After sustained success in the VB NSW Cup, Garth Brennan has fittingly been appointed as NRL Assistant Coach with the Penrith Panthers.
Brennan was earlier this year linked to the Newcastle Knights’ first-grade position after earning many accolades for leading the Penrith Panthers to last year’s VB NSW Cup premiership.
After collecting NYC Coach of the Year honours with the Newcastle Knights in 2012, Brennan was poached by Panthers Executive General Manager Phil Gould to coach the VB NSW Cup side.
Brennan will utilise his vast experience in his new role alongside incoming head coach Anthony Griffin.
“I know the young guys coming through in the four years I’ve been coaching,” Brennan said. “Anthony (Griffin) will have limited knowledge of the young guys at the club and many of those in the top 25 – some names he won’t know yet and haven’t even had their NRL debut yet. I’ll share what makes them tick as well as their positives and negatives.
“I’ve always had a bit of a role with the first-grade side but now I can focus purely on them instead of juggling both roles.”
The Panthers’ new NRL assistant insists there’s plenty of talent pushing through at the foot of the mountains.
“We’re a developing club and we’re about developing those young guys through to first grade,” Brennan said. “We (Penrith) just won the NYC under-20s and we’re aiming to bring them through to the NRL.”
Brennan has helped usher a plethora of young talent through to first grade at the Panthers. With an impressive coaching record, there are many suggestions of a potential head-coaching role in the future.
“It’s out of my hands,” Brennan said. “I would love to coach first grade one day but when and where is out of my control. My focus right now is just to help Anthony coming in.”
