NEW Penrith coach Anthony Griffin has put Jamie Soward on notice, refusing to guarantee the five-eighth will start the season as his first choice half.
The 30-year-old faces an uncertain future at the foot of the mountains with reports of him being shopped around to rival clubs following an honest conversation with general manager Phil Gould a few weeks ago where Gould suggested Soward retire and begin a career in coaching if he wasn’t motivated to play in 2016.
When Soward first agreed to join the club in 2013 on a four-year-deal, Gould labelled him a “marquee signing” but a run of injuries and inconsistent form this season has left an air of uncertainty hanging over the former NSW playmaker.
Former Brisbane coach Griffin was announced as Ivan Cleary’s successor at a press conference on Wednesday where he was asked if Soward would start the season at five-eighth.
He replied; “I wouldn’t know.”
Probed further over whether Soward would feature in the club’s top 25 squad he said; “If he trains hard enough he will be, yeah.”
Soward made 16 appearances for the Panthers this year, requiring back surgery at the start of the season and then missing the last game of the season with concussion.
The position of his halves partner Peter Wallace is also under threat.
Off-contract at the end of the year and recovering from his third knee surgery in two years having snapped his ACL mid-year, Wallace and Griffin have a rocky history.
While at the Broncos, their relationship became strained when the coach denied Wallace a release to join the Panthers, only to reveal months later he didn’t want him, opting to promote rookie half Ben Hunt ahead of him.
Reflecting on the incident, Griffin said it was a tough call to make but one he had to for the long-term future of the club.
I felt for Peter at the time,” Griffin said.
“I made a decision I felt Brisbane needed Ben Hunt as halfback.
“I’m at the Panthers now. Those decisions were made for another club. I’ll be making decisions for the club I’m working for now.”
With a track history of promoting youth, Griffin said every player will get an opportunity to win their spot.
The club has a rich junior nursery, while their premiership winning Holden Cup side have retained their entire roster for 2016.
With Jamal Idris, George Jennings, Robert Jennings, Josh Mansour, James Segeyaro, Will Smith, Elijah Taylor, Peter Wallace, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Isaah Yeo all free agents next season, Gould and Griffin will work together when it comes to recruitment and retention.
Like Soward, Idris has been rumoured to be looking for a new home.
While Griffin was unsure of whether the centre features in his plans for next season, he said it’s up to the players to prove they want to be at the club.
“I’ve seen the playing list over the last couple of days but my first priority is to set a standard here and any player that wants to work hard enough will get an opportunity,” he said.
Penrith return to training in late October with Garth Brennan appointed Griffin’s lead assistant.
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