The number of high-profile players being forced out of Penrith because of salary-cap pressure has eliminated the need to go searching for motivation during their premiership years.
So says coach Ivan Cleary, who admits the exits of Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris are heartbreaking, but also the simple reason the players found it easy to stay motivated for title success.
Penrith were spurred to play well for departing pair James Tamou and Josh Mansour at the end of 2020, Matt Burton in 2021, Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau in 2022, then Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu last year.
They were always going to lift for Luai and Fisher-Harris, said Cleary, who became emotional when presenting Luai his jersey the night before the grand final.
