Penrith captain Peter Wallace believes their comeback win over Parramatta dispels the suggestion of player disharmony at the NRL club.
The Panthers have in recent weeks been forced to defend claims of a rift between the roster and coaching staff, as well as one between coach Anthony Griffin and club boss Phil Gould.
It came after an off-season where local juniors Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright exited the club, while Tyrone Peachey also confirmed a move to Gold Coast next season.
However Griffin’s men showed plenty of character to roar back from 14 points down against the Eels and get their season off to a winning start.
“It’s all outside noise. It’s not come from us. You guys are going to report what you report and it’s got nothing to do with us,” Wallace said after the win on Sunday.
“We know what we’re doing inside the four walls over there. We’ve had a really good pre-season and I think that showed in the second half, how fit we are and how together we are as a unit.”
Griffin was unsure whether victory would put the reports of unrest to bed, but said the performance proved their toughness and fitness.
“I don’t write that stuff so I don’t know what you say now. From our point of view, the club’s in a really good place,” he said.
“We were under a real avalanche there early in the first half and showed a lot of character to hang in there.
“We were really confident in our guys and how fit they are and how tough they are in situations. I think they showed that there today.”
He said he paid no attention to rumours that Gould has been too hands-on during training sessions and had taken over as coach of the team.
“To be honest I don’t think much about it,” he said.
“I’m not trying to bore you with that, but I just get on with what I do. We know what we do works as a club. How it gets reported I’ve got no control over.”