Matt Elliott was stumped. The frank coach had zilch to say after the Panthers, in his own words, had their ''pants pulled down, bums spanked and whatever happens after that'' by his former club.
After the snow fell on Canberra Stadium, so too did Penrith's attitude. And what is there to say after a 74-12 thrashing? Not much.
But this column has a suggestion for the ex-Raiders mentor. Perhaps he could orchestrate a club drama.
Standing down a player for his (or rarely her) behaviour off the field, court or oval isn't what clubs want, but it may just prove the secret ingredient to get a season on track.
Time and time again when a club is rocked by the misdemeanours of a player, or in Collingwood's case two, it miraculously shuns the unwanted attention, steadies itself and wins.
Collingwood suspended Heath Shaw and Alan Didak, two of its star players, for their role in a drink-driving accident. The Raiders sacked Todd Carney for his indiscretions.
And surprise, surprise, both clubs reaped the benefits. The deadwood was gone and seedlings sprouted.
The Magpies shrugged off the loss of their best player and arguably their best defender to stun with a 14-point win over St Kilda.
The Saints were playing for a top-four spot, had everything to lose and they did to a team embattled on the field and, in the week leading up to it, off it.
Collingwood obviously had nothing to lose. It was destined to drop out of the top eight having lost its past three matches by a combined total of 120 points and everyone expected it to do so.
Everyone except those who were making the passes and kicking the goals. The well-behaved ones.
The Raiders were in the same boat. They had just had, according to chairman John McIntyre, one of the worst weeks in their history.
They bravely sacked the club's future, their best player, a kid from Goulburn groomed to be a future leader. Halfback Todd Carney was dumped from the Raiders' 2009 plans, and probably beyond, the club ridding itself of the bad-boy who just couldn't keep his nose clean.
Many believe the club made the right decision, many don't for fear of losing him to another club.
But regardless of what, why or how he is doing now, his former teammates don't care. And nor should they. They have bigger things to worry about. The NRL finals are in their sights, and well within in their grasp, and they're too busy breaking on-field records, for all the right reasons.
Yesterday, five-eighth Terry Campese scored the most goals in a match in Raiders colours equalling the record set by his assistant coach and the club's prodigal son David Furner in the club's glory days.
He also came two points shy (a goal for the record, halfback Marc Hebert kicked the final conversion from in front of the posts after the hooter) of equalling Mal Meninga's mark for the most points scored by a player in a match.
And the 74 points totalled against Elliott's chargers was the most from any team to call Canberra home, in the club's history. All this without their supposed cream of the crop.
And revivals happen when coaches are ''boned'' as well well most of the time. Unfortunately the North Queensland Cowboys could only manage one win in 13 matches for new coach Ian Millward after Graham Murray was shown the door.
The Roosters enjoyed it last year when Chris Anderson left the top job and Brad Fittler took over leading the Bondi boys to a resurgence.
And the Dragons began winning this season, when their backs were against the wall and when it was announced coach Nathan Brown would lose the reins making way for Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.
And so too in rugby union when NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie was shown the door his players rallied and took the team to the Super 14 final.
So Mr Elliott take note, there's nothing like a good drama to lift the boys' spirits.
daniel.macdonald@canberratimes.com.au
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