The alleged dispute between Penrith Panthers players and Parramatta Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard during this yearโs State of Origin series have resurfaced again recently, but according to the Panthers and NSW star halves combo, there was never an issue to begin with.
The claims emerged during the fallout from the Bluesโ disastrous capitulation, as questions were raised regarding Campbell-Gillardโs stunning omission from the second and third games of the series.
There was a heavily-reported belief that the large Panthers contingent within the Blues squad were to blame, forcing RCG to the outer as a result of his acrimonious decision to leave the Panthers back in 2019-20.
Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai both refuted that suggestion.
โI didnโt know much about it up until recently, that we were the ones who turned against him โ but that was never the case,โ Cleary said.
โI donโt know where it came from. It happened two years ago now, everyoneโs moved on. Heโs playing good footy with Parramatta and I think weโve done pretty well here at Penrith.
โYou canโt hold on to that stuff, thereโs no point. I donโt think people hold on to a grudge (for two years).โ
Luai, who is still close with the former Panthers prop, echoed Clearyโs calls.
โWeโre good mates,โ Luai said of his relationship with Campbell-Gillard.
โWhen he was in camp this year nothing seemed to come across that way.
โIt was a bit of a weird story for us especially, being the Penrith boys and people saying we had these feelings towards โRegโ โ but itโs nothing like that.
โIโm sure he doesnโt have those feelings either, so Iโm not sure where the story came from.โ
Campbell-Gillard played 114 matches at the foot of the mountains before his controversial move to ย the Panthersโ local rivals.
The next chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the two takes place on Friday at Penrithโs BlueBet Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.50pm.
