This was not cheating Penrith trainer defends stoppage after NRL issues fine and suspension

One of the Penrith trainers sanctioned by the NRL for deliberately stopping play in the dying minutes of Saturday’s semi-final thriller against Parramatta says there were fears Mitch Kenny had broken his ankle, and they would make the same call again.

After the Herald revealed on Sunday that Penrith were being investigated over the 76th minute incident, the NRL handed down penalties on Tuesday, with physio Pete Green hit with a $25,000 fine and banned from on-field duties for the remainder of the season. The Panthers’ experienced ‘blue-shirt’ trainer Hayden Knowles was also issued a warning.

Penrith triumphed 8-6 in one of the games of the season, but the decision to stop play when the Eels were on the attack so they could treat Kenny became a huge talking point.

The rules required an initial assessment to be made about Kenny before play could be halted. Green was not on the field when referee Ashley Klein put a stop to proceedings.

Penrith have five days to respond to the breach notice, but Knowles told the Herald he believes the club’s trainers did nothing wrong and is disappointed with the criticism levelled at Green.

Two Parramatta trainers (circled) are the only trainers on the field seconds before time was called off for Mitch Kenny (circled right).Credit:Nine

Knowles said Kenny was no chance to play against the Storm and his ankle was so badly bruised that a few of his toes had turned black because of bruising.

“How can you argue with a medical opinion from someone who was standing there fearing he had just seen a player break his ankle?” Knowles said.

“Because the play was stopped at such a big moment in a big game, the whole world has turned on the one trainer. He was doing his job.

“Mitch Kenny’s ankle is like a balloon and black. Even between his toes are black - the bleeding has run all the way down the side of his feet to his toes.

“Mitch’s character is you get back and defend. But he couldn’t. There was no way he could have. He didn’t stay down. And how can you argue otherwise? Who knows more than Pete Green in this situation?

“If the same thing happened again you would get the same outcome.”

Penrith trainer Pete Green has been banned for the rest of the NRL season.Credit:NRL Photos

Knowles is aware the rule was brought in to stop teams from deliberately trying to buy themselves time and re-set the defensive line when under attack. But he said that was not the case in Mackay.

“This was not cheating,” Knowles said.

“And the saddest thing is, Pete Green is one of the world’s nicest blokes, and now there is all this commentary being directed his way, which is unfair.”

Knowles was handed an official warning, but more than an hour after the NRL released their penalties, had still not been told what he had actually done wrong.

Even a few Penrith players defended Green with Jarome Luai admitting: “I don’t really get the rules. Someone was injured, Pete was out there to tend to his injury, Mitch Kenny isn’t even playing this weekend, so he did the right thing.”

Backrower Kurt Capewell added: “I think the NRL has rules in place to stop people abusing those situations, but Greeny wasn’t thinking like that. He’s all about the welfare of the player and you could see that on the weekend.”

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