KEY POINTS:
Two NRL clubs in turmoil over events off the field, Penrith and Newcastle, will share a common goal on the pitch as they battle to avoid the wooden spoon at all costs today.
Mired at the bottom of the NRL ladder, the contest could well determine which side
ends up with the game's most unwanted prize.
The Panthers are last on 14 points with three rounds remaining, while the Knights aren't too far ahead on 18.
Newcastle coach Brian Smith preferred the "glass half full" approach when asked how he hoped the season would finish for his side, the wooden spoon not even rating a mention.
"There's an opportunity for us this weekend, it's possible that we can jump three places with a win, and if we win another couple of games before the end of the season, we can finish mid-table," Smith said.
"I think everybody would agree that it's not a bad effort if we can finish just outside the eight this year. It's not what we wanted, but we've had to handle Andrew (Johns') retirement, the injuries we've had and all the young guys we've had to bring in throughout the course of the season."
The Panthers still look odds on to finish bottom for the second time in seven years, their last-gasp loss to North Queensland on Monday night compounded by more off-field controversy through the week.
Prop Joel Clinton was yesterday suspended and three other players - departing halfback Craig Gower, former test lock Trent Waterhouse and rookie Brendan Worth - fined after breaking team rules by drinking on their day off when they took part in a sponsor-organised charity golf day in Bundaberg on Wednesday.
It's hardly the sort of preparation coach Matthew Elliott would have been hoping for as he looks to engineer just his side's third win in their last 11 games, with dumped co-captain Tony Puletua likely to earn a reprieve to replace Clinton at Newcastle.
The home side have been no strangers to controversy in recent times, the uncertainty surrounding back rower Kirk Reynoldson's future the climax of a tough few weeks for the club which is still struggling to find its feet after the retirement of Johns.
Smith, who has come under criticism from players and fans for his cleanout of the club's playing roster, was confident his players would be in a better frame of mind after their below-par showing in going down 16-50 to Manly last weekend.
"Some of it is that it's passed, the tide has turned and some of it's also that our senior boys are starting to rally around and lift everybody else," Smith said
"We all feel pain when our club's hurting and when we're making headlines for the wrong reasons."
There was more pain for the Knights yesterday when skipper Danny Buderus was forced to abort his comeback because of ongoing knee soreness, while winger James McManus remains in doubt with a rib complaint.
Meanwhile, Clinton's axing is believed to have come after after he objected to the original penalty.
"We have very firm rules about drinking in the period leading up to a match, even on a day off," said club spokesman Michael Leary. "They all know the rules and we won't tolerate breaches.
"The only reason Joel has been named is because he has been dropped from the Newcastle game and we don't intend to fabricate reasons for his suspension," Leary said.
Clinton's manager David Riolo said his client "had to cop it". "It probably is harsh but that's not for me to decide," Riolo said. "I can understand where they're coming from. It's disappointing, obviously, and he'll apologise to his teammates and the coach and get back into it next week."
Clinton will play for the Broncos from next year but Riolo said his impending departure from Penrith was unlikely to be behind his breach of club discipline.
