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Queenslander
22-02-07, 03:42 PM
Gower made co-captain

Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 12:16 PM

Craig Gower has been named as one of three Penrith captains for the 2007 NRL season despite his latest off-field controversy.

Panthers head coach Matt Elliott announced that Gower would join 2006 skipper Tony Puletua and veteran hooker Luke Priddis as co-captains.

The team was told of the new leadership in Darwin where they are preparing for Saturday night's trial match against Newcastle.

The club recently cleared Gower of any wrong-doing after allegations that he'd been involved in a nightclub scuffle.

Source: AAP

~Wild Child~
23-02-07, 07:25 AM
Penrith forgives shamed Gower
By Dean Ritchie
February 23, 2007

CRAIG Gower has been league's most notorious bad boy for the past two years, but Penrith has ignored the off-field dramas by reinstating him as captain for this season.

The controversial decision was last night applauded by club legends Greg Alexander and Royce Simmons.

Gower, Luke Priddis and Tony Puletua were named co-skippers for 2007 - Gower back in charge after a year in disgrace.

The former Australia halfback was captain before being stripped of the honour after misbehaving at a celebrity golf day on the Sunshine Coast at the end of 2005.

Gower then allegedly bit and punched a patron at a Kings Cross nightclub earlier this month.

He was cleared after an internal club investigation. But Gower is back in favour.

Asked did he deserve another chance as captain, Alexander said: "Of course he did. Craig is the best man for the job.

"He's a good on-field leader and the other players respect him. He is our best player."

Gower would not answer his mobile phone yesterday to talk about his appointment.

The ex-NSW halfback is in Darwin preparing for tomorrow night's trial match against Newcastle.

Panthers coach Matt Elliott was reluctant to discuss Gower's indiscretions but did say: "I answered most of that stuff last week when some stuff was reported.

"My job is to set a criteria for the captaincy and these three fit that criteria.

"They are the best leaders in the organisation. Craig is one of those, no doubt. On the training paddock and when we do our stuff, he is someone the players respond to.

"It is a huge honour for anyone captaining an NRL club. It is a prestigious thing."

Earlier yesterday, Elliott told the media: "I think that sometimes these things are a great test and he could have failed that test quite easily and become really distracted and disgruntled about the way things were reported and how such a trivial incident gained so much attention.

"He didn't let that happen and he has remained on course.

"Craig, because of his personal fortitude and his commitment to the team, refused to allow this stuff to distract him away from his preparation and his expectation of himself and his teammates."

Former Panthers skipper and coach Simmons said Gower had "competitive and winning qualities".

Asked should Gower have been named captain after his Kings Cross drama, Simmons said: "Why should he pay a price for something he supposedly didn't do.

"Craig is the best man for the job. He has a great winning attitude, is highly competitive and has a never-day-die attitude.

"Craig wants to win at everything at training. If there's a game of touch, he wants to win that. He leads by example.

"Craig is one of three captains and they could each be used in a variety of ways.

"But you'd think Craig will be the on-field leader."

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