‘Childish’: Formal complaint ignites feud ahead of NRL Grand Final

As first revealed by NewsCorp’s Peter Badel, Rabbitohs officials have lodged a formal complaint with the NRL over the actions of Panthers trainer Hayden Knowles during Saturday’s preliminary final against the Melbourne Storm.

According to the report, South Sydney’s complaint was based on the “interests of ensuring a well fought grand final that is played in both the spirit of our game and within its rules”.

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Knowles entered the field of play 13 times during the nailbiting contest at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, which Penrith won 10-6.

NRL rules permit trainers to enter the field of play three times in each half to deliver messages to players when their team has the ball.

The drama comes after coaches Wayne Bennett and Ivan Cleary engaged in an ugly war of words earlier this month, with the Rabbitohs coach bluntly accusing the Panthers of illegal blocking tactics.

Last week, the NRL issued Knowles a warning for his role in the controversial stoppage during Penrith’s semi-final victory over the Parramatta Eels.

Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher passionately defended Knowles, refusing to buy into South Sydney’s “childish” psychological warfare ahead of Sunday’s Grand Final.

“It is childish stuff if that’s all Souths have got to worry about,” Fletcher told NewsCorp.

“If they are worried about that (Knowles’ activities), then hopefully it’s a distraction, because they won’t get under our skin.

“Souths were whinging about the blockers before our last game and that is a standard thing. Every team in the NRL does the same thing (with blockers).

“If Souths want to worry about the rules, that’s their problem. We have our eyes on the prize and that’s all we care about.

“They can try and get under our skin but we have experienced people and we are focused on winning the premiership.

“If they are trying to unsettle us, they might have to think of something else.

“Hayden is one of the most experienced trainers in the game.

“He has been involved in State of Origin for NSW and done it for us.

“Our football manager Matt Cameron has reminded Hayden of his duties so we won’t be overstepping the mark. There won’t be any dramas from our end.

“He is very well-respected in the industry and we won’t be getting involved in a slanging match with South Sydney over one of our employees.”

During his weekly press conference, NRL head of football Graham Annesley said the Storm made no complaint about their opposition trainer.

“I’m aware there is a little bit of scuttlebutt around this issue,” Annesley said.

“This is straight out of the NRL operations manual. The blue trainer duties are limited to the interchange of players, the provision of water and carrying messages to individual team members.

“That is the purpose of their role. In terms of how they are allowed to do that they can do that when facilitating an interchange of a player. So they can go onto the field to get a player so he can be interchanged.

“They are allowed onto the field when a try has been scored. They are also allowed onto the field while awaiting a video referee decision in relation to a try.

“And they are allowed on the field during a time-out for an injury. And during a goal line drop out.

“These are unlimited access based on these specific circumstances.

“If it doesn’t fall into any of those circumstances where they are allowed unlimited if they meet those conditions, point six says that on three occasions per half they are allowed on to carry messages to individual team members when their team is in possession.

“So you will see trainers on the field pretty regularly.”

The NRL Grand Final is scheduled to kick off at 6.30pm local time (7.30pm AEDT) on Sunday.