S
Shermy
Guest
2pm Press Conference
Luke Lewis wants a release
- Thread starter the_crusader
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2009
- Messages
- 15,220
- Reaction score
- 13,233
cant see sharks getting him unless jeremy smith is gone.
i dont know if we could, if we did it would have to be at the expense of halatau, stagg and the rest. i love lewis great player. just cant see how him tony and pritchard can form a backrow, you need a tackling machine. lewis isnt that. halatau offers more in that department in my opinion, although lewis is an out and out gun.
i dont know if we could, if we did it would have to be at the expense of halatau, stagg and the rest. i love lewis great player. just cant see how him tony and pritchard can form a backrow, you need a tackling machine. lewis isnt that. halatau offers more in that department in my opinion, although lewis is an out and out gun.
FaceBreaker
Kennel Addict
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2007
- Messages
- 7,126
- Reaction score
- 1,944
What a joke the Penrith club is. LMAO good job Gould you pompous phaggot.
col of birchmen
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- May 16, 2009
- Messages
- 1,299
- Reaction score
- 6
No he'll play out the year, apparently spent the weekend with with Paul Gallen and Wade Graham, St George are interested too
col of birchmen
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- May 16, 2009
- Messages
- 1,299
- Reaction score
- 6
The Cronulla Panthers
Gordon, Ross, Pomeroy, Graham, Lewis
Gordon, Ross, Pomeroy, Graham, Lewis
At a press conference this afternoon confirming his exit from the Panthers at the end of the season, Lewis said he "needed to move on and start a new challenge".
"I need a whole new change of life, the way that I’m feeling," Lewis said.
“All I want to do is get this heavy weight off my shoulders and start doing something I love again and enjoy my footy."
Penrith general manager Phil Gould, who sat alongside Lewis at the press conference, said nobody at the Panthers had ever initiated a plan for Lewis not to complete his contract before the end of the 2014 season, calling the decision "very sad for the club".
"(At a) meeting this morning Luke indicated he was feeling stale and was looking for a new outlook and challenge in his life," Gould said.
"Luke feels like he needs a change of environment to achieve his goals.
"Luke probably doesn’t want to go through the pain of rebuilding a club at this stage of his career…he made a very brave decision.
"Luke has given the Panthers outstanding service for the past 11 years…He’s a role model for all kids in western Sydney."
A Panthers official said there was no point in trying to keep Lewis at foot of the mountains for the duration of his contract.
"It's unfortunate but it's like a bad marriage - there's no point hanging on to someone when he doesn't want to be here," a Penrith official told thetelegraph.com.au.
There is speculation that Lewis spent the weekend in the company of Paul Gallen his former Penrith teammate Wade Graham in Cronulla.
The Sharks are the front runners to sign him for next season but there is strong interest from St George Illawarra as well.
It is too late for Lewis to switch clubs mid-season as the June 30 deadline for transfers has now passed
It's understood that Lewis has told friends he does not want to play at a club where he feels unwanted. Panthers fans will be irate at the news because Lewis is a long-time favourite at Centrebet Stadium who has earned NSW and Australian jumpers.
It is understood that Lewis's manager Greg Willett will this week start canvassing rival NRL clubs to determine interest in the NSW State of Origin utility forward.
One source close to Lewis said: "He wants to leave on good terms. He has a lot of mates at Penrith and has given his all for the club.
"Luke loves the Panthers. The club gave him the opportunity to play NRL and he will never forget that.
"The Panthers want to go in another direction and Luke accepts that. I think they want to take on a youth policy.
"A new start will reinvigorate Luke. He feels he needs to leave. He is little confused as to why the club doesn't want him."
Lewis is a Penrith junior who wanted to play his entire career at the Panthers.
The shock decision has been brewing since Penrith coach Ivan Cleary stripped Lewis of the captaincy before the Origin series.
But Lewis is telling friends the captaincy issue is not the reason he will leave.
On a contract worth about $425,000 a season, Lewis was to be offered the captaincy back again this week but that is now in doubt.
His departure would give Penrith additional room to move in their tight salary cap.
Lewis is said to be stunned at the false rumours circulating about him, one even suggesting he suffered from depression. The source said: "He is very happy. Luke just doesn't know where all these rumours are coming from."
The Kangaroos forward wants the final decision on his future to be made quickly.
Lewis was among the first picked for all three Origin games this season. His performance in Origin II at ANZ Stadium was sensational in NSW's 16-12 win.
"I need a whole new change of life, the way that I’m feeling," Lewis said.
“All I want to do is get this heavy weight off my shoulders and start doing something I love again and enjoy my footy."
