Former Penrith Panthers player Chris Grevsmuhl returns to football with Orange CYMS
MATT LOGUE, The Daily Telegraph
February 21, 2017 8:21am
Subscriber only
IT won’t be the bright lights of ANZ Stadium, but former Penrith forward Chris Grevsmuhl will return to rugby league this weekend when he dons the boots for Orange CYMS.
The Daily Telegraph can confirm Grevsmuhl has been cleared to play for CYMS in the annual West Wyalong Knockout after training with the Group 10 side for the past month.
The ex-Panther and Rabbitoh has temporarily moved to Orange with his fiance after requesting a release from the Panthers on compassionate grounds to deal with a personal issue.
CYMS captain-coach and former NRL hooker Michael Sullivan expects Grevsmuhl’s presence to significantly help his side win the 15,000 prizemoney on offer.
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Grevsmuhl was released from his contract with Penrith at the end of last year. Pic Brett Costello
“Chris is really keen to play and he has been enjoying training,” Sullivan said.
“He has got the potential to play five-eighth with his ball playing skills and his hole running ability, so I think he would handle it on his ear in the country comp.
“Chris has been helping out at training and he has been invaluable. He is quite a shy bloke, but he has got some good ideas and I’ve been picking his brains a fair bit as well.”
It comes as Grevsmuhl looks set to return to the NRL this season with the ex-Panther aiming to receive a clearance from the Integrity Unit in the coming weeks.
The Townsville-born product is ready to play again, but he requires approval from the NRL via psychological reports to take the field.
Grevsmuhl won’t rejoin Penrith this season, but he has plenty of clubs interested in his services.
This includes the Gold Coast, who have publicly announced their desire to sign the emerging Queensland forward on a second-tier contract.
Newcastle have also held discussions with Grevsmuhl, who signed with Penrith in May after being granted a release from South Sydney.
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A number of NRL clubs are interested in signing him, but he won’t return to the Panthers. Pic Mark Evans
He left Redfern in controversial circumstances, which intensified when he labelled Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire a “mind games specialist”.
The 2015 indigenous All Stars representative then put this media storm aside to play 14 games for the Panthers last season.
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Sullivan has no doubts Grevsmuhl has the ability make an NRL comeback, but offered a word of warning.
The CYMS’ captain-coach has been a mentor for emerging forward during his time in Orange, urging him to make the most of his time at the top.
And Sullivan should know.
His 116-game career with the Northern Eagles, Cronulla, Warrington and Canterbury was severely impacted by a serious gambling addiction, resulting in significant debt.
