The mid-season signings are coming left, right and centre, with another one confirmed – with former Roosters and Eels prop Shane Shackleton moving to the Penrith Panthers for the remainder of the 2012 NRL season.
Although Shackleton and Eels coach Stephen Kearney have had their issues in the past, namely due to the ‘Love Shack’ posting up a defamatory Facebook message, one that labelled Kearney as ‘a ****wit*’ in March.
Suffice to say, following that incident, tension was rife between the two, but the previous incident has nothing to do with the departure – with both coming to a mutual agreement on Shackleton’s departure.
Despite all that however, Shackleton has been playing reasonably well for the Eels NSW Cup feeder team Wentworthville, but has been unable to crack into the first-grade side.
Shackleton was denied a prior request to leave in April, when he asked to go to the Sea Eagles, but the club and coach Kearney have agreed to release him this time around, ahead of tomorrow’s June 30 transfer deadline.
With Shackleton a part of the Eels organisation for the last 2 and a half years, both Eels CEO Bob Bentley and coach Kearney, wished Shackleton all the best on his future exploits.
“Shane has been a valuable member of our Club and we wish him all the best at the Panthers,†Bentley said.
“Shack has worked hard for us since coming over from the Roosters in 2010 and he’s always been a really popular member of the team,†Kearney said.
“This is a good opportunity for him we wish him all the best at his new Club.â€
Phil Moss, who is the Panthers General Manager of Football said: “Shane is a quality player with a great deal of experience. He will be a welcome addition to the Panthers line-up for the rest of the year.â€