Penrith general manager Phil Gould, who sat alongside Lewis at the press conference, said nobody at the Panthers had ever initiated a plan for Lewis not to complete his contract before the end of the 2014 season, calling the decision "very sad for the club".
"(At a) meeting this morning Luke indicated he was feeling stale and was looking for a new outlook and challenge in his life," Gould said.
"Luke feels like he needs a change of environment to achieve his goals.
"Luke probably doesn’t want to go through the pain of rebuilding a club at this stage of his career…he made a very brave decision.
"Luke has given the Panthers outstanding service for the past 11 years…He’s a role model for all kids in western Sydney."
A Panthers official said there was no point in trying to keep Lewis at foot of the mountains for the duration of his contract.
"It's unfortunate but it's like a bad marriage - there's no point hanging on to someone when he doesn't want to be here," a Penrith official told thetelegraph.com.au.
There is speculation that Lewis spent the weekend in the company of Paul Gallen his former Penrith teammate Wade Graham in Cronulla.
The Sharks are the front runners to sign him for next season but there is strong interest from St George Illawarra as well.
It is too late for Lewis to switch clubs mid-season as the June 30 deadline for transfers has now passed
It's understood that Lewis has told friends he does not want to play at a club where he feels unwanted. Panthers fans will be irate at the news because Lewis is a long-time favourite at Centrebet Stadium who has earned NSW and Australian jumpers.
It is understood that Lewis's manager Greg Willett will this week start canvassing rival NRL clubs to determine interest in the NSW State of Origin utility forward.
One source close to Lewis said: "He wants to leave on good terms. He has a lot of mates at Penrith and has given his all for the club.
"Luke loves the Panthers. The club gave him the opportunity to play NRL and he will never forget that.
"The Panthers want to go in another direction and Luke accepts that. I think they want to take on a youth policy.
"A new start will reinvigorate Luke. He feels he needs to leave. He is little confused as to why the club doesn't want him."
Lewis is a Penrith junior who wanted to play his entire career at the Panthers.
The shock decision has been brewing since Penrith coach Ivan Cleary stripped Lewis of the captaincy before the Origin series.
But Lewis is telling friends the captaincy issue is not the reason he will leave.
On a contract worth about $425,000 a season, Lewis was to be offered the captaincy back again this week but that is now in doubt.
His departure would give Penrith additional room to move in their tight salary cap.
Lewis is said to be stunned at the false rumours circulating about him, one even suggesting he suffered from depression. The source said: "He is very happy. Luke just doesn't know where all these rumours are coming from."
The Kangaroos forward wants the final decision on his future to be made quickly.
Lewis was among the first picked for all three Origin games this season. His performance in Origin II at ANZ Stadium was sensational in NSW's 16-12 win.
BaYry Ward
Former Immortal
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2005
- Messages
- 4,580
- Reaction score
- 42
Spoke to Tim Sheens on the weekend and he said they've spoken to Lewis and made an offer. They're very keen on him, and the feeling is mutual apparently however they aren't getting their hopes up due to his tendency to change his mind at the drop of a hat (see Rabbitohs failed move).
Sheens wasn't overly confident considering the number of teams after him.
Sheens wasn't overly confident considering the number of teams after him.
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2005
- Messages
- 19,397
- Reaction score
- 3,616
First Jennings now Lewis are getting the Hitler treatment, the Panthers should be licking their players boots, no wonder they aren't showing much passion.
OTTO
Playing Pablo
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2007
- Messages
- 9,304
- Reaction score
- 24
The girlfriend didnt like the idea of him travelling to the city right ?? lol
PantherPower83
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2004
- Messages
- 3,118
- Reaction score
- 7
****!
El_Magic
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2012
- Messages
- 4,850
- Reaction score
- 592
Lol good summation champ!
PantherPower83
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2004
- Messages
- 3,118
- Reaction score
- 7
Mate Im shattered, still in shock to be honest. Haven't been this devestated in a long while, oh wait, Michael Gordon left our club as well right?
*head bang*
Seriously hope Gus and Cleary know what they're doing because it's getting very difficult to keep the faith
Mr Invisible
Banned
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2008
- Messages
- 0
- Reaction score
- 47
Therein lies the problem.
Whilst Gus is a great commentator I think he needs to chose one or those other. Full time at Panthers turning the club around, or give it up and keep commentating. Looking at where Panthers are on the ladder, but with some reasonable signings next year, they really are crossing fingers and hoping for the best.
P
Paint.
Guest
It's because Gus/Cleary want to put Penrith through a rebuilding phase and recruit young players so that they can challenge the premiership in 3-4 years.
Lewis thinks that their current team is good enough and they should be aiming for the premiership this year/next, so he did a Robin Van Persie and wants out to win trophies.
- Status