There have long been rumours that he is headed out of the club, but those rumours can be put to bed – with Penrith Panthers centre Michael Jennings reaffirming his commitment to the club, thus ending any potential feud between himself, coach Ivan Cleary and General Manager Phil Gould.
Demoted to the NSW Cup in May, it appeared that Jennings may have been leaving the club, with rumours suggesting that he was being shopped around to rival clubs.
With Jennings bracing himself for the Origin game and a clash against QLD centre Justin Hodges, Jennings confirmed that he is committed to the Panthers football club.
“We’re all on the same page now. I needed to improve my communication skills and they’re happy with how I’ve handled that,” Jennings said.
“Now I’ve just got to do my part. I’ve always thought my attitude was all right but just showing it to Ivan and Gus and the team was the main thing I really needed to do. When you’re down and out, all you can do is stay positive and try and show the right attitude.
“That’s what I tried to do when I was with Windsor over in New Zealand and then it turned for me when Sticky (Ricky Stuart) picked me in Origin. Since then, whenever I’ve gone back to Penrith, I’ve just tried to show the right attitude and show Ivan and Gus I really want to be there.”
Following his NSW Cup demotion in May, the perceived attitude problem of Michael Jennings has seemed to improve – and General Manager Phil Gould reaffirmed previous statements of his.
“I have publicly said on a number of occasions Michael Jennings will be playing with the Panthers, so I don’t know where all the suggestions that he’s been meeting with other clubs comes from because his management tells me he hasn’t,” Gould said.
“Never at any time has our club given permission or instructed anyone or told Michael he wasn’t welcome.”