Repeat offenders: Why the NRL came down hard on Panthers trainers

Panthers trainers have been involved in no less than six different incidents since 2021, including running into the path of a goal-kicker, which is why the NRL acted so strongly following Saturday’s incident on the Gold Coast.

Yellow-shirt trainer Corey Bocking was banned five matches – and Penrith fined $50,000 – after Bocking ran in front of Titans goal-kicker Jayden Campbell as he lined up a sideline conversion attempt.

Another Panthers trainer, Shane Elford, also appeared to flout the NRL rules when he remained on the field longer than he should have when Nathan Cleary tied the match with a crucial two-point field goal against the Titans.

This masthead can now reveal Penrith’s rap sheet – including Elford upsetting Reece Walsh, who was then with the Warriors, as he kicked a goal during a game in 2022.

Elford is seen running back towards the halfway line on the opposite side of the field to Walsh, but did enough to enter his line of sight and upset him to the point he complained to referee Peter Gough.

Commentators could not work out why Walsh was pointing to Elford as he spent nearly 30 seconds blowing up at Gough.

The five other incidents, which have resulted in warnings and fines, are:

• September 2021 – Head physio Pete Green unnecessarily stopping the semi-final against Parramatta in 2021.
• June 2023 – A blue-shirt trainer making contact with referee Adam Gee.
• May 2024 – Bocking making a comment to a referee about a decision.
• March 2025 – Elford gesturing at the referee.
• May 2025 – Elford squirting a football with a water bottle in Townsville.

The Panthers said the weekend incident was “an honest mistake”, and there had been “no intent to breach the rules or gain an advantage”.

“The circumstances involved a late change and in-the-moment confusion, but we understand that does not excuse the outcome,” the Panthers said in a statement.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Indigenous Round launch, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said: “It’s important to note there have been six separate incidents involving Penrith Panthers’ trainers since 2021.

“Whilst we treat every incident on its own merits, taking into account the fact there have been several indiscretions by trainers from that club, it was important for us to take the action we’ve taken.

“We’re not questioning the integrity of the club or the player. There’s a simple rule, that rule has been broken, and whether it was by accident or not, it’s a breach.”

Abdo said the incident was “a very unusual circumstance, one we don’t often see, and one which we hope not to see again”.

Phil Gould, who is also the general manager of football at the Bulldogs, said on 100% Footy the NRL’s sanctions were “the greatest beat up I’ve ever seen in rugby league.”

Abdo said people were entitled to their opinion, but officials “discussed and debated quite vigorously” how to deal with the incident.

In the minutes after Corey Bocking ran in front of Campbell, Elford was spotted on the field, well after the fifth tackle, as Cleary performed his heroics.

Elford should have left the field after the fourth tackle. As a blue shirt trainer, Elford is allowed to enter the field during any stoppage, as well as to “run messages” three times per half, but must leave the field after the completion of the fourth tackle.

He was clearly on the field for the entire duration of the fifth tackle, directing players as the Panthers desperately moved the ball from left to right in an attempt to obtain field position for Cleary’s attempt at a two-point field goal.

A breakdown of Saturday’s vital set of six shows he was clearly in breach of the rules.

At the turnover: With 2:54 left in the match, Elford enters the field of play, and Dylan Edwards plays the ball on his 10-metre line.

Tackle one: The Panthers go for a one-man hit up, and Elford is behind the line in front of the goal posts, talking to players.

Tackle two: Another hit up, and Elford is directly behind the play the ball.

Tackle three: He remains there as the Panthers swing left and make it to just short of the 40-metre line.

Tackle four: Elford is behind the first receiver as the Panthers swing right and get the ball down to just short of the Titans’ 20-metre line on the right-hand side of the field in close proximity to the sideline near the team benches. At the completion of this tackle, he is supposed to make his way off field.

Tackle five: As the Panthers scramble toward the 20m line, Elford does not head to the sideline. He stays right behind the play, directing traffic as the ball swings left all the way to the far sideline. He remains in the middle of the field telling players where to position themselves. As the fifth tackle is made, he is finally heading toward the sideline, which should have occurred a tackle earlier.

Tackle six: He moves toward the sideline as Mitch Kenny passes to Nathan Cleary for the two-point field goal. As he is leaving the field, he is still directing players to protect Cleary and is on the field of play near the sideline when the field goal is successful.

He was out there for one minute and twenty seconds.

The NRL said on Tuesday that breaches similar to this are to be dealt with by the ground manager on the day, and only repeated transgressions would attract an NRL sanction.

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