The grand final-winning Panthers have earned the right to celebrate, but a club legend thinks a few of their players have gone too far.
Penrith club legend Greg Alexander believes the Panthers’ grand final celebrations became “a bit out of control” and members of the playing group need to “pull their heads in”.
The Panthers claimed the third premiership victory in club history when they held off a spirited Rabbitohs outfit at Suncorp Stadium earlier this month.
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Having both lost the 2020 decider to Melbourne and endured a significant amount of time in bubbles this season, the Panthers were primed to let off steam after the 14-12 win.
However, Alexander, who is the deputy chairman of the Panthers Group board of directors, believes some of the players went too far in their celebrations.
“There have been a couple of social media things that haven’t impressed me,” Alexander said on SEN Radio.
“I think a couple of our players need to pull their heads in after what they’ve posted on social media.
“It gets a bit out of control. I don’t follow social media.
“I’ve had people tell me about what’s been posted, and some of it shouldn’t have been.
“It was a bit out of line.”
While Alexander didn’t call specific players out, barnstorming second-rower Viliame Kikau caused a stir when he uploaded a video of himself singing the Rabbitohs’ club song to his Instagram Story.
Tyrone May’s celebratory Instagram post alluding to his highly publicised court case also raised eyebrows.
Alexander wasn’t as concerned by allegations that the Panthers damaged the premiership trophy in their celebrations.
“I don’t think the trophy is a biggie,” Alexander said.
“There are precedents.
“Laurie Daley in 1989 … the trophy fell off the back of a ute down in Canberra in one of the parades. It tumbled off the back of the ute.
“When they said the trophy has been damaged it wouldn’t have been on purpose. It would have been an accident. I don’t think that is a real issue.”
It was announced last week that the NRL integrity unit would question Panthers co-captain Nathan Cleary after three men from Western Sydney allegedly breached the Queensland border to attend the grand final.
The three men, all aged in their 20s, later attended the Panthers’ grand final celebrations and are believed to be known to Cleary.
The three allegedly crossed the border with incorrect passes and have been issued with fines totalling more than $12,000.
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