Panthers centre Dean Whare has revealed that the team followed the leadership of caretaker coach Cameron Ciraldo better than his axed predecessor Anthony Grffin.
Griffin was sensationally sacked last week despite Penrith sitting equal fourth on the ladder, but Whare believes he never lost the playing group and that Ciraldo was simply the greater voice of reason
"I think Ciro (Ciraldo) is a little more vocal than he (Griffin) was," Whare told reporters.
"(Griffin) hadn't really lost the sheds, just the way the boys responded to Ciro and to Hook (Griffin) was a bit different.
"The way he directed us as an assistant coach, especially in attack and the way we run around.
"Overall Hook took over everything else and sort of sat back and let Ciro take over.
"Nothing has to change too much as a playing group. Ourselves we've just got to work on our defence and everything else that was put in place is the same now."
Coming off his team's first win under Ciraldo on the weekend against the Titans, Whare added that he forecasted the coaching change.
"It's been on the cards for a while now," he said.
"It's a bit of everything. The media, just through the club and the way Ciro has been taking over in the past year.
"It's a bit of a mix of everything."
And while Grififn's axing may have come to a shock to the wider football circles with finals right around the corner, Whare said it gave the group greater "clarity".
"It's better getting it done now than during the finals or after and we're still a bit confused," Whare said.
"I think it's just a lot more clear now, what our jobs are and who do we talk to and listen up to.
"It's a lot more clarity and less confusion."