Premiership-winning halfback Nathan Cleary has stood up for this Penrith Panthers teammates denying that any of them are arrogant over their NRL success.
After the Panthers overwhelmed the Parramatta Eels 28-12 in their third straight NRL Grand Final to claim consecutive Telstra Premiership trophies, behaviour in the post-match celebrations which included chants mocking the Eels were criticised as ungracious.
“It’s the pinnacle of what you do – you work hard for 10 months to do it, and then you get to enjoy it,” Cleary said.
“Some things are said that probably wouldn’t be said during the season, but it is what it is.
“I play alongside all those boys in a season and I wouldn’t call any of them arrogant.
“If we were arrogant, we wouldn’t have been able to go back-to-back.”
Cleary made the comments on his first day in camp with the 24-strong Kangaroos World Cup squad – his debut in Australian colours.
One of his club and Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues teammates Jarome Luai, who is now in camp with the Samoan team, drew the ire of some fans for his social media comments.
“’Romy’ is just a character; people enjoy watching him because he is that character,” Cleary said.
“He’s just different than others and that’s what makes him so special. He’s not a generic straight-up-and-down player.
“He’s a true competitor, that’s what he is.”
As for any Eels being upset, one was laughing and joking with Cleary during a Kangaroos weights session today – Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
“Everyone celebrates and you can celebrate however you want,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“If you win a comp – or if I won a comp – I’d be going stupid as well.
“For the amount of time (it takes), for how hard you train, the week-in week-out grind for 10 or 11 months, if someone goes off their face for two or three days, I don’t have an issue.”
As for the specific ‘We Hate Parra’ chants?
“Well they’re talking after a bit of grog, so again, everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“Again, if the shoe was on the other foot I’d be going off as well.”
