Fisher-Harris' declaration that this Panthers broadside is "the top Penrith squad ever".

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But Elias has leapt to the defence of the Panthers.

"They've won a premiership, for god's sake. They've busted their arses for 10 months, 11 months. They enactment for 11 months each astir the timepiece and they get thing which is rather bonzer — and that's winning a premiership," Elias told Wide World of Sports.

"Look, if they get a small loose, fto them go. You've got to understand.

"People contiguous are excessively politically close contiguous successful everything they do, and they micro-analyse everything. I conscionable deliberation it's a farce.

"Congratulations. Let them celebrate. God bless 'em — that's each I tin say."

Fisher-Harris' "greatest Penrith squad ever" remark was made astatine BlueBet Stadium connected Monday, arsenic the Panthers celebrated the rubric with thousands of fans.

Some judge helium was disrespectful to Penrith's premiership-winning teams of 1991 and 2003.

The weapon front-rower also played on with Luai's pre-grand last "you tin telephone america daddy" sledge, saying connected the microphone astatine the instrumentality day: "Parra are our sons".

"I emotion seeing each the colour," Elias said.

"I emotion 'em each saying what they're saying. Bring immoderate charisma backmost into the associated ... sometimes you've conscionable got to fto that governmental correctness conscionable spell a bit.

"They've done an tremendous occupation and they're entitled to and merit everything that they accidental oregon bash astatine the moment.

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"They're not hurting anyone. They're not hurting anyone physically, psychologically.

"They're successful euphoria, they're successful ecstasy. It's a monolithic presumption to beryllium successful and radical who can't recognize that person ne'er been there.

"These are the things that they accidental and bash — and I cheer for it."

The Panthers became lone the 2nd nine to triumph consecutive premierships successful the NRL era, replicating the Roosters' back-to-back triumphs crossed 2018 and 2019.

They besides became the archetypal nine successful past to triumph the SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and first-grade titles successful 1 twelvemonth — mostly a effect of Phil Gould's constitution of a $22 cardinal Panthers academy successful 2016.

"Have a look astatine the Penrith club. They're a dynasty," Elias said.

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"They won the SG Ball, the Jersey Flegg, the NSW Cup and the premiership astatine the highest level. Shit! If anyone other tin boast that, well, archer maine who they are and I'd beryllium dumbfounded. That is conscionable extraordinary.

"My oath, absolutely," Elias said erstwhile asked if Penrith's rivals should beryllium scared.

"They are brutally amazing, brutally professional. They were so convincing successful each facet of that game.

"I've ne'er seen a much ascendant broadside successful each the days I've been retired. I astir apt spell backmost to Parramatta successful '86, oregon possibly the Bulldogs successful the aboriginal '80s. They were conscionable brilliant, they were conscionable magnificent successful each way.

"Warning bells are retired determination for 15, 16 clubs adjacent year."

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